NFL Fantasy Football News/Articles - ESPN Insider 4 New Articles Added 11/6/06

Hache Man

Hache Man

"Seven Days Without Gambling Makes One Weak"
Re: NFL Fantasy Football News/Articles - ESPN Insider 4 New Articles Added 9/18/06)

Re: NFL Fantasy Football News/Articles - ESPN Insider 4 New Articles Added 9/18/06)

Sep. 19, 2006, 1:58 PM
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Week 3: Waiver Wire Work


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By Scott Engel
ESPN Fantasy Games

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Each week, we help you improve your fantasy roster by recommending the best players to add and drop. Here are some players you should consider who are probably available on your league's free-agent list, and others you should cut loose if you need to make extra room on your roster.
TOP ADDS
Rex Grossman, QB, Bears (Owned in 11.5 percent of ESPN leagues): This is obviously the hottest free agent addition of the week, so some perspective is needed here. Grossman had a career day against the Lions, and he's certainly worth adding as a fantasy backup. But he has a lot more to prove before he can be considered a quality fantasy starter in most leagues. Grossman has opened the season against two weak opponents and while he can be a good game manager, expecting more of the type of production he has offered so far appears unrealistic. Bernard Berrian has scored in each of the first two games, but will disappear against better opponents. Grossman still has a questionable receiving crew overall, and is more effective when operating a conservative passing attack in the longer term. Don't expect him to throw often enough to post regularly outstanding fantasy numbers if he stays healthy.
Correll Buckhalter, RB, Eagles (4.2 percent owned): Brian Westbrook was able to play this past Sunday, but it's possible his knee inflammation could be a lingering issue. Plus, it's clear the Eagles do need another RB to share some carries with Westbrook, and Buckhalter fits the bill. He had an impressive preseason, and he can make the tougher inside runs that shouldn't be called for Westbrook, especially later in games. If Westbrook goes down at some point, Buckhalter could step forward and benefit greatly from an increased workload. He could split some carries with Ryan Moats (19.3 percent owned), who is also worth adding, especially in leagues that award points for receptions.
Najeh Davenport, RB, Steelers (4.1 percent owned): After Willie Parker rushed for only 20 yards on Monday night, it's clear the Steelers need another inside runner to share some carries with their No. 1 RB, who simply isn't built for a heavy workload. Davenport is the Steelers' only answer after Duce Staley had a disappointing preseason and Verron Haynes showed he isn't anything more than a third-down back. Out of desperation to balance the running game, which clearly has to be a two-pronged attack to succeed regularly, look for Davenport to get the chance to earn a decent amount of carries and some goal-line chances in the weeks ahead. He has yet to play this year, but he could be a worthy flex player a few weeks from now if he can avoid injuries.
Nate Washington, WR, Steelers (0.8 percent owned): We stick with the Steelers theme, because it's clear they need some new players to get more involved offensively. Washington is a Bill Cowher favorite who could be moved into the starting lineup at any time in the near future. Cedrick Wilson has been a bust as a starter, catching just one pass in two games, and rookie Santonio Holmes has been very slow to pick up the nuances of the pro game and still seems to be struggling with the playbook. Washington is tough, fluid and can put up some decent numbers with more playing time. He will be a threat on third downs, in the red zone, and might even get a few carries on reverses and end around plays.
Chad Jackson, WR, Patriots (6.2 percent owned): Injury issues made his stock drop early in the season as he missed the first game. But someone has to step forward in the thin Patriots receiving corps, and even though Jackson lacks experience and polish, he is in a great situation. Tom Brady can make almost any receiver look good, and even though Jackson won't get open regularly, Brady is going to find him when he is in position to catch a pass. Jackson would be a work in progress on many other teams, but working with arguably the most efficient QB in the NFL will pay statistical dividends. Jackson will learn on the job and deliver decent numbers while doing so.
PRIME CUTS
Billy Volek, QB, Chargers (40.6 percent owned): There's no reason to hold onto him anymore now that's he is on San Diego. He's no longer in that Tennessee mess hoping Kerry Collins and Vince Young will play so badly that he might get another chance to start. Volek isn't going to the Chargers because they are concerned about young QB Philip Rivers. They likely just want to get better depth behind him and have a veteran presence who can help Rivers continue to learn on the job. Volek would have been a fine free-agent addition if he was dealt to Oakland or Kansas City. Now he is useless in fantasy football, as Rivers' job is safe and he has managed games very well early on.
Mark Brunell, QB, Redskins (72.3 percent owned): You might still have him just for depth, but there are likely better backup QBs available on your free agent list. Brunell was a nice story early last year, and led Washington to the playoffs, but even a deeper receiving crew hasn't helped him early this season. Brunell has yet to throw a TD pass, and yes, he does face the Texans in the third week, but he's not looking like a quality option anymore, regardless of the matchup.
Wali Lundy, RB, Texans (41.5 percent owned): If you're still holding onto him, forget about the preseason and cut him loose. Lundy has good vision and some quickness, but he doesn't make tacklers miss often enough and he's going to get bumped down on the depth chart very fast. It's just a matter of time before Samkon Gado becomes the clear No. 1 guy in Houston. Ron Dayne was the Texans' leading rusher in the team's second game, and any time a player gets outperformed by Dayne, it's a clear sign he shouldn't be on your fantasy team any more.
Mewelde Moore, RB, Vikings (50.3 percent owned): There's no reason to hold onto him, even as a handcuff to Chester Taylor. Not every running back needs a handcuff player. Moore has performed respectably in the past, but that was when the Vikings were struggling to find a dependable RB and went through a few options. Now it's apparent that Taylor is comfortable being a workhorse and is a good fit for the role. And even if he was to get worn down at some point, Ciatrick Fason could get a chance to show what he can do, and he's another young Viking who could flourish if given an opportunity to play in the future. Antwaan Randle El, WR, Redskins (40.2 percent owned): There's a clear difference between the real NFL and fantasy football sometimes, and Randle El is the perfect example. He's exciting and versatile if you're a Redskins fan, but he is nearly worthless for fantasy purposes. In most fantasy leagues, Randle El only gets points for his receiving production, which often isn't enough to consider him even as a reserve. Don't waste space with him on your roster, when less-heralded free agent receivers can at least offer you better depth.
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Hache Man

Hache Man

"Seven Days Without Gambling Makes One Weak"
Re: NFL Fantasy Football News/Articles - ESPN Insider 4 New Articles Added 9/18/06)

Re: NFL Fantasy Football News/Articles - ESPN Insider 4 New Articles Added 9/18/06)

Sep. 19, 2006, 1:58 PM
<SCRIPT language=javascript src="http://ai059.insightexpressai.com/adServer/adServer.aspx?bannerID=7560"></SCRIPT>


Week 3: Waiver Wire Work


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<!-- firstName = Scott --><!-- lastName = Engel -->
By Scott Engel
ESPN Fantasy Games

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<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD style="PADDING-TOP: 10px" vAlign=top><!-- begin leftcol --><!-- template inline -->
Each week, we help you improve your fantasy roster by recommending the best players to add and drop. Here are some players you should consider who are probably available on your league's free-agent list, and others you should cut loose if you need to make extra room on your roster.
TOP ADDS
Rex Grossman, QB, Bears (Owned in 11.5 percent of ESPN leagues): This is obviously the hottest free agent addition of the week, so some perspective is needed here. Grossman had a career day against the Lions, and he's certainly worth adding as a fantasy backup. But he has a lot more to prove before he can be considered a quality fantasy starter in most leagues. Grossman has opened the season against two weak opponents and while he can be a good game manager, expecting more of the type of production he has offered so far appears unrealistic. Bernard Berrian has scored in each of the first two games, but will disappear against better opponents. Grossman still has a questionable receiving crew overall, and is more effective when operating a conservative passing attack in the longer term. Don't expect him to throw often enough to post regularly outstanding fantasy numbers if he stays healthy.
Correll Buckhalter, RB, Eagles (4.2 percent owned): Brian Westbrook was able to play this past Sunday, but it's possible his knee inflammation could be a lingering issue. Plus, it's clear the Eagles do need another RB to share some carries with Westbrook, and Buckhalter fits the bill. He had an impressive preseason, and he can make the tougher inside runs that shouldn't be called for Westbrook, especially later in games. If Westbrook goes down at some point, Buckhalter could step forward and benefit greatly from an increased workload. He could split some carries with Ryan Moats (19.3 percent owned), who is also worth adding, especially in leagues that award points for receptions.
Najeh Davenport, RB, Steelers (4.1 percent owned): After Willie Parker rushed for only 20 yards on Monday night, it's clear the Steelers need another inside runner to share some carries with their No. 1 RB, who simply isn't built for a heavy workload. Davenport is the Steelers' only answer after Duce Staley had a disappointing preseason and Verron Haynes showed he isn't anything more than a third-down back. Out of desperation to balance the running game, which clearly has to be a two-pronged attack to succeed regularly, look for Davenport to get the chance to earn a decent amount of carries and some goal-line chances in the weeks ahead. He has yet to play this year, but he could be a worthy flex player a few weeks from now if he can avoid injuries.
Nate Washington, WR, Steelers (0.8 percent owned): We stick with the Steelers theme, because it's clear they need some new players to get more involved offensively. Washington is a Bill Cowher favorite who could be moved into the starting lineup at any time in the near future. Cedrick Wilson has been a bust as a starter, catching just one pass in two games, and rookie Santonio Holmes has been very slow to pick up the nuances of the pro game and still seems to be struggling with the playbook. Washington is tough, fluid and can put up some decent numbers with more playing time. He will be a threat on third downs, in the red zone, and might even get a few carries on reverses and end around plays.
Chad Jackson, WR, Patriots (6.2 percent owned): Injury issues made his stock drop early in the season as he missed the first game. But someone has to step forward in the thin Patriots receiving corps, and even though Jackson lacks experience and polish, he is in a great situation. Tom Brady can make almost any receiver look good, and even though Jackson won't get open regularly, Brady is going to find him when he is in position to catch a pass. Jackson would be a work in progress on many other teams, but working with arguably the most efficient QB in the NFL will pay statistical dividends. Jackson will learn on the job and deliver decent numbers while doing so.
PRIME CUTS
Billy Volek, QB, Chargers (40.6 percent owned): There's no reason to hold onto him anymore now that's he is on San Diego. He's no longer in that Tennessee mess hoping Kerry Collins and Vince Young will play so badly that he might get another chance to start. Volek isn't going to the Chargers because they are concerned about young QB Philip Rivers. They likely just want to get better depth behind him and have a veteran presence who can help Rivers continue to learn on the job. Volek would have been a fine free-agent addition if he was dealt to Oakland or Kansas City. Now he is useless in fantasy football, as Rivers' job is safe and he has managed games very well early on.
Mark Brunell, QB, Redskins (72.3 percent owned): You might still have him just for depth, but there are likely better backup QBs available on your free agent list. Brunell was a nice story early last year, and led Washington to the playoffs, but even a deeper receiving crew hasn't helped him early this season. Brunell has yet to throw a TD pass, and yes, he does face the Texans in the third week, but he's not looking like a quality option anymore, regardless of the matchup.
Wali Lundy, RB, Texans (41.5 percent owned): If you're still holding onto him, forget about the preseason and cut him loose. Lundy has good vision and some quickness, but he doesn't make tacklers miss often enough and he's going to get bumped down on the depth chart very fast. It's just a matter of time before Samkon Gado becomes the clear No. 1 guy in Houston. Ron Dayne was the Texans' leading rusher in the team's second game, and any time a player gets outperformed by Dayne, it's a clear sign he shouldn't be on your fantasy team any more.
Mewelde Moore, RB, Vikings (50.3 percent owned): There's no reason to hold onto him, even as a handcuff to Chester Taylor. Not every running back needs a handcuff player. Moore has performed respectably in the past, but that was when the Vikings were struggling to find a dependable RB and went through a few options. Now it's apparent that Taylor is comfortable being a workhorse and is a good fit for the role. And even if he was to get worn down at some point, Ciatrick Fason could get a chance to show what he can do, and he's another young Viking who could flourish if given an opportunity to play in the future. Antwaan Randle El, WR, Redskins (40.2 percent owned): There's a clear difference between the real NFL and fantasy football sometimes, and Randle El is the perfect example. He's exciting and versatile if you're a Redskins fan, but he is nearly worthless for fantasy purposes. In most fantasy leagues, Randle El only gets points for his receiving production, which often isn't enough to consider him even as a reserve. Don't waste space with him on your roster, when less-heralded free agent receivers can at least offer you better depth.
</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
 
Hache Man

Hache Man

"Seven Days Without Gambling Makes One Weak"
Re: NFL Fantasy Football News/Articles - ESPN Insider 4 New Articles Added 9/18/06)

Re: NFL Fantasy Football News/Articles - ESPN Insider 4 New Articles Added 9/18/06)

Tuesday, September 19, 2006
<SCRIPT language=javascript src="http://ai059.insightexpressai.com/adServer/adServer.aspx?bannerID=7560"></SCRIPT> Rusty Roethlisberger


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By Scott Engel
ESPN.com

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<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width=762 border=0><TBODY><TR><TD vAlign=top width=552><!-- begin leftcol --><!-- template inline -->While Ben Roethlisberger certainly was a risky starter in his return to action on Monday night, few fantasy players could have expected Pittsburgh's offense to look as bad as it did. In the lowest-scoring game in the history of "Monday Night Football," the Pittsburgh passing "attack" was completely invisible. Roethlisberger's mechanics were clearly not at an optimum level, and his supporting cast didn't help him at all.
Roethlisberger was blitzed often and hit hard, and Jacksonville's defensive line ruled the night. The Pittsburgh quarterback seemed tentative in the pocket and was not himself because all of the time missed with a preseason motorcycle accident and an appendectomy that cost him the opener. Roethlisberger's passes sailed in key situations, he lacked consistent velocity, and he didn't look fully ready to absorb hits. His usual nifty footwork and abilities to stand in and make tough throws under pressure or improvise on the run were nonexistent. Roethlisberger clearly is not a recommended starter in the third game against Cincinnati, and his teammates aren't looking much better.
Willie Parker rushed for only 20 yards on 11 carries, as the Steelers finished with just 26 rushing yards, the lowest total during the Bill Cowher era. Against a physical Jacksonville front seven, Parker had absolutely no room to run free, and he simply isn't strong enough to carry the ball regularly, especially against stronger defenses. Parker isn't going to benefit from an increased workload this season, and the Steelers clearly need a physical RB to complement him. New acquisition Najeh Davenport needs to get up to speed fast and must stay healthy, because Pittsburgh clearly misses Jerome Bettis, who could bang the ball often enough to keep Parker fresh and defenses off balance much of the time.
The Pittsburgh wide receivers are also a very shaky crew right now. Hines Ward, who caught two passes for 29 yards, is certainly not himself, either, and he is obviously being slowed by recent hamstring issues. Cedrick Wilson has one catch in two games, and rookie Santonio Holmes is slowly adjusting to the pro game. Holmes can be blamed partially for one of Roethlisberger's interceptions, as he never turned around to see the ball on a pass clearly intended for him. He caught only one pass for 15 yards. Tight end Heath Miller caught only one pass after his great statistical opener. Nate Washington led the Steelers witth 32 receiving yards.
But while the Steelers looked terrible last night, that doesn't mean things won't look better soon. Keep Roethlisberger on your bench for now, but in 2-to-3 weeks, with no setbacks, he should benefit from more practice and game reps. Look for him to be a viable fantasy starter soon. Parker won't be consistent, but he will be explosive against weaker opponents. Ward could use some rest to get back into top form, and Miller should rebound quickly. Washington, a Cowher favorite, could settle in comfortably as the team's No. 2 receiver with Wilson and Holmes struggling, and he's worth adding as a free agent. <STYLE> .headshot { visibility: visible; padding: 0px 5px 4px 0px; float: left;} .bottom { font: 10px verdana, san-serif; color: #fff; font-weight: bold; background: #006633; padding: 5px; } </STYLE>BETWEEN THE LINES
The Seahawks announced that new acquisition Deion Branch will make his 2006 debut in the highly-anticipated Sunday game with the Giants. While you might be moved to start Branch, as there has been talk of how well he has looked in practices, it's best to keep him on your bench and see how he fares first. Branch certainly can be an important part of the passing game right away, but there is no reason for the Seahawks to rush him into the flow, as they do have other options to carry the offense while Branch makes himself comfortable. Branch will no doubt draw defensive attention, but that should help Darrell Jackson, Bobby Engram and Nate Burleson see more open room. His presence also will help Matt Hasselbeck spread the ball around more effectively, and he should rebound from a sluggish statistical start to the season. Shaun Alexander should also see more open running lanes very soon with Seattle's deep receiving corps a major threat to defenses on every down, especially with Hasselbeck's tendency to audible often and keep defenses guessing. Branch's presence should help his teammates raise their levels of production right away, but he shouldn't be expected to contribute too much numerically in his first game or two. He missed the entire preseason and two regular season games, and no matter how good a player looks in practice, there is no substitute for real game action. There certainly will be an on-field adjustment period for most players who miss preseason and early-season game action, whether it's for injuries or a holdout.


THE BOTTOM LINE

Javon Walker, WR, Broncos
Five receptions, 79 yards, 0 TD
The Denver passing game has appeared lifeless early, as Jake Plummer has suddenly reverted to his Arizona days, as he seems to be in a funk that has been left over from last year's AFC Championship game. But while Plummer has struggled, Walker, who had his 2005 season ruined by a major knee injury, is showing signs of clear improvement after an up-and-down preseason and a quiet opener in which he suffered a dislocated finger. Not only did Walker average nearly 16 yards per catch, he also carried twice for 21 yards. Even if Plummer continues to struggle, he is going to look for Walker often. Plummer will keep his job for now, and he's going to find ways to get the ball into the hands of Walker very often. And if rookie Jay Cutler does take over the starting job at some point, he will know that Walker will be a major part of his success. Walker did need the preseason to work himself back into form, but it became apparent on Sunday that he is getting somewhat closer to his old form. The Broncos simply have to get better offensively soon, as Plummer has to turn things around or be replaced by the very impressive rookie. Even if neither QB plays consistently, whoever starts should throw the ball enough to keep Walker's numbers looking good in the weeks ahead. If you don't have him, acquire Walker before his value starts to rise.
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<TABLE class=tablehead cellSpacing=1 cellPadding=3><TBODY><TR><TD class=stathead align=middle bgColor=#555555 colSpan=6>Week 2</TD></TR><TR><TD bgColor=#ffffff> </TD><TD colSpan=5>Chad Pennington, QB, Jets: Proved his fine opener was no illusion, and WRs are looking good</TD></TR><!-- inline box score --><TR class=colhead><TD>passYDS</TD><TD>passTD</TD><TD>INT</TD><TD>rushYDS</TD><TD>FPTS</TD></TR><TR class=evenrow vAlign=top><TD><NOBR>306</NOBR></TD><TD><NOBR>2</NOBR></TD><TD><NOBR>1</NOBR></TD><TD><NOBR>2</NOBR></TD><TD><NOBR>22</NOBR></TD></TR><TR><TD bgColor=#ffffff colSpan=5 height=3></TD></TR><TR><TD bgColor=#ffffff> </TD><TD colSpan=5>Chester Taylor, RB, Vikings: He's not very exciting, but early results have been good enough</TD></TR><!-- inline box score --><TR class=colhead><TD>ATT</TD><TD>rushYDS</TD><TD>rec</TD><TD>recYDS</TD><TD>FPTS</TD></TR><TR class=evenrow vAlign=top><TD><NOBR>24</NOBR></TD><TD><NOBR>113</NOBR></TD><TD><NOBR>3</NOBR></TD><TD><NOBR>15</NOBR></TD><TD><NOBR>12</NOBR></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><TABLE class=tablehead cellSpacing=1 cellPadding=3><!-- <tr><td align=center bgcolor="#555555" COLSPAN=6 class="stathead" colspan="6"> </td></tr> --><TBODY><TR><TD bgColor=#ffffff> </TD><TD colSpan=5>Donald Driver, WR, Packers: The main man as the Pack has to air it out regularly</TD></TR><!-- inline box score --><TR class=colhead><TD>REC</TD><TD>recYDS</TD><TD>TARGET</TD><TD>TD</TD><TD>FPTS</TD></TR><TR class=evenrow vAlign=top><TD><NOBR>8</NOBR></TD><TD><NOBR>153</NOBR></TD><TD><NOBR>11</NOBR></TD><TD><NOBR>0</NOBR></TD><TD><NOBR>16</NOBR></TD></TR><TR><TD bgColor=#ffffff colSpan=5 height=3></TD></TR><TR><TD bgColor=#ffffff> </TD><TD colSpan=5>Randy McMichael, TE, Dolphins: Off to a bad start with QB struggling, but should get better</TD></TR><!-- inline box score --><TR class=colhead><TD>REC</TD><TD>recYDS</TD><TD>TARGET</TD><TD>TD</TD><TD>FPTS</TD></TR><TR class=evenrow vAlign=top><TD><NOBR>3</NOBR></TD><TD><NOBR>34</NOBR></TD><TD><NOBR>6</NOBR></TD><TD><NOBR>0</NOBR></TD><TD><NOBR>3</NOBR></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

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<!-- begin also see2 -->Surfin' the Scoreboard

Trainer's Room
? Raiders QB Aaron Brooks is expected to miss two to four weeks because of a strained pectoral muscle. Since the Raiders blew a chance to acquire Billy Volek, now a Charger, they don't have any choice but to go with inexperienced and unreliable backup Andrew Walter, making any defensive unit that starts against the Raiders seem to be a must-start option. Oakland needs help. Marques Tuiasosopo could play at some point as well.
? Shaun Alexander reportedly has a sore foot, but says the injury is not serious. Seahawks left guard Floyd "Pork Chop" Womack could miss six weeks with a shoulder injury, but young Chris Spencer should be a solid fill-in and could be an upgrade
? Titans RB Travis Henry is day-to-day with a toe injury. The Titans RB situation is a mess right now, with Henry hurting and Chris Brown not a factor. The time is now to acquire LenDale White, because he's going to get a chance in the near future to be the guy who can pump some life into the Tennessee ground game.
? Bengals WR Chad Johnson suffered a concussion and a shoulder bruise on Sunday, but the injuries are not considered serious enough to threaten his status for Sunday's game against the Steelers, according to the Dayton Daily News. Johnson said he felt "a little loopy" after the Bengals win over Cleveland, but there appears to be no reason for major concerns. ? Monday Box | Friday Box | Karabell's Blog





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Hache Man

Hache Man

"Seven Days Without Gambling Makes One Weak"
Re: NFL Fantasy Football News/Articles - ESPN Insider 4 New Articles Added 9/18/06)

Re: NFL Fantasy Football News/Articles - ESPN Insider 4 New Articles Added 9/18/06)

Tuesday, September 19, 2006
<SCRIPT language=javascript src="http://ai059.insightexpressai.com/adServer/adServer.aspx?bannerID=7560"></SCRIPT> Rusty Roethlisberger


<!-- begin bylinebox -->

By Scott Engel
ESPN.com

<!-- begin presby2 -->
<!-- end presby2 -->
<!-- end bylinebox -->
<!-- begin text11 div -->
<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width=762 border=0><TBODY><TR><TD vAlign=top width=552><!-- begin leftcol --><!-- template inline -->While Ben Roethlisberger certainly was a risky starter in his return to action on Monday night, few fantasy players could have expected Pittsburgh's offense to look as bad as it did. In the lowest-scoring game in the history of "Monday Night Football," the Pittsburgh passing "attack" was completely invisible. Roethlisberger's mechanics were clearly not at an optimum level, and his supporting cast didn't help him at all.
Roethlisberger was blitzed often and hit hard, and Jacksonville's defensive line ruled the night. The Pittsburgh quarterback seemed tentative in the pocket and was not himself because all of the time missed with a preseason motorcycle accident and an appendectomy that cost him the opener. Roethlisberger's passes sailed in key situations, he lacked consistent velocity, and he didn't look fully ready to absorb hits. His usual nifty footwork and abilities to stand in and make tough throws under pressure or improvise on the run were nonexistent. Roethlisberger clearly is not a recommended starter in the third game against Cincinnati, and his teammates aren't looking much better.
Willie Parker rushed for only 20 yards on 11 carries, as the Steelers finished with just 26 rushing yards, the lowest total during the Bill Cowher era. Against a physical Jacksonville front seven, Parker had absolutely no room to run free, and he simply isn't strong enough to carry the ball regularly, especially against stronger defenses. Parker isn't going to benefit from an increased workload this season, and the Steelers clearly need a physical RB to complement him. New acquisition Najeh Davenport needs to get up to speed fast and must stay healthy, because Pittsburgh clearly misses Jerome Bettis, who could bang the ball often enough to keep Parker fresh and defenses off balance much of the time.
The Pittsburgh wide receivers are also a very shaky crew right now. Hines Ward, who caught two passes for 29 yards, is certainly not himself, either, and he is obviously being slowed by recent hamstring issues. Cedrick Wilson has one catch in two games, and rookie Santonio Holmes is slowly adjusting to the pro game. Holmes can be blamed partially for one of Roethlisberger's interceptions, as he never turned around to see the ball on a pass clearly intended for him. He caught only one pass for 15 yards. Tight end Heath Miller caught only one pass after his great statistical opener. Nate Washington led the Steelers witth 32 receiving yards.
But while the Steelers looked terrible last night, that doesn't mean things won't look better soon. Keep Roethlisberger on your bench for now, but in 2-to-3 weeks, with no setbacks, he should benefit from more practice and game reps. Look for him to be a viable fantasy starter soon. Parker won't be consistent, but he will be explosive against weaker opponents. Ward could use some rest to get back into top form, and Miller should rebound quickly. Washington, a Cowher favorite, could settle in comfortably as the team's No. 2 receiver with Wilson and Holmes struggling, and he's worth adding as a free agent. <STYLE> .headshot { visibility: visible; padding: 0px 5px 4px 0px; float: left;} .bottom { font: 10px verdana, san-serif; color: #fff; font-weight: bold; background: #006633; padding: 5px; } </STYLE>BETWEEN THE LINES
The Seahawks announced that new acquisition Deion Branch will make his 2006 debut in the highly-anticipated Sunday game with the Giants. While you might be moved to start Branch, as there has been talk of how well he has looked in practices, it's best to keep him on your bench and see how he fares first. Branch certainly can be an important part of the passing game right away, but there is no reason for the Seahawks to rush him into the flow, as they do have other options to carry the offense while Branch makes himself comfortable. Branch will no doubt draw defensive attention, but that should help Darrell Jackson, Bobby Engram and Nate Burleson see more open room. His presence also will help Matt Hasselbeck spread the ball around more effectively, and he should rebound from a sluggish statistical start to the season. Shaun Alexander should also see more open running lanes very soon with Seattle's deep receiving corps a major threat to defenses on every down, especially with Hasselbeck's tendency to audible often and keep defenses guessing. Branch's presence should help his teammates raise their levels of production right away, but he shouldn't be expected to contribute too much numerically in his first game or two. He missed the entire preseason and two regular season games, and no matter how good a player looks in practice, there is no substitute for real game action. There certainly will be an on-field adjustment period for most players who miss preseason and early-season game action, whether it's for injuries or a holdout.


THE BOTTOM LINE

Javon Walker, WR, Broncos
Five receptions, 79 yards, 0 TD
The Denver passing game has appeared lifeless early, as Jake Plummer has suddenly reverted to his Arizona days, as he seems to be in a funk that has been left over from last year's AFC Championship game. But while Plummer has struggled, Walker, who had his 2005 season ruined by a major knee injury, is showing signs of clear improvement after an up-and-down preseason and a quiet opener in which he suffered a dislocated finger. Not only did Walker average nearly 16 yards per catch, he also carried twice for 21 yards. Even if Plummer continues to struggle, he is going to look for Walker often. Plummer will keep his job for now, and he's going to find ways to get the ball into the hands of Walker very often. And if rookie Jay Cutler does take over the starting job at some point, he will know that Walker will be a major part of his success. Walker did need the preseason to work himself back into form, but it became apparent on Sunday that he is getting somewhat closer to his old form. The Broncos simply have to get better offensively soon, as Plummer has to turn things around or be replaced by the very impressive rookie. Even if neither QB plays consistently, whoever starts should throw the ball enough to keep Walker's numbers looking good in the weeks ahead. If you don't have him, acquire Walker before his value starts to rise.
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<TABLE class=tablehead cellSpacing=1 cellPadding=3><TBODY><TR><TD class=stathead align=middle bgColor=#555555 colSpan=6>Week 2</TD></TR><TR><TD bgColor=#ffffff> </TD><TD colSpan=5>Chad Pennington, QB, Jets: Proved his fine opener was no illusion, and WRs are looking good</TD></TR><!-- inline box score --><TR class=colhead><TD>passYDS</TD><TD>passTD</TD><TD>INT</TD><TD>rushYDS</TD><TD>FPTS</TD></TR><TR class=evenrow vAlign=top><TD><NOBR>306</NOBR></TD><TD><NOBR>2</NOBR></TD><TD><NOBR>1</NOBR></TD><TD><NOBR>2</NOBR></TD><TD><NOBR>22</NOBR></TD></TR><TR><TD bgColor=#ffffff colSpan=5 height=3></TD></TR><TR><TD bgColor=#ffffff> </TD><TD colSpan=5>Chester Taylor, RB, Vikings: He's not very exciting, but early results have been good enough</TD></TR><!-- inline box score --><TR class=colhead><TD>ATT</TD><TD>rushYDS</TD><TD>rec</TD><TD>recYDS</TD><TD>FPTS</TD></TR><TR class=evenrow vAlign=top><TD><NOBR>24</NOBR></TD><TD><NOBR>113</NOBR></TD><TD><NOBR>3</NOBR></TD><TD><NOBR>15</NOBR></TD><TD><NOBR>12</NOBR></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><TABLE class=tablehead cellSpacing=1 cellPadding=3><!-- <tr><td align=center bgcolor="#555555" COLSPAN=6 class="stathead" colspan="6"> </td></tr> --><TBODY><TR><TD bgColor=#ffffff> </TD><TD colSpan=5>Donald Driver, WR, Packers: The main man as the Pack has to air it out regularly</TD></TR><!-- inline box score --><TR class=colhead><TD>REC</TD><TD>recYDS</TD><TD>TARGET</TD><TD>TD</TD><TD>FPTS</TD></TR><TR class=evenrow vAlign=top><TD><NOBR>8</NOBR></TD><TD><NOBR>153</NOBR></TD><TD><NOBR>11</NOBR></TD><TD><NOBR>0</NOBR></TD><TD><NOBR>16</NOBR></TD></TR><TR><TD bgColor=#ffffff colSpan=5 height=3></TD></TR><TR><TD bgColor=#ffffff> </TD><TD colSpan=5>Randy McMichael, TE, Dolphins: Off to a bad start with QB struggling, but should get better</TD></TR><!-- inline box score --><TR class=colhead><TD>REC</TD><TD>recYDS</TD><TD>TARGET</TD><TD>TD</TD><TD>FPTS</TD></TR><TR class=evenrow vAlign=top><TD><NOBR>3</NOBR></TD><TD><NOBR>34</NOBR></TD><TD><NOBR>6</NOBR></TD><TD><NOBR>0</NOBR></TD><TD><NOBR>3</NOBR></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

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<!-- begin also see2 -->Surfin' the Scoreboard

Trainer's Room
? Raiders QB Aaron Brooks is expected to miss two to four weeks because of a strained pectoral muscle. Since the Raiders blew a chance to acquire Billy Volek, now a Charger, they don't have any choice but to go with inexperienced and unreliable backup Andrew Walter, making any defensive unit that starts against the Raiders seem to be a must-start option. Oakland needs help. Marques Tuiasosopo could play at some point as well.
? Shaun Alexander reportedly has a sore foot, but says the injury is not serious. Seahawks left guard Floyd "Pork Chop" Womack could miss six weeks with a shoulder injury, but young Chris Spencer should be a solid fill-in and could be an upgrade
? Titans RB Travis Henry is day-to-day with a toe injury. The Titans RB situation is a mess right now, with Henry hurting and Chris Brown not a factor. The time is now to acquire LenDale White, because he's going to get a chance in the near future to be the guy who can pump some life into the Tennessee ground game.
? Bengals WR Chad Johnson suffered a concussion and a shoulder bruise on Sunday, but the injuries are not considered serious enough to threaten his status for Sunday's game against the Steelers, according to the Dayton Daily News. Johnson said he felt "a little loopy" after the Bengals win over Cleveland, but there appears to be no reason for major concerns. ? Monday Box | Friday Box | Karabell's Blog





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Hache Man

Hache Man

"Seven Days Without Gambling Makes One Weak"
Re: NFL Fantasy Football News/Articles - ESPN Insider 4 New Articles Added 9/18/06)

Re: NFL Fantasy Football News/Articles - ESPN Insider 4 New Articles Added 9/18/06)

10 names to buzz about


posted: Tuesday, September 19, 2006 | Feedback | Print Entry
filed under: Fantasy NFL

Just before we went live on the Fantasy 3:50 segment on Monday, ESPNEWS anchor Ben Becker hurriedly wrote on the back of his work notes the name Rex Grossman. He didn't say a word. He waived his arms, tried to get my attention. I knew what info he wanted. I made a thumbs down motion.

Five seconds later, he crossed out Rex's name and wrote<!--##FRONTSTOP##--> Philip Rivers. Words still didn't need to be spoken. Did I like Rivers or not? Meanwhile, it's just a few seconds until we would be live on the air. I made a thumbs up motion. Then he scribbled down Cadillac and Bernard Berrian and ... oh, sorry, gotta look at Camera 2 and talk about Terrell Owens now.
If you're a fantasy football player, chances are you're always looking for validation on some player or some situation. Will Steve Smith play or not? Is LaMont Jordan going to stink all year? Should I sign Correll Buckhalter? Everyone has an opinion, and I don't mind sharing mine.
Each week the landscape changes in fantasy football. Before last night people loved Willie Parker. Now those same owners are worried. A week ago Grossman was a curiosity, now his bandwagon is filling up fast. What do you believe? What are you talking about in your leagues?
Here are the 10 names being bandied about the most on this fine Tuesday, with only two weeks of the season actually finished. Still a long way to go. Pace yourself on the worry scale.
? Terrell Owens, Cowboys: No, I'm not real surprised. He breaks or injures parts of his fine tuned body more than you think. No, I can't beat him in a race or catch a football as well as he can, and I never have scored a touchdown with a pen in my sock, but I don't have to do these things to understand the fundamental fact about T.O. Owens missed games in 2002, '03 and '04 with a broken collarbone, fractured fibula, ankle and groin injuries, and he can't score points for you if he's not playing. And certainly we know he's missed games due to "off the field" issues. Next question. If you drafted Owens in round two, you had to know you weren't getting a 16-game season, you just didn't know the actual vehicle for absence.
So what happens with him moving forward? Dallas has a bye the next two weeks -- oh, sorry, it's true they don't play this week, then they face the Titans -- and on Oct. 8 the Eagles will surely be gracious hosts to old pal Terrell. Owens is going to play that game. If there's one game on the schedule he won't miss, it's that one. Drew Rosenhaus wouldn't let him miss it. Fantasy owners can find a replacement the next two weeks.
Something forgotten in all this T.O. mess is that Terry Glenn is probably just as productive. Glenn had a terrific 2005, and has started out hot this season. Losing Owens will not help him or Drew Bledsoe, but it shouldn't matter much against the Titans. Bledsoe's just happy there will be no Jevon Kearse to deal with in three weeks.
? Clinton Portis, Redskins: OK, this situation is getting old, fast. At least with Steve Smith we had clarity before the weekend, knowing that he was out. (As for this week, wait until Friday.) But Joe Gibbs made one mistake when he announced Portis would miss the Week 2 game; he let him make the trip! So some people still played Portis. Washington got blown out anyway, but Portis apparently injured his shoulder worse than the original problem when he got those 10 carries in the Monday night game. Now fantasy owners are worried. I think Portis will play this week and he remains a buy low guy. But if the Skins don't start winning games, Portis might be told to have surgery and it could be a lost season.
? Willie Parker, Steelers: Enough with the injured guys, here's someone who had a big Week 1 and a little Week 2, and since the lasting image we have of him was of Jacksonville repeatedly stuffing him last night, that's what fantasy owners choose to highlight. It's one game. It's one game against a very good defense. Parker might be terrific only against bad defenses, and he might lose goal line carries and he might wear down in December. But if you own the guy, play him in Week 3. It was one bad game. I still trust Fast Willie, so should you.
? Carnell Williams, Buccaneers: Of course, we thought opening weekend was just one bad game for poor Cadillac, and it's becoming clear that might not be the case. We always warn owners about panicking on their first round draft picks, but if I was holding a draft tomorrow, Caddy wouldn't be in my top 20. It's looking like the Bucs just can't move the ball, and while some might wonder why a Jake Plummer and Bledsoe are always being talked about losing their jobs, and Chris Simms never seems to have that issue, the fact is Jon Gruden doesn't really have great options. Bruce Gradkowski doesn't have the same pedigree as Jay Cutler, fair or unfair. Simms might be 0-3 after this weekend's game against Carolina. His over/under on season interceptions, if he plays every game, is no more than 26. I know he's on pace for 48, but c'mon, they'd have to bench him at some point. Pitchers who lose 20 games, they were good enough to remain in the rotation. Simms will be removed at some point unless he wins soon. He's taking Cadillac down with him. Don't drop the running back, but sit him until you see a spark.
? Rex Grossman, Bears: So why can't I jump on the Grossman bandwagon? I will if he throws four touchdowns against the Vikings, OK? It might only take two to convince me. I don't want to hammer home the obvious, but torching those Packers and Lions secondaries just isn't enough for me to start Rex over early underachievers (and safe veterans) Tom Brady, Marc Bulger and Matt Hasselbeck (Plummer and Bledsoe, I'd consider that). Grossman wasn't supposed to be bad, he just had a bad preseason. And there's not enough of a sample size on his career because he rarely was on a field. He's healthy now and admittedly looks good, but exposing a Lions defense for a few hours just isn't enough.
? Frank Gore, 49ers: Those who own Gore are thinking they are geniuses at this point. No, really, in every league there's someone who "stole" this guy in round four dancing around in front of his buddies who are sputtering with Jordan, Cadillac and the dreaded Kevin Jones. Well, after two weeks, Gore sure does look like the real thing. I'm not going to call him a sell-high guy, because I think he will be productive all season. That's reasonable. Alex Smith is a threat at quarterback, he has nice weapons to throw to, and Gore is very talented. Will Gore be a top 10 back this season? I'd lean toward saying yes.
? Eli Manning, Giants: What have you been saying about him? I think a lot of people think his Week 2 performance was a fluke. I disagree. He's legit. Enjoy him.
? Reggie Bush, Saints: I'm still playing this guy every week, because there's always going to be the chance that he breaks the long run. And even if he has another week or two in which he rushes six times for five yards, he's got 15 catches in two games! He's a gamebreaker. He's definitely worth using in fantasy, and he's also going to have some games with 100 yards rushing.
? Daunte Culpepper, Dolphins: The funny thing here is that this is pretty much what fantasy experts expected to happen. Culpepper was bad last season before the knee blew out, with 12 interceptions and six touchdown passes. He wasn't as mobile. He didn't have weapons. He was average. Now that he's clearly a pocket passer, he's not nearly as effective. Oh sure, he's got ability, and he'll be a nice fantasy option this weekend against the brutal Titans, but in AFC East games, until further notice, he's not a top 10 fantasy quarterback, or close to it.
? Ravens defense: Received an e-mail today from a loyal reader, who writes, "Eric, I gotta thank you for putting Baltimore's D third on your preseason list. All the magazines and such had them barely in the top 10. They have led two of my teams to 2-0 starts (along with Donovan McNabb). Great call! Ravens continue their huge success against the Browns this week." For those who aren't aware, the Baltimore defense has been exceptional so far, shutting out Tampa Bay in their place and enjoying a cakewalk over Oakland's backup quarterback. This week Cleveland shouldn't be much of a threat. How will the Ravens match up against the big division teams from Cincy and Pittsburgh? Quite well, I think. In Week 1 the Ravens and Bears led all fantasy defenses with 22 points, a mere four points off the league lead (Gore had 26 points). In Week 2 Baltimore scored 27 points, behind only Grossman and Peyton Manning. So after two weeks, the Ravens defense has led fantasy owners to 49 points. Nobody in fantasy has more.
***
Billy Volek was finally traded today to the Chargers, as the Titans gave up on a guy who they buried on the depth chart. Could Volek have led the Titans to a pair of losses to open the season? Absolutely. Would he have looked any worse than Kerry Collins? Probably not. So why did Tennessee sign Collins? Can't tell you. It's clear the team wants Vince Young to take his time learning the offense, throwing him in blindly for a few plays each losing game, but not letting him run the team. In time, Young will get his chance. Fantasy owners will want to know the name in 2007, but not play him now.
As for Collins, don't play him either. Just look at his Week 2 stats. Even Brett Favre wasn't that bad down the stretch last season.
Volek is insurance for Philip Rivers, who I just happen to think is the real deal right now. I know it sounds strange to recommend Rivers, when all he's done is blow out awful Tennessee and Oakland, while I remain cautious on Grossman, but that's how I feel until I see otherwise. Big game for Rivers in Week 4 at Ray Lewis and the Ravens. Until then, with this bye week, Rivers looks terrific.
Even if Volek never makes a significant fantasy impact again, we'll always have Weeks 13-15 in 2004. Volek and Drew Bennett were the best players in fantasy for the final week of the regular season and first two playoff weeks. Think about it. You were unbeaten through your regular season, had a dominant team, and someone picked up Volek and Bennett in the playoffs and killed you. Happened to a lot of people. Volek threw for 426 and 492 yards and a combined nine touchdowns those two weeks. It was unprecedented. And just that fast, you stuck with Volek for Week 15 and got what you deserved when he was 8-for-20 for 111 yards and two picks against the Broncos. Billy Volek, fantasy hero for two or three weeks, a shining star, and now he's a Charger. Go get another third quarterback in fantasy.
 
Hache Man

Hache Man

"Seven Days Without Gambling Makes One Weak"
Re: NFL Fantasy Football News/Articles - ESPN Insider 4 New Articles Added 9/18/06)

Re: NFL Fantasy Football News/Articles - ESPN Insider 4 New Articles Added 9/18/06)

10 names to buzz about


posted: Tuesday, September 19, 2006 | Feedback | Print Entry
filed under: Fantasy NFL

Just before we went live on the Fantasy 3:50 segment on Monday, ESPNEWS anchor Ben Becker hurriedly wrote on the back of his work notes the name Rex Grossman. He didn't say a word. He waived his arms, tried to get my attention. I knew what info he wanted. I made a thumbs down motion.

Five seconds later, he crossed out Rex's name and wrote<!--##FRONTSTOP##--> Philip Rivers. Words still didn't need to be spoken. Did I like Rivers or not? Meanwhile, it's just a few seconds until we would be live on the air. I made a thumbs up motion. Then he scribbled down Cadillac and Bernard Berrian and ... oh, sorry, gotta look at Camera 2 and talk about Terrell Owens now.
If you're a fantasy football player, chances are you're always looking for validation on some player or some situation. Will Steve Smith play or not? Is LaMont Jordan going to stink all year? Should I sign Correll Buckhalter? Everyone has an opinion, and I don't mind sharing mine.
Each week the landscape changes in fantasy football. Before last night people loved Willie Parker. Now those same owners are worried. A week ago Grossman was a curiosity, now his bandwagon is filling up fast. What do you believe? What are you talking about in your leagues?
Here are the 10 names being bandied about the most on this fine Tuesday, with only two weeks of the season actually finished. Still a long way to go. Pace yourself on the worry scale.
? Terrell Owens, Cowboys: No, I'm not real surprised. He breaks or injures parts of his fine tuned body more than you think. No, I can't beat him in a race or catch a football as well as he can, and I never have scored a touchdown with a pen in my sock, but I don't have to do these things to understand the fundamental fact about T.O. Owens missed games in 2002, '03 and '04 with a broken collarbone, fractured fibula, ankle and groin injuries, and he can't score points for you if he's not playing. And certainly we know he's missed games due to "off the field" issues. Next question. If you drafted Owens in round two, you had to know you weren't getting a 16-game season, you just didn't know the actual vehicle for absence.
So what happens with him moving forward? Dallas has a bye the next two weeks -- oh, sorry, it's true they don't play this week, then they face the Titans -- and on Oct. 8 the Eagles will surely be gracious hosts to old pal Terrell. Owens is going to play that game. If there's one game on the schedule he won't miss, it's that one. Drew Rosenhaus wouldn't let him miss it. Fantasy owners can find a replacement the next two weeks.
Something forgotten in all this T.O. mess is that Terry Glenn is probably just as productive. Glenn had a terrific 2005, and has started out hot this season. Losing Owens will not help him or Drew Bledsoe, but it shouldn't matter much against the Titans. Bledsoe's just happy there will be no Jevon Kearse to deal with in three weeks.
? Clinton Portis, Redskins: OK, this situation is getting old, fast. At least with Steve Smith we had clarity before the weekend, knowing that he was out. (As for this week, wait until Friday.) But Joe Gibbs made one mistake when he announced Portis would miss the Week 2 game; he let him make the trip! So some people still played Portis. Washington got blown out anyway, but Portis apparently injured his shoulder worse than the original problem when he got those 10 carries in the Monday night game. Now fantasy owners are worried. I think Portis will play this week and he remains a buy low guy. But if the Skins don't start winning games, Portis might be told to have surgery and it could be a lost season.
? Willie Parker, Steelers: Enough with the injured guys, here's someone who had a big Week 1 and a little Week 2, and since the lasting image we have of him was of Jacksonville repeatedly stuffing him last night, that's what fantasy owners choose to highlight. It's one game. It's one game against a very good defense. Parker might be terrific only against bad defenses, and he might lose goal line carries and he might wear down in December. But if you own the guy, play him in Week 3. It was one bad game. I still trust Fast Willie, so should you.
? Carnell Williams, Buccaneers: Of course, we thought opening weekend was just one bad game for poor Cadillac, and it's becoming clear that might not be the case. We always warn owners about panicking on their first round draft picks, but if I was holding a draft tomorrow, Caddy wouldn't be in my top 20. It's looking like the Bucs just can't move the ball, and while some might wonder why a Jake Plummer and Bledsoe are always being talked about losing their jobs, and Chris Simms never seems to have that issue, the fact is Jon Gruden doesn't really have great options. Bruce Gradkowski doesn't have the same pedigree as Jay Cutler, fair or unfair. Simms might be 0-3 after this weekend's game against Carolina. His over/under on season interceptions, if he plays every game, is no more than 26. I know he's on pace for 48, but c'mon, they'd have to bench him at some point. Pitchers who lose 20 games, they were good enough to remain in the rotation. Simms will be removed at some point unless he wins soon. He's taking Cadillac down with him. Don't drop the running back, but sit him until you see a spark.
? Rex Grossman, Bears: So why can't I jump on the Grossman bandwagon? I will if he throws four touchdowns against the Vikings, OK? It might only take two to convince me. I don't want to hammer home the obvious, but torching those Packers and Lions secondaries just isn't enough for me to start Rex over early underachievers (and safe veterans) Tom Brady, Marc Bulger and Matt Hasselbeck (Plummer and Bledsoe, I'd consider that). Grossman wasn't supposed to be bad, he just had a bad preseason. And there's not enough of a sample size on his career because he rarely was on a field. He's healthy now and admittedly looks good, but exposing a Lions defense for a few hours just isn't enough.
? Frank Gore, 49ers: Those who own Gore are thinking they are geniuses at this point. No, really, in every league there's someone who "stole" this guy in round four dancing around in front of his buddies who are sputtering with Jordan, Cadillac and the dreaded Kevin Jones. Well, after two weeks, Gore sure does look like the real thing. I'm not going to call him a sell-high guy, because I think he will be productive all season. That's reasonable. Alex Smith is a threat at quarterback, he has nice weapons to throw to, and Gore is very talented. Will Gore be a top 10 back this season? I'd lean toward saying yes.
? Eli Manning, Giants: What have you been saying about him? I think a lot of people think his Week 2 performance was a fluke. I disagree. He's legit. Enjoy him.
? Reggie Bush, Saints: I'm still playing this guy every week, because there's always going to be the chance that he breaks the long run. And even if he has another week or two in which he rushes six times for five yards, he's got 15 catches in two games! He's a gamebreaker. He's definitely worth using in fantasy, and he's also going to have some games with 100 yards rushing.
? Daunte Culpepper, Dolphins: The funny thing here is that this is pretty much what fantasy experts expected to happen. Culpepper was bad last season before the knee blew out, with 12 interceptions and six touchdown passes. He wasn't as mobile. He didn't have weapons. He was average. Now that he's clearly a pocket passer, he's not nearly as effective. Oh sure, he's got ability, and he'll be a nice fantasy option this weekend against the brutal Titans, but in AFC East games, until further notice, he's not a top 10 fantasy quarterback, or close to it.
? Ravens defense: Received an e-mail today from a loyal reader, who writes, "Eric, I gotta thank you for putting Baltimore's D third on your preseason list. All the magazines and such had them barely in the top 10. They have led two of my teams to 2-0 starts (along with Donovan McNabb). Great call! Ravens continue their huge success against the Browns this week." For those who aren't aware, the Baltimore defense has been exceptional so far, shutting out Tampa Bay in their place and enjoying a cakewalk over Oakland's backup quarterback. This week Cleveland shouldn't be much of a threat. How will the Ravens match up against the big division teams from Cincy and Pittsburgh? Quite well, I think. In Week 1 the Ravens and Bears led all fantasy defenses with 22 points, a mere four points off the league lead (Gore had 26 points). In Week 2 Baltimore scored 27 points, behind only Grossman and Peyton Manning. So after two weeks, the Ravens defense has led fantasy owners to 49 points. Nobody in fantasy has more.
***
Billy Volek was finally traded today to the Chargers, as the Titans gave up on a guy who they buried on the depth chart. Could Volek have led the Titans to a pair of losses to open the season? Absolutely. Would he have looked any worse than Kerry Collins? Probably not. So why did Tennessee sign Collins? Can't tell you. It's clear the team wants Vince Young to take his time learning the offense, throwing him in blindly for a few plays each losing game, but not letting him run the team. In time, Young will get his chance. Fantasy owners will want to know the name in 2007, but not play him now.
As for Collins, don't play him either. Just look at his Week 2 stats. Even Brett Favre wasn't that bad down the stretch last season.
Volek is insurance for Philip Rivers, who I just happen to think is the real deal right now. I know it sounds strange to recommend Rivers, when all he's done is blow out awful Tennessee and Oakland, while I remain cautious on Grossman, but that's how I feel until I see otherwise. Big game for Rivers in Week 4 at Ray Lewis and the Ravens. Until then, with this bye week, Rivers looks terrific.
Even if Volek never makes a significant fantasy impact again, we'll always have Weeks 13-15 in 2004. Volek and Drew Bennett were the best players in fantasy for the final week of the regular season and first two playoff weeks. Think about it. You were unbeaten through your regular season, had a dominant team, and someone picked up Volek and Bennett in the playoffs and killed you. Happened to a lot of people. Volek threw for 426 and 492 yards and a combined nine touchdowns those two weeks. It was unprecedented. And just that fast, you stuck with Volek for Week 15 and got what you deserved when he was 8-for-20 for 111 yards and two picks against the Broncos. Billy Volek, fantasy hero for two or three weeks, a shining star, and now he's a Charger. Go get another third quarterback in fantasy.
 
Hache Man

Hache Man

"Seven Days Without Gambling Makes One Weak"
Re: NFL Fantasy Football News/Articles - ESPN Insider 5 New Articles Added 9/19/06)

Re: NFL Fantasy Football News/Articles - ESPN Insider 5 New Articles Added 9/19/06)

Wednesday, September 20, 2006
<SCRIPT language=javascript src="http://ai059.insightexpressai.com/adServer/adServer.aspx?bannerID=7560"></SCRIPT> Jake's snakebitten


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By Tristan H. Cockcroft
ESPN.com

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<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width=762 border=0><TBODY><TR><TD vAlign=top width=552><!-- begin leftcol --><!-- template inline -->Any time Broncos coach Mike Shanahan has something to say publicly about his players' roles, fantasy owners have to raise an eyebrow, wondering whether the game's most cryptic coach is really being true to his word. That's why his endorsement of Jake Plummer as his starting quarterback following Plummer's second straight disappointing effort in Week 2 might be met with some skepticism in fantasy leagues.
It's not that Plummer is, or ever has been, an elite fantasy quarterback. Not once in his career has he ever topped 30 touchdown passes in a season, and in four seasons he had more interceptions than TDs. But since his move to Denver in 2003, Plummer had actually been one of the more underrated quarterbacks, averaging 224.1 passing yards per game and compiling 60 TDs compared to 34 interceptions in 43 starts from 2003-05.
This season, however, Plummer has gotten off to a dreadful start, completing only 51.8 percent of his pass attempts, and getting sacked and picked off four times apiece compared to no TDs in two games. Strangely enough, it's a remarkably similar trend to his start to the 2005 season, when Plummer had a 52.9 completion percentage, one TD, three interceptions and four sacks in his first two games, coincidentally after which Denver was 1-1.
And perhaps that's the reason Shanahan has such faith in Plummer. Remember, this is a guy who, for fantasy at least, is a matchups type, the kind of guy you picked late and probably paired with another similar option to slot in based on the schedule. Plummer stepped up as a remarkably consistent and mistake-free quarterback beginning with Week 3 a year ago, and let's not overlook how strong he has been in his home games as a member of the Broncos; from 2003-05 he averaged 245.2 passing yards with 35 TDs and 14 interceptions in 22 games at Invesco Field at Mile High. He's in for a tough test at New England in Week 3, so Shanahan's probably also going to give him a few more chances after that to repeat his 2005 turnaround, like the Week 4 and 5 home games against Baltimore and Oakland, respectively.
Rookie Jay Cutler could indeed become a factor if Plummer can't get himself straightened out by midseason, but a team like Denver turning to such an inexperienced quarterback would serve as a sign of desperation. It's hardly what fantasy owners of receivers Javon Walker or Rod Smith want to see, so keep hoping Plummer rebounds and returns to form as a useful fantasy option in home games or road contests against poor pass defenses. <STYLE> .headshot { visibility: visible; padding: 0px 5px 4px 0px; float: left;} .bottom { font: 10px verdana, san-serif; color: #fff; font-weight: bold; background: #006633; padding: 5px; } </STYLE>BETWEEN THE LINES
As expected, the Atlanta Falcons' defense continued to hassle opposing quarterbacks in Week 2, this time the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Chris Simms. Strangely, Atlanta's pass rush continued its high level of effectiveness despite the absence of DE John Abraham, with three interceptions and a sack. The Falcons should be owned in most fantasy leagues at this point, and while I see a few games against elite offense that are of concern (Week 6 vs. Giants, Week 8 at Bengals, Week 17 at Eagles), there are also a fair share of games on the schedule in which the defense could shut down a shaky passing game. For those of you who like to rotate in defenses based on the matchup -- as I do -- the Weeks 3 and 12 games against the Saints, Week 10 against the Browns, Week 13 at the Redskins and Week 14 at the Buccaneers could be standout plays if the team's remarkable play continues. ? Sticking with the defenses, I'd find that most middling-or-better defenses scheduled to face the Tennessee Titans should make intriguing one-week plays. Tennessee's offense is reeling, probably forced to turn to a heavy dose of untested rookies (QB Vince Young and RB LenDale White) at certain points this season, and that'll lead to plenty of mistakes in which an opponent's defense can capitalize. Miami's defense in Week 3, in my mind, is a must-play, unless you own a team like the Ravens, Bears or Eagles, and among the less-dominating defenses that face Tennessee you should consider later in the season are the Colts (Weeks 5 and 13), Redskins (Week 6), Jaguars (Weeks 9 and 15), Giants (Week 12), Bills (Week 16) and Patriots (Week 17).


THE BOTTOM LINE

Carnell Williams, RB, Buccaneers
15 carries, 37 rushing yards, 0 TD
Oh, he'll swear to you that his back spasms aren't the cause of his poor performance through two weeks of the season, but with 23 carries for 59 yards and no scores combined during that span, Williams clearly isn't close to the runner he was as a rookie in 2005, when he managed six 100-yard rushing efforts, scored six times and averaged 4.1 yards per rushing attempt. This season, Cadillac's yards-per-carry average is a paltry 2.6, not much better than the 2.0 he managed in his first three games coming off ankle and foot problems that cost him Weeks 5-6 of the 2005 season. It's nice to see Williams being gritty and trying to play through his back issues, and they're clearly still present if he's concerned about it tightening up when he hits the sideline. But for fantasy, his injury worries need to be taken into account. Tampa Bay's offensive line isn't providing nearly enough support for a running back playing at less than 100 percent, and Chris Simms isn't doing a good enough job keeping defenses honest to take the focus off Cadillac. All that adds up to a risky option as any more than a flex option or No. 2 in deeper leagues, and the worry is that Williams could risk aggravating the problem if it's more serious than he's letting on. His owners shouldn't give up on him by any means, but temper your expectations for him for now, hopefully only until after he gets a week's rest from the bye in Week 4.
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<TABLE class=tablehead cellSpacing=1 cellPadding=3><TBODY><TR><TD class=stathead align=middle bgColor=#555555 colSpan=6>Week 2</TD></TR><TR><TD bgColor=#ffffff> </TD><TD colSpan=5>Donovan McNabb, QB, Eagles: Averaging 40 throws a game, and the Eagles will keep letting him air it out.</TD></TR><!-- inline box score --><TR class=colhead><TD>passYDS</TD><TD>passTD</TD><TD>INT</TD><TD>rushYDS</TD><TD>FPTS</TD></TR><TR class=evenrow vAlign=top><TD><NOBR>350</NOBR></TD><TD><NOBR>2</NOBR></TD><TD><NOBR>0</NOBR></TD><TD><NOBR>31</NOBR></TD><TD><NOBR>25</NOBR></TD></TR><TR><TD bgColor=#ffffff colSpan=5 height=3></TD></TR><TR><TD bgColor=#ffffff> </TD><TD colSpan=5>Frank Gore, RB, 49ers: Has stepped up as a bona fide weekly No. 2 fantasy RB, and has potential for more.</TD></TR><!-- inline box score --><TR class=colhead><TD>ATT</TD><TD>rushYDS</TD><TD>recYDS</TD><TD>TD</TD><TD>FPTS</TD></TR><TR class=evenrow vAlign=top><TD><NOBR>29</NOBR></TD><TD><NOBR>127</NOBR></TD><TD><NOBR>10</NOBR></TD><TD><NOBR>1</NOBR></TD><TD><NOBR>17</NOBR></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><TABLE class=tablehead cellSpacing=1 cellPadding=3><!-- <tr><td align=center bgcolor="#555555" COLSPAN=6 class="stathead" colspan="6"> </td></tr> --><TBODY><TR><TD bgColor=#ffffff> </TD><TD colSpan=5>Antonio Bryant, WR, 49ers: No. 1 receiver on an offense led by a rapidly developing QB (Alex Smith).</TD></TR><!-- inline box score --><TR class=colhead><TD>REC</TD><TD>recYDS</TD><TD>TARGET</TD><TD>TD</TD><TD>FPTS</TD></TR><TR class=evenrow vAlign=top><TD><NOBR>4</NOBR></TD><TD><NOBR>131</NOBR></TD><TD><NOBR>8</NOBR></TD><TD><NOBR>1</NOBR></TD><TD><NOBR>21</NOBR></TD></TR><TR><TD bgColor=#ffffff colSpan=5 height=3></TD></TR><TR><TD bgColor=#ffffff> </TD><TD colSpan=5>L.J. Smith, TE, Eagles: Eagles' focus on pass helps him; Donovan McNabb's spreading the ball around nicely.</TD></TR><!-- inline box score --><TR class=colhead><TD>REC</TD><TD>recYDS</TD><TD>TARGET</TD><TD>TD</TD><TD>FPTS</TD></TR><TR class=evenrow vAlign=top><TD><NOBR>7</NOBR></TD><TD><NOBR>111</NOBR></TD><TD><NOBR>12</NOBR></TD><TD><NOBR>0</NOBR></TD><TD><NOBR>11</NOBR></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

<!-- end also see -->

<!-- begin also see2 -->Surfin' the Scoreboard

Lineup Shuffling
? The Falcons signed K Morten Andersen out of retirement, and the 46-year-old should provide immediate competition to K Michael Koenen for his job. The Falcons are likely to use Andersen in shorter field-goal attempts of 40 yards or less, and Koenen on longer chances, which does nothing but limit both players' fantasy potential. Since kickers are easily replaceable in fantasy leagues, feel free to cut the struggling Koenen.
? The Chargers acquired QB Billy Volek from the Titans Tuesday, and he'll serve as the backup and insurance to QB Philip Rivers. Rivers' job isn't at all in jeopardy, meaning Volek's best chance at seeing any playing time all season is an injury to Rivers. Don't bother with a handcuff for Rivers; he's not a strong enough fantasy player to require one.

Trainer's Room
? Bengals WR T.J. Houshmandzadeh (heel) is expected to return in Week 3 at the Steelers. It'll be interesting to see how Cincinnati works Houshmandzadeh in now that WR Chris Henry has stepped up as a viable receiving target, but Houshmandzadeh is likely to reclaim his No. 2 receiver role at least for this week. It's a tough matchup for either player, so Henry should be avoided, while Houshmandzadeh is only a fringe No. 3 WR.
? Redskins RB Clinton Portis (shoulder) says he'll play in Week 3 at the Texans. Of course, he said he'd be available for Week 2 and then was a surprise late scratch, so Portis owners should monitor his progress in practice all week. He'd be facing a great matchup if he's able to play, and even at less than 100 percent, he'd be a fine No. 2 RB. ? Tuesday Box | Monday Box | Karabell's Blog





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Hache Man

Hache Man

"Seven Days Without Gambling Makes One Weak"
Re: NFL Fantasy Football News/Articles - ESPN Insider 5 New Articles Added 9/19/06)

Re: NFL Fantasy Football News/Articles - ESPN Insider 5 New Articles Added 9/19/06)

Wednesday, September 20, 2006
<SCRIPT language=javascript src="http://ai059.insightexpressai.com/adServer/adServer.aspx?bannerID=7560"></SCRIPT> Jake's snakebitten


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By Tristan H. Cockcroft
ESPN.com

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<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width=762 border=0><TBODY><TR><TD vAlign=top width=552><!-- begin leftcol --><!-- template inline -->Any time Broncos coach Mike Shanahan has something to say publicly about his players' roles, fantasy owners have to raise an eyebrow, wondering whether the game's most cryptic coach is really being true to his word. That's why his endorsement of Jake Plummer as his starting quarterback following Plummer's second straight disappointing effort in Week 2 might be met with some skepticism in fantasy leagues.
It's not that Plummer is, or ever has been, an elite fantasy quarterback. Not once in his career has he ever topped 30 touchdown passes in a season, and in four seasons he had more interceptions than TDs. But since his move to Denver in 2003, Plummer had actually been one of the more underrated quarterbacks, averaging 224.1 passing yards per game and compiling 60 TDs compared to 34 interceptions in 43 starts from 2003-05.
This season, however, Plummer has gotten off to a dreadful start, completing only 51.8 percent of his pass attempts, and getting sacked and picked off four times apiece compared to no TDs in two games. Strangely enough, it's a remarkably similar trend to his start to the 2005 season, when Plummer had a 52.9 completion percentage, one TD, three interceptions and four sacks in his first two games, coincidentally after which Denver was 1-1.
And perhaps that's the reason Shanahan has such faith in Plummer. Remember, this is a guy who, for fantasy at least, is a matchups type, the kind of guy you picked late and probably paired with another similar option to slot in based on the schedule. Plummer stepped up as a remarkably consistent and mistake-free quarterback beginning with Week 3 a year ago, and let's not overlook how strong he has been in his home games as a member of the Broncos; from 2003-05 he averaged 245.2 passing yards with 35 TDs and 14 interceptions in 22 games at Invesco Field at Mile High. He's in for a tough test at New England in Week 3, so Shanahan's probably also going to give him a few more chances after that to repeat his 2005 turnaround, like the Week 4 and 5 home games against Baltimore and Oakland, respectively.
Rookie Jay Cutler could indeed become a factor if Plummer can't get himself straightened out by midseason, but a team like Denver turning to such an inexperienced quarterback would serve as a sign of desperation. It's hardly what fantasy owners of receivers Javon Walker or Rod Smith want to see, so keep hoping Plummer rebounds and returns to form as a useful fantasy option in home games or road contests against poor pass defenses. <STYLE> .headshot { visibility: visible; padding: 0px 5px 4px 0px; float: left;} .bottom { font: 10px verdana, san-serif; color: #fff; font-weight: bold; background: #006633; padding: 5px; } </STYLE>BETWEEN THE LINES
As expected, the Atlanta Falcons' defense continued to hassle opposing quarterbacks in Week 2, this time the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Chris Simms. Strangely, Atlanta's pass rush continued its high level of effectiveness despite the absence of DE John Abraham, with three interceptions and a sack. The Falcons should be owned in most fantasy leagues at this point, and while I see a few games against elite offense that are of concern (Week 6 vs. Giants, Week 8 at Bengals, Week 17 at Eagles), there are also a fair share of games on the schedule in which the defense could shut down a shaky passing game. For those of you who like to rotate in defenses based on the matchup -- as I do -- the Weeks 3 and 12 games against the Saints, Week 10 against the Browns, Week 13 at the Redskins and Week 14 at the Buccaneers could be standout plays if the team's remarkable play continues. ? Sticking with the defenses, I'd find that most middling-or-better defenses scheduled to face the Tennessee Titans should make intriguing one-week plays. Tennessee's offense is reeling, probably forced to turn to a heavy dose of untested rookies (QB Vince Young and RB LenDale White) at certain points this season, and that'll lead to plenty of mistakes in which an opponent's defense can capitalize. Miami's defense in Week 3, in my mind, is a must-play, unless you own a team like the Ravens, Bears or Eagles, and among the less-dominating defenses that face Tennessee you should consider later in the season are the Colts (Weeks 5 and 13), Redskins (Week 6), Jaguars (Weeks 9 and 15), Giants (Week 12), Bills (Week 16) and Patriots (Week 17).


THE BOTTOM LINE

Carnell Williams, RB, Buccaneers
15 carries, 37 rushing yards, 0 TD
Oh, he'll swear to you that his back spasms aren't the cause of his poor performance through two weeks of the season, but with 23 carries for 59 yards and no scores combined during that span, Williams clearly isn't close to the runner he was as a rookie in 2005, when he managed six 100-yard rushing efforts, scored six times and averaged 4.1 yards per rushing attempt. This season, Cadillac's yards-per-carry average is a paltry 2.6, not much better than the 2.0 he managed in his first three games coming off ankle and foot problems that cost him Weeks 5-6 of the 2005 season. It's nice to see Williams being gritty and trying to play through his back issues, and they're clearly still present if he's concerned about it tightening up when he hits the sideline. But for fantasy, his injury worries need to be taken into account. Tampa Bay's offensive line isn't providing nearly enough support for a running back playing at less than 100 percent, and Chris Simms isn't doing a good enough job keeping defenses honest to take the focus off Cadillac. All that adds up to a risky option as any more than a flex option or No. 2 in deeper leagues, and the worry is that Williams could risk aggravating the problem if it's more serious than he's letting on. His owners shouldn't give up on him by any means, but temper your expectations for him for now, hopefully only until after he gets a week's rest from the bye in Week 4.
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<TABLE class=tablehead cellSpacing=1 cellPadding=3><TBODY><TR><TD class=stathead align=middle bgColor=#555555 colSpan=6>Week 2</TD></TR><TR><TD bgColor=#ffffff> </TD><TD colSpan=5>Donovan McNabb, QB, Eagles: Averaging 40 throws a game, and the Eagles will keep letting him air it out.</TD></TR><!-- inline box score --><TR class=colhead><TD>passYDS</TD><TD>passTD</TD><TD>INT</TD><TD>rushYDS</TD><TD>FPTS</TD></TR><TR class=evenrow vAlign=top><TD><NOBR>350</NOBR></TD><TD><NOBR>2</NOBR></TD><TD><NOBR>0</NOBR></TD><TD><NOBR>31</NOBR></TD><TD><NOBR>25</NOBR></TD></TR><TR><TD bgColor=#ffffff colSpan=5 height=3></TD></TR><TR><TD bgColor=#ffffff> </TD><TD colSpan=5>Frank Gore, RB, 49ers: Has stepped up as a bona fide weekly No. 2 fantasy RB, and has potential for more.</TD></TR><!-- inline box score --><TR class=colhead><TD>ATT</TD><TD>rushYDS</TD><TD>recYDS</TD><TD>TD</TD><TD>FPTS</TD></TR><TR class=evenrow vAlign=top><TD><NOBR>29</NOBR></TD><TD><NOBR>127</NOBR></TD><TD><NOBR>10</NOBR></TD><TD><NOBR>1</NOBR></TD><TD><NOBR>17</NOBR></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><TABLE class=tablehead cellSpacing=1 cellPadding=3><!-- <tr><td align=center bgcolor="#555555" COLSPAN=6 class="stathead" colspan="6"> </td></tr> --><TBODY><TR><TD bgColor=#ffffff> </TD><TD colSpan=5>Antonio Bryant, WR, 49ers: No. 1 receiver on an offense led by a rapidly developing QB (Alex Smith).</TD></TR><!-- inline box score --><TR class=colhead><TD>REC</TD><TD>recYDS</TD><TD>TARGET</TD><TD>TD</TD><TD>FPTS</TD></TR><TR class=evenrow vAlign=top><TD><NOBR>4</NOBR></TD><TD><NOBR>131</NOBR></TD><TD><NOBR>8</NOBR></TD><TD><NOBR>1</NOBR></TD><TD><NOBR>21</NOBR></TD></TR><TR><TD bgColor=#ffffff colSpan=5 height=3></TD></TR><TR><TD bgColor=#ffffff> </TD><TD colSpan=5>L.J. Smith, TE, Eagles: Eagles' focus on pass helps him; Donovan McNabb's spreading the ball around nicely.</TD></TR><!-- inline box score --><TR class=colhead><TD>REC</TD><TD>recYDS</TD><TD>TARGET</TD><TD>TD</TD><TD>FPTS</TD></TR><TR class=evenrow vAlign=top><TD><NOBR>7</NOBR></TD><TD><NOBR>111</NOBR></TD><TD><NOBR>12</NOBR></TD><TD><NOBR>0</NOBR></TD><TD><NOBR>11</NOBR></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

<!-- end also see -->

<!-- begin also see2 -->Surfin' the Scoreboard

Lineup Shuffling
? The Falcons signed K Morten Andersen out of retirement, and the 46-year-old should provide immediate competition to K Michael Koenen for his job. The Falcons are likely to use Andersen in shorter field-goal attempts of 40 yards or less, and Koenen on longer chances, which does nothing but limit both players' fantasy potential. Since kickers are easily replaceable in fantasy leagues, feel free to cut the struggling Koenen.
? The Chargers acquired QB Billy Volek from the Titans Tuesday, and he'll serve as the backup and insurance to QB Philip Rivers. Rivers' job isn't at all in jeopardy, meaning Volek's best chance at seeing any playing time all season is an injury to Rivers. Don't bother with a handcuff for Rivers; he's not a strong enough fantasy player to require one.

Trainer's Room
? Bengals WR T.J. Houshmandzadeh (heel) is expected to return in Week 3 at the Steelers. It'll be interesting to see how Cincinnati works Houshmandzadeh in now that WR Chris Henry has stepped up as a viable receiving target, but Houshmandzadeh is likely to reclaim his No. 2 receiver role at least for this week. It's a tough matchup for either player, so Henry should be avoided, while Houshmandzadeh is only a fringe No. 3 WR.
? Redskins RB Clinton Portis (shoulder) says he'll play in Week 3 at the Texans. Of course, he said he'd be available for Week 2 and then was a surprise late scratch, so Portis owners should monitor his progress in practice all week. He'd be facing a great matchup if he's able to play, and even at less than 100 percent, he'd be a fine No. 2 RB. ? Tuesday Box | Monday Box | Karabell's Blog





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Hache Man

Hache Man

"Seven Days Without Gambling Makes One Weak"
Re: NFL Fantasy Football News/Articles - ESPN Insider 5 New Articles Added 9/19/06)

Re: NFL Fantasy Football News/Articles - ESPN Insider 5 New Articles Added 9/19/06)

Sep. 20, 2006, 2:13 PM
<SCRIPT language=javascript src="http://ai059.insightexpressai.com/adServer/adServer.aspx?bannerID=7560"></SCRIPT>


Engel: Can Culpepper and Foster bounce back?


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By Scott Engel
ESPN Fantasy Games

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Each Wednesday, we take a quick-hitting, fantasy-style look at some of the most important stories and trends at the three critical positions in fantasy football.
Quarterbacks
Despite his quarterback's early-season struggles, Dolphins head coach Nick Saban said early this week that he was not thinking of benching Daunte Culpepper yet. Culpepper has not looked good for a variety of reasons. Culpepper's mechanics obviously have been affected because of his repaired knee. Culpepper clearly doesn't plant and throw with authority, and many of his passes seem to lack the proper velocity. When he is under pressure in key situations, Culpepper has struggled with his accuracy. While he has made enough strides in his recovery to play, Culpepper is clearly not effective when it counts.
Culpepper has also made poor decisions at critical moments, and while he has often been willing to dump passes off in flat and short areas, which make his completion rate look better than he is actually playing (41 completions in 69 attempts), he hasn't often been able to deliver the ball to his key receivers during the most important points of games. Chris Chambers should be credited with making an amazing touchdown reception this past Sunday, but he had to make an acrobatic reach for the ball because Culpepper threw it so far and away from him. It was another of Culpepper's early-season throws that seem to die just before they reaches their intended targets, yet Chambers was able to save it from bouncing into the end zone for an incompletion.
Culpepper doesn't exhibit a solid setup and release, and is clearly not comfortable playing on his surgically-repaired knee. But his offensive line and receivers must also be blamed for some of Culpepper's problems. His pass blocking has been inconsistent, and when defenses clamp down on Chambers, other receivers aren't getting open enough. Culpepper's performance against Tennessee will be crucial to his starting status. If he appears to be sluggish against a very bad pass defense, Culpepper could be in real danger of losing his job temporarily. The friendly matchup doesn't make Culpepper a must-start player by any means. And if Joey Harrington gets the call soon, he's certainly no savior or even a solid fantasy reserve.
QB Audibles: Chiefs head coach Herm Edwards said there is no clear timetable for the return of Trent Green. Damon Huard will continue to lead the Kansas City offense, with no sign of the team being able to acquire a better starter any time soon. ? Jeff Fisher said that he will stick with Kerry Collins, although he might be thinking differently in private. There seems to be no choice but for Fisher to go with Vince Young soon if Collins continues to play badly. The Titans have no real chance to contend and even in limited action, Young has looked like he could move the offense more efficiently than Collins. Collins might be a good tutor for Young, but he shouldn't be starting over him. If Young gets the chance to play more often, it could mean slightly improved numbers for the Tennessee receivers. Young will make mistakes, but he also has the natural ability to play respectably in streaks.
Running Backs
After an impressive performance in the Panthers' second game, DeAngelo Williams has created a stir in fantasy leagues. Williams outrushed starter DeShaun Foster, as Williams finished with 74 yards and a score, while Foster totaled only 26 yards rushing at Minnesota. Williams clearly has a lot of upside, and one has to wonder how much past injuries have taken some toll on Foster, who isn't looking like the same occasionally explosive player he used to be in the past.
Williams, who has great vision and can run effectively both inside and outside, also has breakaway potential. He could be the dependable and sometimes outstanding runner the Panthers have sought to stabilize the position for some time. But Panthers head coach John Fox has confirmed that Foster remains his starter for now, and Williams will need a lot more than just one promising outing to soar past Foster on the depth chart. Williams has at least earned the right to share carries with Foster, and Fox indicated the two RBs will split reps going forward. Foster's fantasy value obviously takes a hit, while Williams' appeal continues to rise.
Both players are good flex options right now, as Foster could be motivated to raise his level of play in an effort to keep his starting job, while Williams continues to push for more field time. But ultimately, Williams should end up being the top RB for Carolina. Foster's injury history is well-documented, and even if he stays healthy, he might not be able to consistently outplay the rookie. Foster could play better for a game or two as his job is being threatened, but it's hard to see him holding off Williams in the long term.
RB Cutbacks: Further complicating the Dallas RB picture, Tyson Thompson could now get some more carries, especially while the Cowboys could lean more on the running game while Terrell Owens is out. Julius Jones should not be considered anything more than a flex player after the bye and Marion Barber belongs on your bench, as he is too risky from a statistical perspective. Only add Thompson if you are desperate for RB help, as he shouldn't get enough touches to help your fantasy team. ?According to published reports, Kevan Barlow is set to take over as the startng RB for the Jets in their third game. While Barlow's yardage totals will often be mediocre, he should score a decent amount of TDs as the Jets continue to move the ball well in the air and put him into position for short scoring runs.
Wide Receivers
After two weeks of frustration for his fantasy owners, T.J. Houshmandzadeh should be able to return from a heel injury for the upcoming showdown with the Steelers, it seems. Head coach Marvin Lewis told the Cincinnati Enquirer that Houshmandzadeh is improving after missing the first two games, and he expects him to play in the team's third game.
Of course, Houshmandzadeh was listed as probable for the Bengals' first two games, and didn't play, so fantasy leaguers can't plug him in yet with any high degree of confidence. It certainly is possible that Lewis could be trying to keep the Steelers guessing as they ready for what should be an emotional game. If any part of the Pittsburgh defense seems vulnerable it is the secondary, so Houshmandzadeh should be a good start if he is not downgraded prior to gametime like he was in the first two weeks.
Houhsmandzadeh's possible return doesn't mean you should expect Chris Henry suddenly to go silent, though. The Bengals became well-known for spreading the ball among their receivers last year when all of their best three wideouts were healthy. You can look for Carson Palmer to attack the Pittsburgh secondary this week, with Henry being a key factor and useful No. 3 fantasy receiver. WR Patterns: New Packer Koren Robinson is expected to see more work in practices and should start to become more involved in the passing game soon. It's conceivable he could pass Robert Ferguson on the depth chart at some point, but doubtful he would start later in the year over Greg Jennings, who has firmly established himself as the Packers' No. 2 WR. Robinson should be added only if you are desperate for receiving help in a league of at least 14 teams. ? The Panthers' Drew Carter suffered a fractured finger in Sunday's loss at Minnesota, and hasn't produced as hoped with Steve Smith out. If he is still on your roster, cut him loose.
</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
 
Hache Man

Hache Man

"Seven Days Without Gambling Makes One Weak"
Re: NFL Fantasy Football News/Articles - ESPN Insider 5 New Articles Added 9/19/06)

Re: NFL Fantasy Football News/Articles - ESPN Insider 5 New Articles Added 9/19/06)

Sep. 20, 2006, 2:13 PM
<SCRIPT language=javascript src="http://ai059.insightexpressai.com/adServer/adServer.aspx?bannerID=7560"></SCRIPT>


Engel: Can Culpepper and Foster bounce back?


<!-- end pagetitle --><!-- begin bylinebox -->
<!-- firstName = Scott --><!-- lastName = Engel -->
By Scott Engel
ESPN Fantasy Games

<!-- begin presby2 -->
<!-- end presby2 -->
<!-- end bylinebox -->
<!-- begin text11 div -->
<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD style="PADDING-TOP: 10px" vAlign=top><!-- begin leftcol --><!-- template inline -->
Each Wednesday, we take a quick-hitting, fantasy-style look at some of the most important stories and trends at the three critical positions in fantasy football.
Quarterbacks
Despite his quarterback's early-season struggles, Dolphins head coach Nick Saban said early this week that he was not thinking of benching Daunte Culpepper yet. Culpepper has not looked good for a variety of reasons. Culpepper's mechanics obviously have been affected because of his repaired knee. Culpepper clearly doesn't plant and throw with authority, and many of his passes seem to lack the proper velocity. When he is under pressure in key situations, Culpepper has struggled with his accuracy. While he has made enough strides in his recovery to play, Culpepper is clearly not effective when it counts.
Culpepper has also made poor decisions at critical moments, and while he has often been willing to dump passes off in flat and short areas, which make his completion rate look better than he is actually playing (41 completions in 69 attempts), he hasn't often been able to deliver the ball to his key receivers during the most important points of games. Chris Chambers should be credited with making an amazing touchdown reception this past Sunday, but he had to make an acrobatic reach for the ball because Culpepper threw it so far and away from him. It was another of Culpepper's early-season throws that seem to die just before they reaches their intended targets, yet Chambers was able to save it from bouncing into the end zone for an incompletion.
Culpepper doesn't exhibit a solid setup and release, and is clearly not comfortable playing on his surgically-repaired knee. But his offensive line and receivers must also be blamed for some of Culpepper's problems. His pass blocking has been inconsistent, and when defenses clamp down on Chambers, other receivers aren't getting open enough. Culpepper's performance against Tennessee will be crucial to his starting status. If he appears to be sluggish against a very bad pass defense, Culpepper could be in real danger of losing his job temporarily. The friendly matchup doesn't make Culpepper a must-start player by any means. And if Joey Harrington gets the call soon, he's certainly no savior or even a solid fantasy reserve.
QB Audibles: Chiefs head coach Herm Edwards said there is no clear timetable for the return of Trent Green. Damon Huard will continue to lead the Kansas City offense, with no sign of the team being able to acquire a better starter any time soon. ? Jeff Fisher said that he will stick with Kerry Collins, although he might be thinking differently in private. There seems to be no choice but for Fisher to go with Vince Young soon if Collins continues to play badly. The Titans have no real chance to contend and even in limited action, Young has looked like he could move the offense more efficiently than Collins. Collins might be a good tutor for Young, but he shouldn't be starting over him. If Young gets the chance to play more often, it could mean slightly improved numbers for the Tennessee receivers. Young will make mistakes, but he also has the natural ability to play respectably in streaks.
Running Backs
After an impressive performance in the Panthers' second game, DeAngelo Williams has created a stir in fantasy leagues. Williams outrushed starter DeShaun Foster, as Williams finished with 74 yards and a score, while Foster totaled only 26 yards rushing at Minnesota. Williams clearly has a lot of upside, and one has to wonder how much past injuries have taken some toll on Foster, who isn't looking like the same occasionally explosive player he used to be in the past.
Williams, who has great vision and can run effectively both inside and outside, also has breakaway potential. He could be the dependable and sometimes outstanding runner the Panthers have sought to stabilize the position for some time. But Panthers head coach John Fox has confirmed that Foster remains his starter for now, and Williams will need a lot more than just one promising outing to soar past Foster on the depth chart. Williams has at least earned the right to share carries with Foster, and Fox indicated the two RBs will split reps going forward. Foster's fantasy value obviously takes a hit, while Williams' appeal continues to rise.
Both players are good flex options right now, as Foster could be motivated to raise his level of play in an effort to keep his starting job, while Williams continues to push for more field time. But ultimately, Williams should end up being the top RB for Carolina. Foster's injury history is well-documented, and even if he stays healthy, he might not be able to consistently outplay the rookie. Foster could play better for a game or two as his job is being threatened, but it's hard to see him holding off Williams in the long term.
RB Cutbacks: Further complicating the Dallas RB picture, Tyson Thompson could now get some more carries, especially while the Cowboys could lean more on the running game while Terrell Owens is out. Julius Jones should not be considered anything more than a flex player after the bye and Marion Barber belongs on your bench, as he is too risky from a statistical perspective. Only add Thompson if you are desperate for RB help, as he shouldn't get enough touches to help your fantasy team. ?According to published reports, Kevan Barlow is set to take over as the startng RB for the Jets in their third game. While Barlow's yardage totals will often be mediocre, he should score a decent amount of TDs as the Jets continue to move the ball well in the air and put him into position for short scoring runs.
Wide Receivers
After two weeks of frustration for his fantasy owners, T.J. Houshmandzadeh should be able to return from a heel injury for the upcoming showdown with the Steelers, it seems. Head coach Marvin Lewis told the Cincinnati Enquirer that Houshmandzadeh is improving after missing the first two games, and he expects him to play in the team's third game.
Of course, Houshmandzadeh was listed as probable for the Bengals' first two games, and didn't play, so fantasy leaguers can't plug him in yet with any high degree of confidence. It certainly is possible that Lewis could be trying to keep the Steelers guessing as they ready for what should be an emotional game. If any part of the Pittsburgh defense seems vulnerable it is the secondary, so Houshmandzadeh should be a good start if he is not downgraded prior to gametime like he was in the first two weeks.
Houhsmandzadeh's possible return doesn't mean you should expect Chris Henry suddenly to go silent, though. The Bengals became well-known for spreading the ball among their receivers last year when all of their best three wideouts were healthy. You can look for Carson Palmer to attack the Pittsburgh secondary this week, with Henry being a key factor and useful No. 3 fantasy receiver. WR Patterns: New Packer Koren Robinson is expected to see more work in practices and should start to become more involved in the passing game soon. It's conceivable he could pass Robert Ferguson on the depth chart at some point, but doubtful he would start later in the year over Greg Jennings, who has firmly established himself as the Packers' No. 2 WR. Robinson should be added only if you are desperate for receiving help in a league of at least 14 teams. ? The Panthers' Drew Carter suffered a fractured finger in Sunday's loss at Minnesota, and hasn't produced as hoped with Steve Smith out. If he is still on your roster, cut him loose.
</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
 
Hache Man

Hache Man

"Seven Days Without Gambling Makes One Weak"
Re: NFL Fantasy Football News/Articles - ESPN Insider 5 New Articles Added 9/19/06)

Re: NFL Fantasy Football News/Articles - ESPN Insider 5 New Articles Added 9/19/06)

Sep. 20, 2006, 10:00 AM
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FFL: Week 3 Lineup Rankings


<!-- end pagetitle --><!-- begin bylinebox -->
<!-- firstName = Scott --><!-- lastName = Engel -->
By Scott Engel
ESPN Fantasy Games

<!-- begin presby2 -->
<!-- end presby2 -->
<!-- end bylinebox -->
<!-- begin text11 div -->
<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD style="PADDING-TOP: 10px" vAlign=top><!-- begin leftcol --><!-- template inline -->Quarterbacks
1. Peyton Manning vs. JAC
2. Donovan McNabb at SF
3. Eli Manning at SEA
<!--##FRONTSTOP##-->4. Carson Palmer at PIT
5. Tom Brady vs. DEN
6. Kurt Warner vs. STL
7. Marc Bulger at ARI
8. Matt Hasselbeck vs. NYG
9. Drew Brees vs. ATL
10. Chad Pennington at BUF
<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=2 width=200 align=right border=0><TBODY><TR vAlign=top><TD width=8><SPACER type="block" height="1" width="8"></TD><TD width=300 bgColor=#ecece4>[FONT=Arial,Helvetica, sans-serif]We rate players based on possible fantasy production each week, taking into account past production as well as matchups. These are not overall player rankings, but rather a list of who you should start for the upcoming week. Top superstars will rarely get moved out of the prime spots, as they should not be benched unless injured. Most players with an unclear injury or starting status for the upcoming week will not be included. All four major offensive positions and defense/special teams units are ranked. [/FONT]</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>11. Rex Grossman at MIN
12. Brett Favre at DET
13. Daunte Culpepper vs. TEN
14. Steve McNair at CLE
15. Byron Leftwich at IND
16. Michael Vick at NO
17. Jake Delhomme at TB
18. David Carr vs. WAS
19. Ben Roethlisberger vs. CIN
20. Jon Kitna vs. GB
21. Mark Brunell at HOU
22. Jake Plummer at NE
23. Alex Smith vs. PHI
24. Brad Johnson vs. CHI
25. J.P. Losman vs. NYJ
26. Charlie Frye vs. BAL
27. Chris Simms vs. CAR
28. Kerry Collins at MIA

Running Backs
1. Shaun Alexander vs. NYG
2. Tiki Barber at SEA
3. Steven Jackson at ARI
4. Ronnie Brown vs. TEN
5. Rudi Johnson at PIT
6. Edgerrin James vs. STL
7. Willie Parker vs. CIN
8. Willis McGahee vs. NYJ
9. Frank Gore vs. PHI
10. Warrick Dunn at.NO
11. Reggie Bush vs. ATL
12. Brian Westbrook at SF
13. Corey Dillon vs. DEN
14. Jamal Lewis at CLE
15. Chester Taylor vs. CHI
16. Tatum Bell at NE
17. Laurence Maroney vs. DEN
18. Ahman Green at DET
19. Kevin Jones vs. GB
20. Deuce McAllister vs. ATL
21. DeShaun Foster at TB
22. DeAngelo Williams at TB
23. Carnell Williams vs. CAR
24. Fred Taylor at IND
25. Thomas Jones at MIN
26. Reuben Droughns vs. BAL
27. Dominic Rhodes vs. JAC
28. Joseph Addai vs. JAC
29. Ladell Betts at HOU
30. Mike Bell at NE
31. Kevan Barlow at BUF
32. Chris Brown at MIA
33. Jerious Norwood at NO
34. Cedric Benson at MIN
35. Brandon Jacobs at SEA
36. Travis Henry at MIA
37. Ron Dayne vs. WAS
38. Wali Lundy vs. WAS
39. LenDale White at MIA
40. T.J. Duckett at HOU

Wide Receivers
1. Chad Johnson at PIT
2. Marvin Harrison vs. JAC
3. Santana Moss at HOU
4. Torry Holt at ARI
5. Anquan Boldin vs. STL
6. Larry Fitzgerald vs. STL
7. Donte' Stallworth at SF
8. Donald Driver at DET
9. Reggie Wayne vs. JAC
10. Plaxico Burress at SEA
11. Hines Ward vs. CIN
12. Laveranues Coles at BUF
13. Chris Chambers vs. TEN
14. Andre Johnson vs. WAS
15. Joey Galloway vs. CAR
16. Roy Williams vs. GB
17. Antonio Bryant vs. PHI
18. Darrell Jackson vs. NYG
19. T.J. Houshmandzadeh at PIT
20. Javon Walker at NE
21. Amani Toomer at SEA
22. Joe Horn vs. ATL
23. Lee Evans vs. NYJ
24. Derrick Mason at CLE
25. Muhsin Muhammad at MIN
26. Troy Williamson vs. CHI
27. Greg Jennings at DET
28. Matt Jones at IND
29. Jerricho Cotchery at BUF
30. Reggie Brown at SF
31. Drew Bennett at MIA
32. Bernard Berrian at MIN
33. Marques Colston vs. ATL
34. Isaac Bruce at ARI
35. Reggie Williams at IND
36. Marty Booker vs. TEN
37. Rod Smith at NE
38. Chris Henry at PIT
39. Chad Jackson vs. DEN
40. Deion Branch vs. NYG
41. Braylon Edwards vs. BAL
42. Eric Moulds vs. WAS
43. Keyshawn Johnson at TB
44. Michael Jenkins at.NO
45. Mike Furrey vs. GB
46. Mark Clayton at CLE
47. Michael Clayton vs. CAR
48. Brandon Lloyd at HOU
49. Ernest Wilford at IND
50. Devery Henderson vs. ATL
51. Antwaan Randle El at HOU
52. Nate Burleson vs. NYG
53. David Givens at MIA
54, Troy Brown vs. DEN
55. Roddy White at NO
56. Nate Washington vs. CIN
57. Drew Carter at TB
58. Marcus Robinson vs. CHI
59. Doug Gabriel vs. DEN
60. Robert Ferguson at DET

Tight Ends
1. Todd Heap at CLE
2. Jeremy Shockey at SEA
3. L.J. Smith at SF
4. Alge Crumpler at NO
5. Randy McMichael vs. TEN
6. Heath Miller vs. CIN
7. Chris Cooley at HOU
8. Benjamin Watson vs. DEN
9. Desmond Clark at MIN
10. Kellen Winslow Jr. vs. BAL
11. Vernon Davis vs. PHI
12. Dallas Clark vs, JAC
13. Marcus Pollard vs. GB
14. Bubba Franks at DET
15. Joe Klopfenstein at ARI
16. Chris Baker at BUF
17. Jermaine Wiggins vs. CHI
18. John Gilmore at MIN
19. Ben Troupe at MIA
20. Adam Bergen vs. STL
21. Bryan Fletcher vs. JAC
22. Alex Smith vs. CAR
23. Tony Scheffler at NR
24. Daniel Graham vs. DEN
25. Ben Utecht vs. JAC

Defense/Special Teams
1. Chicago at MIN
2. Baltimore at CLE
3. Pittsburgh vs. CIN
4. Carolina at TB
5. Miami vs. TEN
6. Philadelphia at SF
7. Indianapolis vs. JAC
8. Cincinnati at PIT
9. N.Y. Giants at SEA
10. Washington at HOU
11. Jacksonville at IND
12. Seattle vs. NYG
13. Tampa Bay vs. CAR
14. Atlanta at NO
15. New England vs. DEN
16. Minnesota vs. CHI
17. N.Y. Jets at BUF
18. Buffalo vs. NYJ
19. Denver at NE
20. Cleveland vs. BAL
21. New Orleans vs. ATL
22. Green Bay at DET
23. Detroit vs. GB
24. St. Louis at ARI
25. Arizona vs. STL
26. San Francisco vs. PHI
27. Houston vs. WAS
28. Tennessee at MIA

</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
 
Hache Man

Hache Man

"Seven Days Without Gambling Makes One Weak"
Re: NFL Fantasy Football News/Articles - ESPN Insider 5 New Articles Added 9/19/06)

Re: NFL Fantasy Football News/Articles - ESPN Insider 5 New Articles Added 9/19/06)

Sep. 20, 2006, 10:00 AM
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FFL: Week 3 Lineup Rankings


<!-- end pagetitle --><!-- begin bylinebox -->
<!-- firstName = Scott --><!-- lastName = Engel -->
By Scott Engel
ESPN Fantasy Games

<!-- begin presby2 -->
<!-- end presby2 -->
<!-- end bylinebox -->
<!-- begin text11 div -->
<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD style="PADDING-TOP: 10px" vAlign=top><!-- begin leftcol --><!-- template inline -->Quarterbacks
1. Peyton Manning vs. JAC
2. Donovan McNabb at SF
3. Eli Manning at SEA
<!--##FRONTSTOP##-->4. Carson Palmer at PIT
5. Tom Brady vs. DEN
6. Kurt Warner vs. STL
7. Marc Bulger at ARI
8. Matt Hasselbeck vs. NYG
9. Drew Brees vs. ATL
10. Chad Pennington at BUF
<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=2 width=200 align=right border=0><TBODY><TR vAlign=top><TD width=8><SPACER type="block" height="1" width="8"></TD><TD width=300 bgColor=#ecece4>[FONT=Arial,Helvetica, sans-serif]We rate players based on possible fantasy production each week, taking into account past production as well as matchups. These are not overall player rankings, but rather a list of who you should start for the upcoming week. Top superstars will rarely get moved out of the prime spots, as they should not be benched unless injured. Most players with an unclear injury or starting status for the upcoming week will not be included. All four major offensive positions and defense/special teams units are ranked. [/FONT]</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>11. Rex Grossman at MIN
12. Brett Favre at DET
13. Daunte Culpepper vs. TEN
14. Steve McNair at CLE
15. Byron Leftwich at IND
16. Michael Vick at NO
17. Jake Delhomme at TB
18. David Carr vs. WAS
19. Ben Roethlisberger vs. CIN
20. Jon Kitna vs. GB
21. Mark Brunell at HOU
22. Jake Plummer at NE
23. Alex Smith vs. PHI
24. Brad Johnson vs. CHI
25. J.P. Losman vs. NYJ
26. Charlie Frye vs. BAL
27. Chris Simms vs. CAR
28. Kerry Collins at MIA

Running Backs
1. Shaun Alexander vs. NYG
2. Tiki Barber at SEA
3. Steven Jackson at ARI
4. Ronnie Brown vs. TEN
5. Rudi Johnson at PIT
6. Edgerrin James vs. STL
7. Willie Parker vs. CIN
8. Willis McGahee vs. NYJ
9. Frank Gore vs. PHI
10. Warrick Dunn at.NO
11. Reggie Bush vs. ATL
12. Brian Westbrook at SF
13. Corey Dillon vs. DEN
14. Jamal Lewis at CLE
15. Chester Taylor vs. CHI
16. Tatum Bell at NE
17. Laurence Maroney vs. DEN
18. Ahman Green at DET
19. Kevin Jones vs. GB
20. Deuce McAllister vs. ATL
21. DeShaun Foster at TB
22. DeAngelo Williams at TB
23. Carnell Williams vs. CAR
24. Fred Taylor at IND
25. Thomas Jones at MIN
26. Reuben Droughns vs. BAL
27. Dominic Rhodes vs. JAC
28. Joseph Addai vs. JAC
29. Ladell Betts at HOU
30. Mike Bell at NE
31. Kevan Barlow at BUF
32. Chris Brown at MIA
33. Jerious Norwood at NO
34. Cedric Benson at MIN
35. Brandon Jacobs at SEA
36. Travis Henry at MIA
37. Ron Dayne vs. WAS
38. Wali Lundy vs. WAS
39. LenDale White at MIA
40. T.J. Duckett at HOU

Wide Receivers
1. Chad Johnson at PIT
2. Marvin Harrison vs. JAC
3. Santana Moss at HOU
4. Torry Holt at ARI
5. Anquan Boldin vs. STL
6. Larry Fitzgerald vs. STL
7. Donte' Stallworth at SF
8. Donald Driver at DET
9. Reggie Wayne vs. JAC
10. Plaxico Burress at SEA
11. Hines Ward vs. CIN
12. Laveranues Coles at BUF
13. Chris Chambers vs. TEN
14. Andre Johnson vs. WAS
15. Joey Galloway vs. CAR
16. Roy Williams vs. GB
17. Antonio Bryant vs. PHI
18. Darrell Jackson vs. NYG
19. T.J. Houshmandzadeh at PIT
20. Javon Walker at NE
21. Amani Toomer at SEA
22. Joe Horn vs. ATL
23. Lee Evans vs. NYJ
24. Derrick Mason at CLE
25. Muhsin Muhammad at MIN
26. Troy Williamson vs. CHI
27. Greg Jennings at DET
28. Matt Jones at IND
29. Jerricho Cotchery at BUF
30. Reggie Brown at SF
31. Drew Bennett at MIA
32. Bernard Berrian at MIN
33. Marques Colston vs. ATL
34. Isaac Bruce at ARI
35. Reggie Williams at IND
36. Marty Booker vs. TEN
37. Rod Smith at NE
38. Chris Henry at PIT
39. Chad Jackson vs. DEN
40. Deion Branch vs. NYG
41. Braylon Edwards vs. BAL
42. Eric Moulds vs. WAS
43. Keyshawn Johnson at TB
44. Michael Jenkins at.NO
45. Mike Furrey vs. GB
46. Mark Clayton at CLE
47. Michael Clayton vs. CAR
48. Brandon Lloyd at HOU
49. Ernest Wilford at IND
50. Devery Henderson vs. ATL
51. Antwaan Randle El at HOU
52. Nate Burleson vs. NYG
53. David Givens at MIA
54, Troy Brown vs. DEN
55. Roddy White at NO
56. Nate Washington vs. CIN
57. Drew Carter at TB
58. Marcus Robinson vs. CHI
59. Doug Gabriel vs. DEN
60. Robert Ferguson at DET

Tight Ends
1. Todd Heap at CLE
2. Jeremy Shockey at SEA
3. L.J. Smith at SF
4. Alge Crumpler at NO
5. Randy McMichael vs. TEN
6. Heath Miller vs. CIN
7. Chris Cooley at HOU
8. Benjamin Watson vs. DEN
9. Desmond Clark at MIN
10. Kellen Winslow Jr. vs. BAL
11. Vernon Davis vs. PHI
12. Dallas Clark vs, JAC
13. Marcus Pollard vs. GB
14. Bubba Franks at DET
15. Joe Klopfenstein at ARI
16. Chris Baker at BUF
17. Jermaine Wiggins vs. CHI
18. John Gilmore at MIN
19. Ben Troupe at MIA
20. Adam Bergen vs. STL
21. Bryan Fletcher vs. JAC
22. Alex Smith vs. CAR
23. Tony Scheffler at NR
24. Daniel Graham vs. DEN
25. Ben Utecht vs. JAC

Defense/Special Teams
1. Chicago at MIN
2. Baltimore at CLE
3. Pittsburgh vs. CIN
4. Carolina at TB
5. Miami vs. TEN
6. Philadelphia at SF
7. Indianapolis vs. JAC
8. Cincinnati at PIT
9. N.Y. Giants at SEA
10. Washington at HOU
11. Jacksonville at IND
12. Seattle vs. NYG
13. Tampa Bay vs. CAR
14. Atlanta at NO
15. New England vs. DEN
16. Minnesota vs. CHI
17. N.Y. Jets at BUF
18. Buffalo vs. NYJ
19. Denver at NE
20. Cleveland vs. BAL
21. New Orleans vs. ATL
22. Green Bay at DET
23. Detroit vs. GB
24. St. Louis at ARI
25. Arizona vs. STL
26. San Francisco vs. PHI
27. Houston vs. WAS
28. Tennessee at MIA

</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
 
Hache Man

Hache Man

"Seven Days Without Gambling Makes One Weak"
Re: NFL Fantasy Football News/Articles - ESPN Insider 3 New Articles Added 9/20/06)

Re: NFL Fantasy Football News/Articles - ESPN Insider 3 New Articles Added 9/20/06)

Sep. 21, 2006, 12:56 PM
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Week 3: 10 Things to watch


<!-- end pagetitle --><!-- begin bylinebox -->
<!-- firstName = tristan --><!-- lastName = Cockcroft -->
By Tristan H. Cockcroft
ESPN Fantasy Games

<!-- begin presby2 -->
<!-- end presby2 -->
<!-- end bylinebox -->
<!-- begin text11 div -->
<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD style="PADDING-TOP: 10px" vAlign=top><!-- begin leftcol --><!-- template inline -->
Each week, I provide my list of 10 things I'm watching on game day, so you'll be prepared for some of the week's biggest developments in advance of them happening.
Chester Taylor's workload. His rushing attempts did take a hit in Week 2, dropping from 31 to 24, but with 55 on the season, Taylor is nevertheless on pace for a record-setting, 440-carry campaign (30 more than Jamal Anderson's 410 in 1998). For fantasy, it's nice to see him getting so much work, since it maximizes Taylor's chances at earning us points, but for fantasy, it's also a concern to see him getting so much work, since a 400-plus carry pace will do nothing but increase the likelihood he'll wear down the second half of the season. His career high in carries, incidentally, was 160 in 2004, so either his legs are fresher or he's not physically prepared for such a boost in his workload. Whichever it is, we're going to find out, because coach Brad Childress remains committed to a heavy dose of Taylor, meaning a 400-carry season, barring injury, is well within reach. He'll surely touch the ball enough to make an impact against the Bears, but could soon be a sell-high candidate.
Ben Roethlisberger's health. Was it his 100.4 temperature -- nope, it wasn't 104, which would have left him positively delirious -- or the remnants of his appendectomy that caused him to perform so poorly in his first game of the season? Roethlisberger has had a rough go of it so far this year, and while he looked so promising leading his Steelers to Super Bowl glory last season, it's any wonder how quickly he'll return to that upward career trend. He's bound to be tested in Week 3 against the Bengals -- they scored 38 points against the Steelers in Week 13 last season -- and if he can't hang in there in what could be a surprising shoot-out, it's not going to speak well of his fantasy value for the short term.
Carolina's changing of the guard? It's no longer a question of whether DeAngelo Williams will take over the Panthers' starting running back job, it's when he'll do so. DeShaun Foster has had trouble breaking free of opposing tacklers this season, and his 2.9 yards-per-carry average shows how he's not getting the job done, endorsements by coach John Fox aside. Week 3 is a critical game for these Panthers, now facing a possible 0-3 start and two division losses, meaning Foster's probably on a much shorter leash than is being let on. I have a feeling Williams will get his chance to carry the offense at some point on Sunday, and if he's the key to victory, his reward should be the job.
Frank Gore's first big challenge. The one knock on Gore that few people seem to be discussing is his fumbling issues, as he has lost a fumble in each of his first two games, both critical gaffes. In Week 1, his fumble led to an Arizona touchdown, and in Week 2, his fumble cost him and the 49ers a potential touchdown, as he lost the ball at the two-yard line. Those aren't things that should condemn Gore, not by any means, but if he registers a disappointing performance here or there in the next several weeks, it's something people could begin worrying about. The Week 3 game against Philadelphia presents Gore his first true defensive challenge of his career, and while I'm confident in his ability, he could really use a big-time effort here because it'd lock him in as a must-start option.
The great Jay Cutler debate. I never know what quite to believe from Broncos coach Mike Shanahan, though to his credit, he seems to have been fairly honest with his comments about his running backs so far this season. I'll take him for his word again when he says quarterback Jake Plummer's job isn't in immediate jeopardy, because when he says Plummer got off to a similar slow start in 2005 but turned things around in Week 3, he's not lying. That's really the way Plummer's season shook out. Granted, this year's Week 3 game (at New England) is a lot tougher than last year's (vs. Kansas City), but that could mean Plummer gets at least this and the Week 5 game against Baltimore to turn his season around. Otherwise, the Cutler talk could indeed become a reality.
Washington's inept offense. For a proper representation of how poorly quarterback Mark Brunell has performed, consider that with eight minutes to go in last Sunday's game, he had completed only eight of 20 pass attempts for 69 yards, no scores and an interception, meaning he actually played much worse than the full-game numbers looked (197 yards, no TDs, one interception). Pitting him against the Texans' defense might have some owners thinking Brunell and his mates are all fine plays, but some players' talent winds up beneath exploiting the matchup, and I think this is one of those cases where Washington players are better show-me types than actual fantasy starts. Clinton Portis, Santana Moss and Chris Cooley are all going to wind up too good to sit now that the bye weeks are here, but my advice is to be careful. I don't see any breakout efforts and this is a game better suited to Brunell et al proving whether this team can capitalize on good matchups at all.
Kevan Barlow's first chance to start. That Jets running back-by-committee situation is quite a mess for fantasy purposes, but don't forget, at the time the team acquired Barlow, everyone was under the assumption that the starting job this season would be his. Now it looks like it is, with Derrick Blaylock's stock dropping, and a strong effort in Week 3 against the Bills would go a long way towards Barlow reclaiming matchups status in most leagues. Remember, it's not talent necessarily that has held Barlow back from being a reliable fantasy starter, it's been health; too often nagging injuries have hindered his on-field performance. One good thing: He's sure looking healthy right now.
Daunte Culpepper's passing problems. Isn't this about what we all should have expected from Culpepper in his return from knee surgery? He no longer scrambles, and as more of a pocket passer, anytime he makes those ill-advised throws his fantasy owners are going to question his talent. Culpepper is sure looking a lot like someone to play against poor defenses and avoid against good ones, and in Week 3, he sure has a nice matchup against the Titans. It'd be nice to see him enjoy some degree of success, because if he doesn't, one has to wonder whether he'll be trustworthy at all for fantasy this season.
Reggie's rough time as a runner. Some might call Saints rookie Reggie Bush a disappointment for having not scored a touchdown and averaged only 5.3 yards per touch so far -- yes, that includes his receptions -- but the truth is that he has been a key component of the New Orleans offense. He truly makes some acrobatic catches, and is as talented if not more so as a pass catcher than any other running back in the league. Before long, Bush is going to settle into an NFL groove, letting his talent take over instead of seemingly having to try to make big plays, and when that happens he's going to become the kind of fantasy player a Marshall Faulk was in his prime (picking a fairly recent example). The next couple of weeks should give us a better idea of how quickly that will happen. Rex Grossman's astonishing start. What a performance from Grossman the first two weeks of the season, with 551 passing yards and five touchdowns en route to the league's leading passer rating (128.7). I know, passer rating is irrelevant to fantasy, but you can't deny that Grossman has been arguably the most surprising story to date. The problem, however, is that his success has come largely at the hands of two terrible secondaries (Green Bay and Detroit), and with the Bears' running game looking rather shaky, it's no surprise he was the offensive focus in those contests. Grossman now begins facing teams that should challenge him a bit more, and I'd say he needs about three standout games before being considered a trustworthy No. 2/matchups type quarterback.
</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
 
Hache Man

Hache Man

"Seven Days Without Gambling Makes One Weak"
Re: NFL Fantasy Football News/Articles - ESPN Insider 3 New Articles Added 9/20/06)

Re: NFL Fantasy Football News/Articles - ESPN Insider 3 New Articles Added 9/20/06)

Sep. 21, 2006, 12:56 PM
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Week 3: 10 Things to watch


<!-- end pagetitle --><!-- begin bylinebox -->
<!-- firstName = tristan --><!-- lastName = Cockcroft -->
By Tristan H. Cockcroft
ESPN Fantasy Games

<!-- begin presby2 -->
<!-- end presby2 -->
<!-- end bylinebox -->
<!-- begin text11 div -->
<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD style="PADDING-TOP: 10px" vAlign=top><!-- begin leftcol --><!-- template inline -->
Each week, I provide my list of 10 things I'm watching on game day, so you'll be prepared for some of the week's biggest developments in advance of them happening.
Chester Taylor's workload. His rushing attempts did take a hit in Week 2, dropping from 31 to 24, but with 55 on the season, Taylor is nevertheless on pace for a record-setting, 440-carry campaign (30 more than Jamal Anderson's 410 in 1998). For fantasy, it's nice to see him getting so much work, since it maximizes Taylor's chances at earning us points, but for fantasy, it's also a concern to see him getting so much work, since a 400-plus carry pace will do nothing but increase the likelihood he'll wear down the second half of the season. His career high in carries, incidentally, was 160 in 2004, so either his legs are fresher or he's not physically prepared for such a boost in his workload. Whichever it is, we're going to find out, because coach Brad Childress remains committed to a heavy dose of Taylor, meaning a 400-carry season, barring injury, is well within reach. He'll surely touch the ball enough to make an impact against the Bears, but could soon be a sell-high candidate.
Ben Roethlisberger's health. Was it his 100.4 temperature -- nope, it wasn't 104, which would have left him positively delirious -- or the remnants of his appendectomy that caused him to perform so poorly in his first game of the season? Roethlisberger has had a rough go of it so far this year, and while he looked so promising leading his Steelers to Super Bowl glory last season, it's any wonder how quickly he'll return to that upward career trend. He's bound to be tested in Week 3 against the Bengals -- they scored 38 points against the Steelers in Week 13 last season -- and if he can't hang in there in what could be a surprising shoot-out, it's not going to speak well of his fantasy value for the short term.
Carolina's changing of the guard? It's no longer a question of whether DeAngelo Williams will take over the Panthers' starting running back job, it's when he'll do so. DeShaun Foster has had trouble breaking free of opposing tacklers this season, and his 2.9 yards-per-carry average shows how he's not getting the job done, endorsements by coach John Fox aside. Week 3 is a critical game for these Panthers, now facing a possible 0-3 start and two division losses, meaning Foster's probably on a much shorter leash than is being let on. I have a feeling Williams will get his chance to carry the offense at some point on Sunday, and if he's the key to victory, his reward should be the job.
Frank Gore's first big challenge. The one knock on Gore that few people seem to be discussing is his fumbling issues, as he has lost a fumble in each of his first two games, both critical gaffes. In Week 1, his fumble led to an Arizona touchdown, and in Week 2, his fumble cost him and the 49ers a potential touchdown, as he lost the ball at the two-yard line. Those aren't things that should condemn Gore, not by any means, but if he registers a disappointing performance here or there in the next several weeks, it's something people could begin worrying about. The Week 3 game against Philadelphia presents Gore his first true defensive challenge of his career, and while I'm confident in his ability, he could really use a big-time effort here because it'd lock him in as a must-start option.
The great Jay Cutler debate. I never know what quite to believe from Broncos coach Mike Shanahan, though to his credit, he seems to have been fairly honest with his comments about his running backs so far this season. I'll take him for his word again when he says quarterback Jake Plummer's job isn't in immediate jeopardy, because when he says Plummer got off to a similar slow start in 2005 but turned things around in Week 3, he's not lying. That's really the way Plummer's season shook out. Granted, this year's Week 3 game (at New England) is a lot tougher than last year's (vs. Kansas City), but that could mean Plummer gets at least this and the Week 5 game against Baltimore to turn his season around. Otherwise, the Cutler talk could indeed become a reality.
Washington's inept offense. For a proper representation of how poorly quarterback Mark Brunell has performed, consider that with eight minutes to go in last Sunday's game, he had completed only eight of 20 pass attempts for 69 yards, no scores and an interception, meaning he actually played much worse than the full-game numbers looked (197 yards, no TDs, one interception). Pitting him against the Texans' defense might have some owners thinking Brunell and his mates are all fine plays, but some players' talent winds up beneath exploiting the matchup, and I think this is one of those cases where Washington players are better show-me types than actual fantasy starts. Clinton Portis, Santana Moss and Chris Cooley are all going to wind up too good to sit now that the bye weeks are here, but my advice is to be careful. I don't see any breakout efforts and this is a game better suited to Brunell et al proving whether this team can capitalize on good matchups at all.
Kevan Barlow's first chance to start. That Jets running back-by-committee situation is quite a mess for fantasy purposes, but don't forget, at the time the team acquired Barlow, everyone was under the assumption that the starting job this season would be his. Now it looks like it is, with Derrick Blaylock's stock dropping, and a strong effort in Week 3 against the Bills would go a long way towards Barlow reclaiming matchups status in most leagues. Remember, it's not talent necessarily that has held Barlow back from being a reliable fantasy starter, it's been health; too often nagging injuries have hindered his on-field performance. One good thing: He's sure looking healthy right now.
Daunte Culpepper's passing problems. Isn't this about what we all should have expected from Culpepper in his return from knee surgery? He no longer scrambles, and as more of a pocket passer, anytime he makes those ill-advised throws his fantasy owners are going to question his talent. Culpepper is sure looking a lot like someone to play against poor defenses and avoid against good ones, and in Week 3, he sure has a nice matchup against the Titans. It'd be nice to see him enjoy some degree of success, because if he doesn't, one has to wonder whether he'll be trustworthy at all for fantasy this season.
Reggie's rough time as a runner. Some might call Saints rookie Reggie Bush a disappointment for having not scored a touchdown and averaged only 5.3 yards per touch so far -- yes, that includes his receptions -- but the truth is that he has been a key component of the New Orleans offense. He truly makes some acrobatic catches, and is as talented if not more so as a pass catcher than any other running back in the league. Before long, Bush is going to settle into an NFL groove, letting his talent take over instead of seemingly having to try to make big plays, and when that happens he's going to become the kind of fantasy player a Marshall Faulk was in his prime (picking a fairly recent example). The next couple of weeks should give us a better idea of how quickly that will happen. Rex Grossman's astonishing start. What a performance from Grossman the first two weeks of the season, with 551 passing yards and five touchdowns en route to the league's leading passer rating (128.7). I know, passer rating is irrelevant to fantasy, but you can't deny that Grossman has been arguably the most surprising story to date. The problem, however, is that his success has come largely at the hands of two terrible secondaries (Green Bay and Detroit), and with the Bears' running game looking rather shaky, it's no surprise he was the offensive focus in those contests. Grossman now begins facing teams that should challenge him a bit more, and I'd say he needs about three standout games before being considered a trustworthy No. 2/matchups type quarterback.
</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
 
Hache Man

Hache Man

"Seven Days Without Gambling Makes One Weak"
Re: NFL Fantasy Football News/Articles - ESPN Insider 3 New Articles Added 9/20/06)

Re: NFL Fantasy Football News/Articles - ESPN Insider 3 New Articles Added 9/20/06)

Sep. 21, 2006, 12:49 PM
<SCRIPT language=javascript src="http://ai059.insightexpressai.com/adServer/adServer.aspx?bannerID=7560"></SCRIPT>


Hec & Vic Debate Week 3


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Question: Is Rex Grossman for real?
Victor: Are you for real? This guy has one big game against the Detroit Kittens and all of a sudden he's the next Brett Favre? He's not even the next Billy Volek yet! At least he had more than one big game in a row. Hector could look good against the Lions, and I'm not talking about his video game skills, either. The same people who are endorsing Grossman are the same people who swore Joey Harrington was finally going to have a career season before 2005. Look, Grossman isn't terrible, but he's certainly no superstar. Ultimately, he'll be a decent occasional starter. His receivers aren't that good. Bernard Berrian looks like Olive Oyl in a football helmet and he'll be a regular injury risk. He's fast, but you need more than speed to be regularly successful. Berrian could be Frisman Jackson times two. Two good weeks and he's gone faster than a woman who meets Hector in person after talking to him on the internet.
<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=2 width=200 align=right border=0><TBODY><TR vAlign=top><TD width=8><SPACER type="block" height="1" width="8"></TD><TD width=300 bgColor=#ecece4>[FONT=Arial,Helvetica, sans-serif]Each week, the sometimes terrific Hector and the rarely tolerant Victor, who have been together longer than the Rolling Stones, join us to answer some key fantasy football questions. We get what we can from them, because while they seem to genuinely dislike each other at times, there is mutual respect. And if they aren't battling each other to the point where one of them storms off, Victor usually has to leave to grab some White Castle burgers at some point. So let's get started. And don't forget to check out their game-by-game previews and full projections! [/FONT]</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE> Hector: Everyone looks skinny to you. When you turn to your side, you look like a lowercase letter b. I have no problems with the ladies. You're the one who has been alone longer than a Florida Marlins season-ticket holder. As for Grossman, he's no Favre, I actually agree, but he's no Harrington, either. Grossman is a smart quarterback with good pocket presence who simply has to stay healthy to produce decent numbers on a regular basis. He can be a solid, but not outstanding, fantasy starter. He is rated a bit high right now, though, like your weight.
Victor: Everyone looks large to you. You're built like a street lamp. You make Todd Pinkston look fat.
Question: Alright, alright, you guys, enough about your weights. We know that you look like the number 10 when you stand next to each other. Speaking of the number 10, it looks like there are that many running backs in the Houston backfield, Who emerges as the ultimate starter there?
Victor: Watch the cracks, ESPN boy. You ask the questions, and that's it. Don't make me stomp you like a second-grader could do to Victor. He'd lose to Clay Aiken in a street fight. As for the Houston RB situation, Wali Lundy's stock is fading faster than Howard Stern's audience. The odds of Ron Dayne rebounding and finally becoming a good fantasy player are longer than the chances of Paris Hilton's album outselling Beyonce. It's all about Samkon Gado. He's going to be a great story two years in a row, kind of like how Hector won "Most likely to be in the next Revenge of the Nerds sequel" two years in a row in high school.
Hector: You actually mentioned Paris Hilton's album? Like I said, you spend too much time alone. And that's probably your taste in music. We all know you have the Vanilla Ice Box Set and the New Kids on the Block DVD collection. As for the Houston RBs, who cares? Wali Lundy is a joke, like Victor's social life. He spends too much time in the local Burger King, hoping to get hired part-time to get free food and actually meet people. Ron Dayne is the biggest annual joke since the Pittsburgh Pirates lost Barry Bonds and Bobby Bonilla. Gado is overrated. He didn't grasp the offense in Green Bay and couldn't stay in town over Noah Herron. Who the heck is Noah Herron? Is he opening for Yanni on his next tour?
Question: Should we be worried about Brian Westbrook?
Victor: You should be as worried as Victor is about Wal-Mart not carrying size 48 slacks. Westbrook still has reported swelling in his knee, and it looks like the problem is going to linger. I admire the fact that he was able to play against the Giants, but injuries have been a concern for Westbrook since the preseason. Pick up Correll Buckhalter if he is available in your fantasy league. And don't forget about Ryan Moats, who reminds me a lot of Westbrook when he plays.
Hector: Correll Buckhalter? That guy is less reliable than your therapist. He's always been mentioned as a sleeper, then gets hurt. He's always disappointing, much like your dating prospects. Moats is the guy I want. No one is talking about him, and he'll be better than Buckhalter. My knee hurts just talking about Buckhalter. Victor: Your knee hurts because it's holding up your big waist. I've had enough. Go stick a pin in yourself and I hope you fly away.
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Hache Man

Hache Man

"Seven Days Without Gambling Makes One Weak"
Re: NFL Fantasy Football News/Articles - ESPN Insider 3 New Articles Added 9/20/06)

Re: NFL Fantasy Football News/Articles - ESPN Insider 3 New Articles Added 9/20/06)

Sep. 21, 2006, 12:49 PM
<SCRIPT language=javascript src="http://ai059.insightexpressai.com/adServer/adServer.aspx?bannerID=7560"></SCRIPT>


Hec & Vic Debate Week 3


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Question: Is Rex Grossman for real?
Victor: Are you for real? This guy has one big game against the Detroit Kittens and all of a sudden he's the next Brett Favre? He's not even the next Billy Volek yet! At least he had more than one big game in a row. Hector could look good against the Lions, and I'm not talking about his video game skills, either. The same people who are endorsing Grossman are the same people who swore Joey Harrington was finally going to have a career season before 2005. Look, Grossman isn't terrible, but he's certainly no superstar. Ultimately, he'll be a decent occasional starter. His receivers aren't that good. Bernard Berrian looks like Olive Oyl in a football helmet and he'll be a regular injury risk. He's fast, but you need more than speed to be regularly successful. Berrian could be Frisman Jackson times two. Two good weeks and he's gone faster than a woman who meets Hector in person after talking to him on the internet.
<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=2 width=200 align=right border=0><TBODY><TR vAlign=top><TD width=8><SPACER type="block" height="1" width="8"></TD><TD width=300 bgColor=#ecece4>[FONT=Arial,Helvetica, sans-serif]Each week, the sometimes terrific Hector and the rarely tolerant Victor, who have been together longer than the Rolling Stones, join us to answer some key fantasy football questions. We get what we can from them, because while they seem to genuinely dislike each other at times, there is mutual respect. And if they aren't battling each other to the point where one of them storms off, Victor usually has to leave to grab some White Castle burgers at some point. So let's get started. And don't forget to check out their game-by-game previews and full projections! [/FONT]</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE> Hector: Everyone looks skinny to you. When you turn to your side, you look like a lowercase letter b. I have no problems with the ladies. You're the one who has been alone longer than a Florida Marlins season-ticket holder. As for Grossman, he's no Favre, I actually agree, but he's no Harrington, either. Grossman is a smart quarterback with good pocket presence who simply has to stay healthy to produce decent numbers on a regular basis. He can be a solid, but not outstanding, fantasy starter. He is rated a bit high right now, though, like your weight.
Victor: Everyone looks large to you. You're built like a street lamp. You make Todd Pinkston look fat.
Question: Alright, alright, you guys, enough about your weights. We know that you look like the number 10 when you stand next to each other. Speaking of the number 10, it looks like there are that many running backs in the Houston backfield, Who emerges as the ultimate starter there?
Victor: Watch the cracks, ESPN boy. You ask the questions, and that's it. Don't make me stomp you like a second-grader could do to Victor. He'd lose to Clay Aiken in a street fight. As for the Houston RB situation, Wali Lundy's stock is fading faster than Howard Stern's audience. The odds of Ron Dayne rebounding and finally becoming a good fantasy player are longer than the chances of Paris Hilton's album outselling Beyonce. It's all about Samkon Gado. He's going to be a great story two years in a row, kind of like how Hector won "Most likely to be in the next Revenge of the Nerds sequel" two years in a row in high school.
Hector: You actually mentioned Paris Hilton's album? Like I said, you spend too much time alone. And that's probably your taste in music. We all know you have the Vanilla Ice Box Set and the New Kids on the Block DVD collection. As for the Houston RBs, who cares? Wali Lundy is a joke, like Victor's social life. He spends too much time in the local Burger King, hoping to get hired part-time to get free food and actually meet people. Ron Dayne is the biggest annual joke since the Pittsburgh Pirates lost Barry Bonds and Bobby Bonilla. Gado is overrated. He didn't grasp the offense in Green Bay and couldn't stay in town over Noah Herron. Who the heck is Noah Herron? Is he opening for Yanni on his next tour?
Question: Should we be worried about Brian Westbrook?
Victor: You should be as worried as Victor is about Wal-Mart not carrying size 48 slacks. Westbrook still has reported swelling in his knee, and it looks like the problem is going to linger. I admire the fact that he was able to play against the Giants, but injuries have been a concern for Westbrook since the preseason. Pick up Correll Buckhalter if he is available in your fantasy league. And don't forget about Ryan Moats, who reminds me a lot of Westbrook when he plays.
Hector: Correll Buckhalter? That guy is less reliable than your therapist. He's always been mentioned as a sleeper, then gets hurt. He's always disappointing, much like your dating prospects. Moats is the guy I want. No one is talking about him, and he'll be better than Buckhalter. My knee hurts just talking about Buckhalter. Victor: Your knee hurts because it's holding up your big waist. I've had enough. Go stick a pin in yourself and I hope you fly away.
</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
 
Hache Man

Hache Man

"Seven Days Without Gambling Makes One Weak"
Re: NFL Fantasy Football News/Articles - ESPN Insider 3 New Articles Added 9/20/06)

Re: NFL Fantasy Football News/Articles - ESPN Insider 3 New Articles Added 9/20/06)

Today's top 12?


posted: Thursday, September 21, 2006 | Feedback | Print Entry
filed under: Fantasy NFL

By this point I'd imagine 99.9 percent of fantasy football leagues have drafted. I mean, it's Week 3 already, what are you waiting for? But it's never too late to ask this question, even if nobody needs the info for those purposes:

If you're drafting today, what would be your top 12?
Through the glory of hindsight, we have plenty of information about who is off to a good start, who isn't, who has been hurt, which teams are holding their players back statistically, you name it.
So, if I just happen to be drafting today, here's my new top 12. Sure, we've learned some things, but it doesn't mean you forget about everything we thought this offseason.
First, my top 12 before the season was:
1. Shaun Alexander, Seahawks
2. Larry Johnson, Chiefs
3. LaDainian Tomlinson, Chargers
4. Tiki Barber, Giants
5. Rudi Johnson, Bengals
6. Steven Jackson, Rams
7. Edgerrin James, Cardinals
8. LaMont Jordan, Raiders
9. Carnell Williams, Buccaneers
10. Clinton Portis, Redskins
11. Ronnie Brown, Dolphins
12. Willis McGahee, Bills
Now, as of today, it would be more like:
1. Tomlinson
2. Alexander
3. L. Johnson
4. Barber
5. R. Johnson
6. S. Jackson
7. R. Brown
8. McGahee
9. Peyton Manning, Colts
10. Portis
11. Frank Gore, 49ers
12. Chester Taylor, Vikings

OK, so what changed in my mind? Let's investigate:
? I rearranged my top three, with Tomlinson moving to the top spot. Why? Well, he didn't lose any linemen this offseason, did he? Maybe we all underrated this a bit with the other top guys. Tomlinson was a touchdown machine last year, and will be again. He was about the best No. 3 fantasy pick ever. The presence of Michael Turner does not hurt Tomlinson's value at all; in fact, it helps keep Tomlinson fresh. Most Chargers games won't be 40-7 blowouts. Let's hope Tomlinson is still healthy and running strong during the fantasy playoffs, unlike last season.
As for Alexander and the Chiefs' Johnson, no, I am not worried. So they haven't started quick. So the Chiefs don't have a threat at quarterback. So the Seahawks aren't scoring much. These guys are fine. Don't deal them away for less than value.
? Which other running backs did I stick with in round one? Well, seven others retain their spots, with Barber, Cincy's Rudi and the Rams' Jackson retaining their value. Miami's Brown and McGahee move up by attrition. No, they haven't been terrific either, but look at the scoring leaders, but how many running backs have had two terrific games other than Gore?
? No, as you can see I will not give up on Portis, who has been injured and obviously, that's his main problem. In fact, I think Portis is a solid buy-low option destined to get better. Portis should have a big game against Houston, and I want to remind people that he did very little the first five games last season, yet still finished a top five back with ease. Don't be too reactive in dealing Portis away, unless you're convinced this injury will dog him all year, which I am not.
? Aren't I the guy who wouldn't draft a quarterback in round one? Um, yeah, but with a bunch of running backs proving to be, at best, unreliable, I think it's warranted in this case. Plus, Peyton doesn't have a safe running game, so we might see a few more 400-yard efforts and more than 30 touchdowns. I said we might.
? And the two new running backs to join the crew are San Francisco's Gore and the Vikings' Taylor. Why would I take them over Cadillac, Edge and Jordan? Gore is not just going to be a guy who eats up bad defenses. Watch him against Philly this weekend, he'll get his yards, and even on those days when defenses stuff him at the line, he'll catch five or six screen passes. He's explosive. Taylor is similar in that he'll be able to accrue fantasy points through the air. The other difference with him, and this might end up being a big negative, is that he's a major workhorse. He's carrying the ball more than anyone. Will he wear down by Thanksgiving? I don't want to assume he will or won't. We don't have much to go on with him.
? And who dropped out of the top 12? Don't give up on Cadillac, Edge or Jordan, but it's clear their value was a bit higher than it should have been. Williams is suffering because of Chris Simms, but also he's had two tough matchups. It doesn't get easier this weekend, but I still would rely on Cadillac as a No. 2 running back much of this season. Arizona's James has his money, and that's terrific, but he gave up the chance at a Super Bowl and a trip to Hawaii. The Cards don't appear any better than last season, and they are strictly a pass-first outfit, with a leaky line. James is going to be lucky to reach 1,200 yards, real lucky. As for Oakland's Jordan, it's one thing to struggle running the ball, but who's the genius that won't get him involved in the passing game? No catches so far? What a joke. Anyway, Caddy, Edge and Jordan remain buy-low guys to some degree, but I doubt any will deliver first-round numbers anymore.
OK, so there's your answer!
Two e-mails before we get ready for tomorrow's novel, the game by game predictions:
Robby, Burlington, Vt.: "I take issue with your advice in regards to keeping Cadillac Williams on your bench until you see a spark. I've been trying to trade him the past three days, which is not going well. Partially because you guys have written nothing but scathing articles about how bad the Bucs are. He's a cancer on my team, too good to drop for a waiver wire pick up and crappy enough to keep other owners disinterested. How long do you think it will take before we'll see the spark that he'll need to become adequate trade bait? I mean you can't think he'll be a decent fantasy starter this year, right?"
Eric: I love e-mails like these, and there are hundreds of them like this in relation to struggling top players, essentially blaming me, Engel and Cockcroft for driving the price of players down so that others won't trade for them. Tremendous! You know, we give advice to all fantasy players. I guess it's up to you to find a way for your leaguemates to not read it! Maybe we can post a fake article saying Cadillac is better than Tomlinson so you can trade him easier? OK, back to reality. I'm sure if you look hard enough someone will take Cadillac off your hands, but his value is pretty low, so chances are you will be disappointed in the trade in a month. Just my opinion. I do think Cadillac will get better as the season goes on, and he'll be worth playing regularly.
Hadleigh, San Francisco: "Eric, I think the argument can be made that Jon Kitna is going to be like Steve Trachsel for fantasy football this year. Getting a guy like him allows you to take more risks in the draft, and build depth in other positions. Nothing flashy, no 30-point games, but he will put up solid numbers and not cost you many matchups. That can't be said for the much more heralded Brett Favre, Daunte Culpepper or Jake Plummer. There is something to be said for that, and I haven't heard it discussed much." Eric: You know, that's kind of a good point, though I'm not sure I would use it in relation to Kitna. For those who follow my fantasy baseball blogs, you know I've been a Trachsel fan for years and years, drafting him regularly with a late pick and enjoying double digit wins. It wasn't until this year that those wins came at such a significant cost to WHIP, and to some degree ERA. Anyway, the theory goes that Kitna will be a regular contributor each week, someone nobody wants, but to some degree safe and reliable, and you build horses around him. I think Hadleigh is right in that Kitna's clearly going to be throwing a lot. He is top 15 in yards, though he has no touchdowns. Too early to tell. I would have said Ben Roethlisberger is that reliable quarterback, but Monday night didn't go well.
 
Hache Man

Hache Man

"Seven Days Without Gambling Makes One Weak"
Re: NFL Fantasy Football News/Articles - ESPN Insider 3 New Articles Added 9/20/06)

Re: NFL Fantasy Football News/Articles - ESPN Insider 3 New Articles Added 9/20/06)

Today's top 12?


posted: Thursday, September 21, 2006 | Feedback | Print Entry
filed under: Fantasy NFL

By this point I'd imagine 99.9 percent of fantasy football leagues have drafted. I mean, it's Week 3 already, what are you waiting for? But it's never too late to ask this question, even if nobody needs the info for those purposes:

If you're drafting today, what would be your top 12?
Through the glory of hindsight, we have plenty of information about who is off to a good start, who isn't, who has been hurt, which teams are holding their players back statistically, you name it.
So, if I just happen to be drafting today, here's my new top 12. Sure, we've learned some things, but it doesn't mean you forget about everything we thought this offseason.
First, my top 12 before the season was:
1. Shaun Alexander, Seahawks
2. Larry Johnson, Chiefs
3. LaDainian Tomlinson, Chargers
4. Tiki Barber, Giants
5. Rudi Johnson, Bengals
6. Steven Jackson, Rams
7. Edgerrin James, Cardinals
8. LaMont Jordan, Raiders
9. Carnell Williams, Buccaneers
10. Clinton Portis, Redskins
11. Ronnie Brown, Dolphins
12. Willis McGahee, Bills
Now, as of today, it would be more like:
1. Tomlinson
2. Alexander
3. L. Johnson
4. Barber
5. R. Johnson
6. S. Jackson
7. R. Brown
8. McGahee
9. Peyton Manning, Colts
10. Portis
11. Frank Gore, 49ers
12. Chester Taylor, Vikings

OK, so what changed in my mind? Let's investigate:
? I rearranged my top three, with Tomlinson moving to the top spot. Why? Well, he didn't lose any linemen this offseason, did he? Maybe we all underrated this a bit with the other top guys. Tomlinson was a touchdown machine last year, and will be again. He was about the best No. 3 fantasy pick ever. The presence of Michael Turner does not hurt Tomlinson's value at all; in fact, it helps keep Tomlinson fresh. Most Chargers games won't be 40-7 blowouts. Let's hope Tomlinson is still healthy and running strong during the fantasy playoffs, unlike last season.
As for Alexander and the Chiefs' Johnson, no, I am not worried. So they haven't started quick. So the Chiefs don't have a threat at quarterback. So the Seahawks aren't scoring much. These guys are fine. Don't deal them away for less than value.
? Which other running backs did I stick with in round one? Well, seven others retain their spots, with Barber, Cincy's Rudi and the Rams' Jackson retaining their value. Miami's Brown and McGahee move up by attrition. No, they haven't been terrific either, but look at the scoring leaders, but how many running backs have had two terrific games other than Gore?
? No, as you can see I will not give up on Portis, who has been injured and obviously, that's his main problem. In fact, I think Portis is a solid buy-low option destined to get better. Portis should have a big game against Houston, and I want to remind people that he did very little the first five games last season, yet still finished a top five back with ease. Don't be too reactive in dealing Portis away, unless you're convinced this injury will dog him all year, which I am not.
? Aren't I the guy who wouldn't draft a quarterback in round one? Um, yeah, but with a bunch of running backs proving to be, at best, unreliable, I think it's warranted in this case. Plus, Peyton doesn't have a safe running game, so we might see a few more 400-yard efforts and more than 30 touchdowns. I said we might.
? And the two new running backs to join the crew are San Francisco's Gore and the Vikings' Taylor. Why would I take them over Cadillac, Edge and Jordan? Gore is not just going to be a guy who eats up bad defenses. Watch him against Philly this weekend, he'll get his yards, and even on those days when defenses stuff him at the line, he'll catch five or six screen passes. He's explosive. Taylor is similar in that he'll be able to accrue fantasy points through the air. The other difference with him, and this might end up being a big negative, is that he's a major workhorse. He's carrying the ball more than anyone. Will he wear down by Thanksgiving? I don't want to assume he will or won't. We don't have much to go on with him.
? And who dropped out of the top 12? Don't give up on Cadillac, Edge or Jordan, but it's clear their value was a bit higher than it should have been. Williams is suffering because of Chris Simms, but also he's had two tough matchups. It doesn't get easier this weekend, but I still would rely on Cadillac as a No. 2 running back much of this season. Arizona's James has his money, and that's terrific, but he gave up the chance at a Super Bowl and a trip to Hawaii. The Cards don't appear any better than last season, and they are strictly a pass-first outfit, with a leaky line. James is going to be lucky to reach 1,200 yards, real lucky. As for Oakland's Jordan, it's one thing to struggle running the ball, but who's the genius that won't get him involved in the passing game? No catches so far? What a joke. Anyway, Caddy, Edge and Jordan remain buy-low guys to some degree, but I doubt any will deliver first-round numbers anymore.
OK, so there's your answer!
Two e-mails before we get ready for tomorrow's novel, the game by game predictions:
Robby, Burlington, Vt.: "I take issue with your advice in regards to keeping Cadillac Williams on your bench until you see a spark. I've been trying to trade him the past three days, which is not going well. Partially because you guys have written nothing but scathing articles about how bad the Bucs are. He's a cancer on my team, too good to drop for a waiver wire pick up and crappy enough to keep other owners disinterested. How long do you think it will take before we'll see the spark that he'll need to become adequate trade bait? I mean you can't think he'll be a decent fantasy starter this year, right?"
Eric: I love e-mails like these, and there are hundreds of them like this in relation to struggling top players, essentially blaming me, Engel and Cockcroft for driving the price of players down so that others won't trade for them. Tremendous! You know, we give advice to all fantasy players. I guess it's up to you to find a way for your leaguemates to not read it! Maybe we can post a fake article saying Cadillac is better than Tomlinson so you can trade him easier? OK, back to reality. I'm sure if you look hard enough someone will take Cadillac off your hands, but his value is pretty low, so chances are you will be disappointed in the trade in a month. Just my opinion. I do think Cadillac will get better as the season goes on, and he'll be worth playing regularly.
Hadleigh, San Francisco: "Eric, I think the argument can be made that Jon Kitna is going to be like Steve Trachsel for fantasy football this year. Getting a guy like him allows you to take more risks in the draft, and build depth in other positions. Nothing flashy, no 30-point games, but he will put up solid numbers and not cost you many matchups. That can't be said for the much more heralded Brett Favre, Daunte Culpepper or Jake Plummer. There is something to be said for that, and I haven't heard it discussed much." Eric: You know, that's kind of a good point, though I'm not sure I would use it in relation to Kitna. For those who follow my fantasy baseball blogs, you know I've been a Trachsel fan for years and years, drafting him regularly with a late pick and enjoying double digit wins. It wasn't until this year that those wins came at such a significant cost to WHIP, and to some degree ERA. Anyway, the theory goes that Kitna will be a regular contributor each week, someone nobody wants, but to some degree safe and reliable, and you build horses around him. I think Hadleigh is right in that Kitna's clearly going to be throwing a lot. He is top 15 in yards, though he has no touchdowns. Too early to tell. I would have said Ben Roethlisberger is that reliable quarterback, but Monday night didn't go well.
 
Hache Man

Hache Man

"Seven Days Without Gambling Makes One Weak"
Re: NFL Fantasy Football News/Articles - ESPN Insider 3 New Articles Added 9/20/06)

Re: NFL Fantasy Football News/Articles - ESPN Insider 3 New Articles Added 9/20/06)

Sep. 21, 2006, 3:38 PM
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Week 3: Engel's Mailbag


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By Scott Engel
ESPN Fantasy Games

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Todd, Tampa, Fla.: What will it take for Rex Grossman to get the respect he deserves? You said he played against "two bad defenses" but maybe you should do a little homework. First the Packers had the best pass defense in the NFL last year and the Lions held the Seahawks to nine points in the opener. So just admit Grossman is and will be an excellent quarterback!
Engel: This was a fun week to dip into my mailbag, as I received many angry letters from Grossman backers. It reminded me of the angry letters I received when I refused to back Joey Harrington as a breakout candidate last year. Grossman is no Harrington, for sure. But it will take more than just one big game at home against a shaky opponent to convince me he will be a regular standout. This past week, I was accused of having an "East Coast bias", when I'm not even a supporter of an East Coast NFL team. I was told that Grossman is the "next Brett Favre." That's a stretch. I was also told that Grossman has an easy schedule the rest of the way. To me, Seattle, Atlanta, Chicago, Jacksonville, Carolina and Philadelphia will all be challenging matchups, among a few others. I do appreciate all the feedback, good or bad, and if Grossman turns out to be a fantasy standout, I'll gladly admit I am wrong. Last year's Green Bay pass defense numbers don't matter much. They allowed a lot of rushing yards last year (125.6 per game) and this is a new season in which they clearly have trouble defending the pass consistently. They are already second-worst in the NFC against the pass (292 yards per game allowed) and the Seahawks have clearly sputtered in the passing game early this year save for a hot early start against Arizona. They clearly had trouble moving the ball after gaining an early 14-0 lead. Grossman has had one big game and all of a sudden people are overrating him. I could be underrating him, but I'm not about to endorse him as a top fantasy starter yet. I expect him to operate a more controlled and less explosive passing game when he's healthy, and he should be a solid fantasy reserve. But one game does not make him an elite fantasy passer. I heard the same things about Billy Volek and Kyle Boller in past years when they put together short hot streaks. Grossman is a better QB than those two, especially Boller, but those two players are proof that a good fantasy QB maintains a consistent modicum of above-average statistical production. Grossman might help the Bears to a winning season, but he won't necessarily always be explosive along the way. But keep those Grossman e-mails coming, and I do wish all of you Grossman owners much success this season. <TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=2 width=200 align=right border=0><TBODY><TR vAlign=top><TD width=8><SPACER type="block" height="1" width="8"></TD><TD width=300 bgColor=#ecece4>[FONT=Arial,Helvetica, sans-serif]The FFL Mailbag has the answers you need! Click here to send FFL questions and comments on players and trends and Scott may answer it in his next mailbag. [/FONT]</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

Eric, Miami: For Week 3, my starting QBs are Ben Roethlisberger and Alex Smith; I am leaning towards Smith against the Eagles because Jevon Kearse is out for the year and Big Ben is playing the Bengals, who would like revenge from last year. I also need to put in another WR and I have Rod Smith, Doug Gabriel or Mike Furrey, who I am leaning towards as the Lions play Green Bay.
Engel: While Alex Smith has started to become a respectable fantasy reserve, and the Eagles could suffer a bit from the loss of Kearse, I think their defense will still be formidable overall and it will be a stiff test for the young Smith. Just because the Bengals want revenge doesn't mean they will stop the Steelers from scoring. Pittsburgh will be fired up in a rivalry game after getting shut out last week, and will be determined to put a poor offensive performance behind them. Roethlisberger is a risky start, but he could be better in his second game of the season and will also want to show he has shaken off more rust. I'd go with Roethlisberger, as neither QB is an ideal starter, but Roethlisberger could post better numbers against an aggressive, but often vulnerable Cincinnati defense. At WR, Gabriel has yet to prove himself and Furrey is mediocre and is not worthy of starting, regardless of matchup. I'd play Rod Smith and expect better production this week.
John Scott, Nashua, N.H.: Behind Tom Brady I currently have Matt Leinart at QB. My thinking is that, if Kurt Warner goes down, Leinart could provide a bonanza of fantasy points with those wide receivers in Arizona. However, I feel very vulnerable if Brady were to go down. Would you recommend dropping Leinart, and picking up either Rex Grossman or Alex Smith off the free agent list? I do not have room on my roster to keep both Leinart and another QB.
Engel: There's no need to worry about Brady, who has never been a durability concern. Grossman is the obvious add with more upside than Leinart, and would be the better backup to Brady. If you weren't able to get him, pass on Smith, and keep Leinart, who could be plugged in and post immediately respectable fantasy totals because of his poise and weaponry. But again, this choice is just for depth, as Brady is very dependable from both a health and fantasy production perspective. You will only use your backup once this season, during Brady's bye in the sixth week of the season. Keep Leinart for now, but you might have to add another player in his place if he's not starting by the sixth week.
Mike, Milwaukee: I have Carnell Williams, and he is obviously not putting up enough points for me. Should I bench him and put in Kevin Jones or Joseph Addai?
Engel: Addai isn't getting enough touches yet to play over Cadillac, but Jones should be seriously considered. While he has been disappointing overall, he does face Green Bay this week, and Jones has become a better pass-catcher this season, and can pad any mediocre rushing totals with decent receiving stats. Jones offers a better chance of respectable final numbers over Williams right now, so use him instead of Cadillac.
Thomas, Atlanta: I need your help deciding whether to accept a trade. I have Warrick Dunn on my bench and another owner has offered me Hines Ward. My running back starters are Ronnie Brown and Steven Jackson, and I have Chester Taylor and Joseph Addai on the bench. At receiver I have Chris Chambers, Anquan Boldin, and Javon Walker. Would I be selling Dunn too low for Ward? Also, will Ward be useful enough to sit one of my current starting receivers?
Engel: You certainly have enough depth to get rid of Dunn, and Ward should be a fine option if he can shake off his recent hamstring issues. You do have good depth at wide receiver also, but Ward could turn out to be more reliable than Chambers or Walker in the longer term. I would definitely make the deal. When Addai wins the starting job in Indy, you'll have even more good RB depth.
Nick, Seattle: Scott, my team has a strong starting lineup, but is very thin at RB. Right now I have LaDainain Tomlinson, Brian Westbrook, Chris Brown, Cedric Benson and Ryan Moats. The reports regarding Westbrook's knee have me concerned. What type of value could I expect for Westbrook right now when shopping him for a quality No. 2 RB? Engel: A common misconception among some fantasy leaguers is that you should trade a player who is hurt or not playing well. But you'll quickly find that other fantasy owners don't want to take on your problem unless they don't give you much in return. You can't expect much of anything for Westbrook right now and you simply have to ride it out and hope his outlook gets better. Just because you don't want a guy anymore doesn't mean other owners will want him, and most of the other players in your league are likely well aware of Westbrook's problems and have no desire to take on your worries. Players don't have proper trade value when their health is in question. At best, you'll get a lowball offer in return
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Hache Man

Hache Man

"Seven Days Without Gambling Makes One Weak"
Re: NFL Fantasy Football News/Articles - ESPN Insider 3 New Articles Added 9/20/06)

Re: NFL Fantasy Football News/Articles - ESPN Insider 3 New Articles Added 9/20/06)

Sep. 21, 2006, 3:38 PM
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Week 3: Engel's Mailbag


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ESPN Fantasy Games

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Todd, Tampa, Fla.: What will it take for Rex Grossman to get the respect he deserves? You said he played against "two bad defenses" but maybe you should do a little homework. First the Packers had the best pass defense in the NFL last year and the Lions held the Seahawks to nine points in the opener. So just admit Grossman is and will be an excellent quarterback!
Engel: This was a fun week to dip into my mailbag, as I received many angry letters from Grossman backers. It reminded me of the angry letters I received when I refused to back Joey Harrington as a breakout candidate last year. Grossman is no Harrington, for sure. But it will take more than just one big game at home against a shaky opponent to convince me he will be a regular standout. This past week, I was accused of having an "East Coast bias", when I'm not even a supporter of an East Coast NFL team. I was told that Grossman is the "next Brett Favre." That's a stretch. I was also told that Grossman has an easy schedule the rest of the way. To me, Seattle, Atlanta, Chicago, Jacksonville, Carolina and Philadelphia will all be challenging matchups, among a few others. I do appreciate all the feedback, good or bad, and if Grossman turns out to be a fantasy standout, I'll gladly admit I am wrong. Last year's Green Bay pass defense numbers don't matter much. They allowed a lot of rushing yards last year (125.6 per game) and this is a new season in which they clearly have trouble defending the pass consistently. They are already second-worst in the NFC against the pass (292 yards per game allowed) and the Seahawks have clearly sputtered in the passing game early this year save for a hot early start against Arizona. They clearly had trouble moving the ball after gaining an early 14-0 lead. Grossman has had one big game and all of a sudden people are overrating him. I could be underrating him, but I'm not about to endorse him as a top fantasy starter yet. I expect him to operate a more controlled and less explosive passing game when he's healthy, and he should be a solid fantasy reserve. But one game does not make him an elite fantasy passer. I heard the same things about Billy Volek and Kyle Boller in past years when they put together short hot streaks. Grossman is a better QB than those two, especially Boller, but those two players are proof that a good fantasy QB maintains a consistent modicum of above-average statistical production. Grossman might help the Bears to a winning season, but he won't necessarily always be explosive along the way. But keep those Grossman e-mails coming, and I do wish all of you Grossman owners much success this season. <TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=2 width=200 align=right border=0><TBODY><TR vAlign=top><TD width=8><SPACER type="block" height="1" width="8"></TD><TD width=300 bgColor=#ecece4>[FONT=Arial,Helvetica, sans-serif]The FFL Mailbag has the answers you need! Click here to send FFL questions and comments on players and trends and Scott may answer it in his next mailbag. [/FONT]</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

Eric, Miami: For Week 3, my starting QBs are Ben Roethlisberger and Alex Smith; I am leaning towards Smith against the Eagles because Jevon Kearse is out for the year and Big Ben is playing the Bengals, who would like revenge from last year. I also need to put in another WR and I have Rod Smith, Doug Gabriel or Mike Furrey, who I am leaning towards as the Lions play Green Bay.
Engel: While Alex Smith has started to become a respectable fantasy reserve, and the Eagles could suffer a bit from the loss of Kearse, I think their defense will still be formidable overall and it will be a stiff test for the young Smith. Just because the Bengals want revenge doesn't mean they will stop the Steelers from scoring. Pittsburgh will be fired up in a rivalry game after getting shut out last week, and will be determined to put a poor offensive performance behind them. Roethlisberger is a risky start, but he could be better in his second game of the season and will also want to show he has shaken off more rust. I'd go with Roethlisberger, as neither QB is an ideal starter, but Roethlisberger could post better numbers against an aggressive, but often vulnerable Cincinnati defense. At WR, Gabriel has yet to prove himself and Furrey is mediocre and is not worthy of starting, regardless of matchup. I'd play Rod Smith and expect better production this week.
John Scott, Nashua, N.H.: Behind Tom Brady I currently have Matt Leinart at QB. My thinking is that, if Kurt Warner goes down, Leinart could provide a bonanza of fantasy points with those wide receivers in Arizona. However, I feel very vulnerable if Brady were to go down. Would you recommend dropping Leinart, and picking up either Rex Grossman or Alex Smith off the free agent list? I do not have room on my roster to keep both Leinart and another QB.
Engel: There's no need to worry about Brady, who has never been a durability concern. Grossman is the obvious add with more upside than Leinart, and would be the better backup to Brady. If you weren't able to get him, pass on Smith, and keep Leinart, who could be plugged in and post immediately respectable fantasy totals because of his poise and weaponry. But again, this choice is just for depth, as Brady is very dependable from both a health and fantasy production perspective. You will only use your backup once this season, during Brady's bye in the sixth week of the season. Keep Leinart for now, but you might have to add another player in his place if he's not starting by the sixth week.
Mike, Milwaukee: I have Carnell Williams, and he is obviously not putting up enough points for me. Should I bench him and put in Kevin Jones or Joseph Addai?
Engel: Addai isn't getting enough touches yet to play over Cadillac, but Jones should be seriously considered. While he has been disappointing overall, he does face Green Bay this week, and Jones has become a better pass-catcher this season, and can pad any mediocre rushing totals with decent receiving stats. Jones offers a better chance of respectable final numbers over Williams right now, so use him instead of Cadillac.
Thomas, Atlanta: I need your help deciding whether to accept a trade. I have Warrick Dunn on my bench and another owner has offered me Hines Ward. My running back starters are Ronnie Brown and Steven Jackson, and I have Chester Taylor and Joseph Addai on the bench. At receiver I have Chris Chambers, Anquan Boldin, and Javon Walker. Would I be selling Dunn too low for Ward? Also, will Ward be useful enough to sit one of my current starting receivers?
Engel: You certainly have enough depth to get rid of Dunn, and Ward should be a fine option if he can shake off his recent hamstring issues. You do have good depth at wide receiver also, but Ward could turn out to be more reliable than Chambers or Walker in the longer term. I would definitely make the deal. When Addai wins the starting job in Indy, you'll have even more good RB depth.
Nick, Seattle: Scott, my team has a strong starting lineup, but is very thin at RB. Right now I have LaDainain Tomlinson, Brian Westbrook, Chris Brown, Cedric Benson and Ryan Moats. The reports regarding Westbrook's knee have me concerned. What type of value could I expect for Westbrook right now when shopping him for a quality No. 2 RB? Engel: A common misconception among some fantasy leaguers is that you should trade a player who is hurt or not playing well. But you'll quickly find that other fantasy owners don't want to take on your problem unless they don't give you much in return. You can't expect much of anything for Westbrook right now and you simply have to ride it out and hope his outlook gets better. Just because you don't want a guy anymore doesn't mean other owners will want him, and most of the other players in your league are likely well aware of Westbrook's problems and have no desire to take on your worries. Players don't have proper trade value when their health is in question. At best, you'll get a lowball offer in return
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Hache Man

Hache Man

"Seven Days Without Gambling Makes One Weak"
Re: NFL Fantasy Football News/Articles - ESPN Insider 3 New Articles Added 9/20/06)

Re: NFL Fantasy Football News/Articles - ESPN Insider 3 New Articles Added 9/20/06)

Sep. 21, 2006, 3:18 PM
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Cockcroft: Week 3 Statbook


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By Tristan H. Cockcroft
ESPN Fantasy Games

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Each week, the FFL Statbook provides you with hot and cold players, historical statistics and trends to exploit and weather reports as you consider your weekly player matchups.


Bye weeks: Chargers, Chiefs, Cowboys, Raiders. <!--##FRONTSTOP##--><TABLE style="FONT-SIZE: 10px; FONT-FAMILY: verdana; BACKGROUND-COLOR: #c9c9c9" cellSpacing=1 cellPadding=2 width="100%"><TBODY><TR style="COLOR: white; BACKGROUND-COLOR: #2969ad"><TD width="100%">RIDE THE HOT STREAK</TD></TR><TR style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #acacac"><TD width="100%">The players listed below -- three each at QB, RB and WR and one TE -- are performing well enough of late to be must-starts regardless of the match-ups.</TD></TR><TR style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: white"><TD>Antonio Bryant, WR, 49ers (PHI): He has three consecutive 100-yard receiving efforts (17-368-2 numbers total), and is third in the NFL in receiving yards (245). </TD></TR><TR style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #dedede"><TD>Laveranues Coles, WR, Jets (@BUF): He leads the NFL in receiving yards (253) and has 14 receptions and 1 TD; he also has 4 TD in his last 5 regular-season G. </TD></TR><TR style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: white"><TD>Warrick Dunn, RB, Falcons (@NO): He leads the NFL in rushing yards (266), has 3 runs of 20+ yards, and has averaged 5.3 yards per carry and 133.0 per game. </TD></TR><TR style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #dedede"><TD>Frank Gore, RB, 49ers (PHI): He's 2nd in the NFL in scrimmage yds (307) and tied for 1st in rushing TDs (3); also has 2 100-yard rushing efforts in his last 3 G. </TD></TR><TR style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: white"><TD>Rex Grossman, QB, Bears (@MIN): He leads the NFL in passer rating (128.7), and has thrown for 551 yards, 5 TD and 1 interception in his first two games. </TD></TR><TR style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #dedede"><TD>Donovan McNabb, QB, Eagles (@SF): Leads the NFL in passing yards (676), is tied in passing TDs (5), and has completed 64.6 percent of his pass attempts. </TD></TR><TR style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: white"><TD>Chad Pennington, QB, Jets (@BUF): He has completed 46 of 70 attempts (65.7 percent) for 625 yards, 4 TDs and one interception in his first two games. </TD></TR><TR style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #dedede"><TD>Ravens defense (@CLE): Baltimore has yet to allow a TD, has allowed six points combined in two games and ranks 1st in the NFL in total defense (152.0 ypg). </TD></TR><TR style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: white"><TD>L.J. Smith, TE, Eagles (@SF): He leads all tight ends with 13 receptions and 167 receiving yards, and has 5+ receptions in 7 of the last 10 Donovan McNabb starts. </TD></TR><TR style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #dedede"><TD>Amani Toomer, WR, Giants (@SEA): He leads the NFL in receptions (17), and has 178 receiving yards and 2 TD; he also has 9 TD in his last 15 regular-season G. </TD></TR><TR style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: white"><TD>TRISTAN'S TAKE: Atlanta continues to pound the ball on the ground, with 91 rushing attempts in two games. That's enough to go around that Warrick Dunn, Michael Vick and Jerious Norwood can be useful plays facing such a favorable matchup as a Monday Night game at the Saints. ... In addition to the above numbers, the Ravens' defense leads the NFL in interceptions (6) and is third in sacks (9), and it'll be facing a Browns offense that has four interceptions and five sacks already in two games. Baltimore has had a favorable schedule so far, for sure, but this unit looks talented enough to be a top-five fantasy option the entire season. ... It's not necessarily the best of matchups for Chad Pennington and Laveranues Coles in Week 3, but the level of chemistry the two have displayed together shouldn't be doubted. They're must-plays for as long as they remain hot. </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

<TABLE style="FONT-SIZE: 10px; FONT-FAMILY: verdana; BACKGROUND-COLOR: #c9c9c9" cellSpacing=1 cellPadding=2 width="100%"><TBODY><TR style="COLOR: white; BACKGROUND-COLOR: #2969ad"><TD width="100%">AVOID THE COLD SPELL</TD></TR><TR style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #acacac"><TD width="100%">The players listed below -- three each at QB, RB and WR and one TE -- have struggled enough recently that they should be avoided whenever possible.</TD></TR><TR style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: white"><TD>Chris Brown, RB, Titans (@MIA): He has 22 carries for 73 yards (3.3 average) and no touchdowns, and two receptions for four yards and no scores, in two games. </TD></TR><TR style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #dedede"><TD>Mark Brunell, QB, Redskins (@HOU): He has completed only 57.4 percent of his pass attempts for 360 yards, no touchdowns and one interception in two games. </TD></TR><TR style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: white"><TD>Nate Burleson, WR, Seahawks (NYG): He has two receptions for 43 yards and no touchdowns in two games, and has only been targeted five times combined. </TD></TR><TR style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #dedede"><TD>Chris Cooley, TE, Redskins (@HOU): He has three receptions for 20 yards and no touchdowns in two games, despite being targeted 13 times combined. </TD></TR><TR style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: white"><TD>Lee Evans, WR, Bills (NYJ): He has four receptions for 44 yards and no touchdowns in two games, despite being targeted 11 times combined. </TD></TR><TR style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #dedede"><TD>DeShaun Foster, RB, Panthers (@TB): He has 28 carries for 80 yards (2.9 average) and no touchdowns, and six receptions for 37 yards and no scores, in 2 G. </TD></TR><TR style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: white"><TD>Brandon Lloyd, WR, Redskins (@HOU): He has one reception for six yards and no touchdowns in two games, and has only been targeted five times combined. </TD></TR><TR style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #dedede"><TD>Wali Lundy, RB, Texans (WAS): He has 17 carries for 57 yards (3.4 average) and no touchdowns, and two receptions for minus-1 yards and no scores, in two games. </TD></TR><TR style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: white"><TD>Jake Plummer, QB, Broncos (@NE): He has completed only 51.8 percent of his pass attempts for 311 yards, no touchdowns and four interceptions in two games. </TD></TR><TR style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #dedede"><TD>Chris Simms, QB, Buccaneers (CAR): He has completed only 54.9 percent of his pass attempts for 446 yards, no touchdowns and six interceptions in two games. </TD></TR><TR style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: white"><TD>TRISTAN'S TAKE: Until Brunell gets himself straightened out -- and let's admit that it might not happen at all -- the entire Redskins offense, particularly the passing game, will suffer. Cooley's number of targets is an encouraging sign that he should turn his season around, but Brunell, Santana Moss, Lloyd and Antwaan Randle El are all looking like much riskier weekly plays in the long term. ... Don't be surprised if Foster's no longer Carolina's starter after Week 3. DeAngelo Williams is too talented to keep in such a limited role, and if he's one of the catalysts in a potential first win of the season for Carolina, count on it earning him a start in the near future. ... None of the Houston running backs are useful fantasy options, even in the bye weeks, until one steps up and proves worthy of a consistent, double-digit number of carries on a weekly basis. I'm banking on Samkon Gado being the one who emerges, but not necessarily in the next week or two. ... Don't be too tough on Plummer if he struggles again at New England. It's a challenging assignment for him, so Mike Shanahan would likely give him another home game in which to try to rebound. </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

<TABLE style="FONT-SIZE: 10px; FONT-FAMILY: verdana; BACKGROUND-COLOR: #c9c9c9" cellSpacing=1 cellPadding=2 width="100%"><TBODY><TR style="COLOR: white; BACKGROUND-COLOR: #2969ad"><TD width="100%">HISTORY LESSON</TD></TR><TR style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #acacac"><TD width="100%">The following players have tremendous recent track records against their scheduled opponents, making them more appealing fantasy options for this week.</TD></TR><TR style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: white"><TD>Tom Brady, QB, Patriots (DEN): He has passed for 299+ yards in each of his last 3 games against the Broncos (postseason included), with 5 TD total. He has also averaged 208.1 passing yards with 61 TDs and 19 interceptions in 41 career home games. </TD></TR><TR style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #dedede"><TD>Jake Delhomme, QB, Panthers (@TB): He's 3-0 lifetime as a starter @TB, and has averaged 228.0 passing yards with 10 TDs, 4 interceptions in his last 5 vs. them. </TD></TR><TR style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: white"><TD>Donald Driver, WR, Packers (@DET): He has 4+ receptions in 7 straight games against the Lions, and 41 catches for 548 yards and 4 TD total during that span. </TD></TR><TR style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #dedede"><TD>Torry Holt, WR, Rams (@ARI): He has 57 receptions for 816 yards and 5 TDs in 8 career games against the Cardinals (average of 7.1 catches, 102.0 yards per G). </TD></TR><TR style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: white"><TD>Rudi Johnson, RB, Bengals (@PIT): In his last 5 G (postseason incl.) vs. PIT, he has averaged 80.8 rushing yards per G and 4.7 yards per carry with 4 total TD. </TD></TR><TR style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #dedede"><TD>Jamal Lewis, RB, Ravens (@CLE): His 3 best career rushing G have all come vs. the Browns, 295 (9/14/03), 205 (12/21/03) and 187 (9/30/02), and he has averaged 132.9 rushing yards with 7 TDs in 10 career G vs. CLE. Of course, Lewis hasn't been quite so dominant recently, with 86 carries for 286 yards and 1 TD in his last 4 G vs. them. </TD></TR><TR style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: white"><TD>Eli Manning, QB, Giants (@SEA): Had 344 passing yards, 2 TD and 1 interception in these teams' last meeting (11/27/05); he also has a TD pass in 9 straight road G. </TD></TR><TR style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #dedede"><TD>Willis McGahee, RB, Bills (NYJ): He has 3 consecutive 100-yard rushing games vs. the Jets, and has 96 carries for 430 yards and 2 TD in 4 career G against them. </TD></TR><TR style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: white"><TD>Steve McNair, QB, Ravens (@CLE): He has averaged 215.0 passing yards with 8 TD and 1 interception in his last 4 games against the Browns. </TD></TR><TR style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #dedede"><TD>Willie Parker, RB, Steelers (CIN): He has 33 carries for 202 yards and 1 TD in 2 career G vs. CIN, with his career-long (regular season) 37-yard TD run coming vs. CIN on 10/23/05. </TD></TR><TR style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: white"><TD>Steve Smith, WR, Panthers (@TB): He topped 100 yards receiving in each of 2 G vs. TB in 2005, with 10 receptions for 209 yards and 1 TD combined. </TD></TR><TR style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #dedede"><TD>Michael Vick, QB, Falcons (@NO): He's 5-0 vs. NO, averaging 182.0 passing yards, 60.8 rushing yards with 6 passing TDs, 6 rushing TDs during that span. </TD></TR><TR style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: white"><TD>Jermaine Wiggins, TE, Vikings (CHI): He had a career-high 10 receptions (for 68 yards) vs. CHI on 10/16/05, and had 13-84-0 numbers vs. them in 2 G in 2006. </TD></TR><TR style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: white"><TD>TRISTAN'S TAKE: Delhomme's fantasy value is closely tied to Smith's status, so keep tabs on Smith's progress as game time approaches. I'm usually more fond of Delhomme in home games, but with this seemingly a must-win game, he should step up with an encouraging effort if he has his favorite receiving target back on the field. ... Johnson's numbers should help allay fears that his assignment against the Steelers makes him a fantasy risk. Pittsburgh clearly hasn't given him much trouble in the past. ... Manning's Week 2 comeback effort spoke volumes about his talent, and while this week's game at Seattle presents quite a challenge to him and his teammates, he'll be asked to throw a fair share to hang in there against the Seattle offense. He's a must-start, this and every week. ... Wiggins is my sleeper pick among tight ends for the week. If the Vikings are going to move the ball at all against the Chicago secondary, it'll be in short tosses his way. </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

<TABLE style="FONT-SIZE: 10px; FONT-FAMILY: verdana; BACKGROUND-COLOR: #c9c9c9" cellSpacing=1 cellPadding=2 width="100%"><TBODY><TR style="COLOR: white; BACKGROUND-COLOR: #2969ad"><TD width="100%">WEATHER REPORT</TD></TR><TR style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #acacac"><TD width="100%">Up-to-the-minute conditions can be found on The Weather Channel's website.</TD></TR><TR style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: white"><TD>Rain in the forecast (40-percent chance or worse): Jets at Bills (70 percent), Ravens at Browns (60) and Bengals at Steelers (40). </TD></TR><TR style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #dedede"><TD>Cold temperatures (40 degrees or lower): No games. </TD></TR><TR style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: white"><TD>Hot temperatures (80 degrees or higher): Panthers at Buccaneers could push 90, while Titans at Dolphins should be in the mid 80s. </TD></TR><TR style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #dedede"><TD>Weatherproof games (safest playing conditions): Redskins at Texans (Reliant Stadium), Packers at Lions (Ford Field), Jaguars at Colts (RCA Dome), Bears at Vikings (Metrodome), Rams at Cardinals (Cardinals Stadium) and Falcons at Saints (Superdome). </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

<TABLE style="FONT-SIZE: 10px; FONT-FAMILY: verdana; BACKGROUND-COLOR: #c9c9c9" cellSpacing=1 cellPadding=2 width="100%"><TBODY><TR style="COLOR: white; BACKGROUND-COLOR: #2969ad"><TD width="100%">KICKERS IN DOMES</TD></TR><TR style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #acacac"><TD width="100%">As kickers are as a whole fairly unpredictable, weather can play a big part in determining which ones to use each week. Those who kick indoors are safest from the elements and therefore least likely to hurt you, making the names below more attractive plays. Statistics listed are career numbers indoors, unless otherwise noted (G: games, FGpct: field-goal percentage; XPTpct: extra-point percentage; ppg: points per game).</TD></TR><TR style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: white"><TD>Kris Brown, Texans (WAS): 24 G, 80.0 FGpct, 100.0 XPTpct, 5.25 ppg. </TD></TR><TR style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #dedede"><TD>John Carney, Saints (ATL): 58 G, 85.8 FGpct, 99.2 XPTpct, 8.03 ppg. </TD></TR><TR style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: white"><TD>Robbie Gould, Bears (@MIN): 2 G, 100.0 FGpct, XPTpct, 5.50 ppg. </TD></TR><TR style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #dedede"><TD>John Hall, Redskins (@HOU): 12 G, 76.7 FGpct, 95.8 XPTpct, 7.67 ppg. </TD></TR><TR style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: white"><TD>Jason Hanson, Lions (GB): 118 G, 83.7 FGpct, 99.2 XPTpct, 6.80 ppg. </TD></TR><TR style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #dedede"><TD>Michael Koenen, Falcons (@NO): 11 G, 16.7 FGpct, 100.0 XPTpct, 0.45 ppg. </TD></TR><TR style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: white"><TD>Ryan Longwell, Vikings (CHI): 25 G, 85.5 FGpct, 100.0 XPTpct, 8.04 ppg. </TD></TR><TR style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #dedede"><TD>Neil Rackers, Cardinals (STL): 12 G, 94.7 FGpct, 100.0 XPTpct, 6.42 ppg. </TD></TR><TR style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: white"><TD>Dave Rayner, Packers (@DET): 8 G, 0.0 FGpct, -- XPTpct, 0.00 ppg. </TD></TR><TR style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #dedede"><TD>Josh Scobee, Jaguars (@IND): 5 G, 69.2 FGpct, 100.0 XPTpct, 7.40 ppg. </TD></TR><TR style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: white"><TD>Adam Vinatieri, Colts (JAC): 17 G, 94.9 FGpct, 100.0 XPTpct, 9.12 ppg. </TD></TR><TR style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #dedede"><TD>Jeff Wilkins, Rams (@ARI): 93 G, 83.2 FGpct, 100.0 XPTpct, 7.56 ppg</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
 
Hache Man

Hache Man

"Seven Days Without Gambling Makes One Weak"
Re: NFL Fantasy Football News/Articles - ESPN Insider 3 New Articles Added 9/20/06)

Re: NFL Fantasy Football News/Articles - ESPN Insider 3 New Articles Added 9/20/06)

Sep. 21, 2006, 3:18 PM
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Cockcroft: Week 3 Statbook


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By Tristan H. Cockcroft
ESPN Fantasy Games

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Each week, the FFL Statbook provides you with hot and cold players, historical statistics and trends to exploit and weather reports as you consider your weekly player matchups.


Bye weeks: Chargers, Chiefs, Cowboys, Raiders. <!--##FRONTSTOP##--><TABLE style="FONT-SIZE: 10px; FONT-FAMILY: verdana; BACKGROUND-COLOR: #c9c9c9" cellSpacing=1 cellPadding=2 width="100%"><TBODY><TR style="COLOR: white; BACKGROUND-COLOR: #2969ad"><TD width="100%">RIDE THE HOT STREAK</TD></TR><TR style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #acacac"><TD width="100%">The players listed below -- three each at QB, RB and WR and one TE -- are performing well enough of late to be must-starts regardless of the match-ups.</TD></TR><TR style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: white"><TD>Antonio Bryant, WR, 49ers (PHI): He has three consecutive 100-yard receiving efforts (17-368-2 numbers total), and is third in the NFL in receiving yards (245). </TD></TR><TR style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #dedede"><TD>Laveranues Coles, WR, Jets (@BUF): He leads the NFL in receiving yards (253) and has 14 receptions and 1 TD; he also has 4 TD in his last 5 regular-season G. </TD></TR><TR style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: white"><TD>Warrick Dunn, RB, Falcons (@NO): He leads the NFL in rushing yards (266), has 3 runs of 20+ yards, and has averaged 5.3 yards per carry and 133.0 per game. </TD></TR><TR style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #dedede"><TD>Frank Gore, RB, 49ers (PHI): He's 2nd in the NFL in scrimmage yds (307) and tied for 1st in rushing TDs (3); also has 2 100-yard rushing efforts in his last 3 G. </TD></TR><TR style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: white"><TD>Rex Grossman, QB, Bears (@MIN): He leads the NFL in passer rating (128.7), and has thrown for 551 yards, 5 TD and 1 interception in his first two games. </TD></TR><TR style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #dedede"><TD>Donovan McNabb, QB, Eagles (@SF): Leads the NFL in passing yards (676), is tied in passing TDs (5), and has completed 64.6 percent of his pass attempts. </TD></TR><TR style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: white"><TD>Chad Pennington, QB, Jets (@BUF): He has completed 46 of 70 attempts (65.7 percent) for 625 yards, 4 TDs and one interception in his first two games. </TD></TR><TR style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #dedede"><TD>Ravens defense (@CLE): Baltimore has yet to allow a TD, has allowed six points combined in two games and ranks 1st in the NFL in total defense (152.0 ypg). </TD></TR><TR style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: white"><TD>L.J. Smith, TE, Eagles (@SF): He leads all tight ends with 13 receptions and 167 receiving yards, and has 5+ receptions in 7 of the last 10 Donovan McNabb starts. </TD></TR><TR style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #dedede"><TD>Amani Toomer, WR, Giants (@SEA): He leads the NFL in receptions (17), and has 178 receiving yards and 2 TD; he also has 9 TD in his last 15 regular-season G. </TD></TR><TR style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: white"><TD>TRISTAN'S TAKE: Atlanta continues to pound the ball on the ground, with 91 rushing attempts in two games. That's enough to go around that Warrick Dunn, Michael Vick and Jerious Norwood can be useful plays facing such a favorable matchup as a Monday Night game at the Saints. ... In addition to the above numbers, the Ravens' defense leads the NFL in interceptions (6) and is third in sacks (9), and it'll be facing a Browns offense that has four interceptions and five sacks already in two games. Baltimore has had a favorable schedule so far, for sure, but this unit looks talented enough to be a top-five fantasy option the entire season. ... It's not necessarily the best of matchups for Chad Pennington and Laveranues Coles in Week 3, but the level of chemistry the two have displayed together shouldn't be doubted. They're must-plays for as long as they remain hot. </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

<TABLE style="FONT-SIZE: 10px; FONT-FAMILY: verdana; BACKGROUND-COLOR: #c9c9c9" cellSpacing=1 cellPadding=2 width="100%"><TBODY><TR style="COLOR: white; BACKGROUND-COLOR: #2969ad"><TD width="100%">AVOID THE COLD SPELL</TD></TR><TR style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #acacac"><TD width="100%">The players listed below -- three each at QB, RB and WR and one TE -- have struggled enough recently that they should be avoided whenever possible.</TD></TR><TR style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: white"><TD>Chris Brown, RB, Titans (@MIA): He has 22 carries for 73 yards (3.3 average) and no touchdowns, and two receptions for four yards and no scores, in two games. </TD></TR><TR style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #dedede"><TD>Mark Brunell, QB, Redskins (@HOU): He has completed only 57.4 percent of his pass attempts for 360 yards, no touchdowns and one interception in two games. </TD></TR><TR style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: white"><TD>Nate Burleson, WR, Seahawks (NYG): He has two receptions for 43 yards and no touchdowns in two games, and has only been targeted five times combined. </TD></TR><TR style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #dedede"><TD>Chris Cooley, TE, Redskins (@HOU): He has three receptions for 20 yards and no touchdowns in two games, despite being targeted 13 times combined. </TD></TR><TR style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: white"><TD>Lee Evans, WR, Bills (NYJ): He has four receptions for 44 yards and no touchdowns in two games, despite being targeted 11 times combined. </TD></TR><TR style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #dedede"><TD>DeShaun Foster, RB, Panthers (@TB): He has 28 carries for 80 yards (2.9 average) and no touchdowns, and six receptions for 37 yards and no scores, in 2 G. </TD></TR><TR style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: white"><TD>Brandon Lloyd, WR, Redskins (@HOU): He has one reception for six yards and no touchdowns in two games, and has only been targeted five times combined. </TD></TR><TR style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #dedede"><TD>Wali Lundy, RB, Texans (WAS): He has 17 carries for 57 yards (3.4 average) and no touchdowns, and two receptions for minus-1 yards and no scores, in two games. </TD></TR><TR style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: white"><TD>Jake Plummer, QB, Broncos (@NE): He has completed only 51.8 percent of his pass attempts for 311 yards, no touchdowns and four interceptions in two games. </TD></TR><TR style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #dedede"><TD>Chris Simms, QB, Buccaneers (CAR): He has completed only 54.9 percent of his pass attempts for 446 yards, no touchdowns and six interceptions in two games. </TD></TR><TR style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: white"><TD>TRISTAN'S TAKE: Until Brunell gets himself straightened out -- and let's admit that it might not happen at all -- the entire Redskins offense, particularly the passing game, will suffer. Cooley's number of targets is an encouraging sign that he should turn his season around, but Brunell, Santana Moss, Lloyd and Antwaan Randle El are all looking like much riskier weekly plays in the long term. ... Don't be surprised if Foster's no longer Carolina's starter after Week 3. DeAngelo Williams is too talented to keep in such a limited role, and if he's one of the catalysts in a potential first win of the season for Carolina, count on it earning him a start in the near future. ... None of the Houston running backs are useful fantasy options, even in the bye weeks, until one steps up and proves worthy of a consistent, double-digit number of carries on a weekly basis. I'm banking on Samkon Gado being the one who emerges, but not necessarily in the next week or two. ... Don't be too tough on Plummer if he struggles again at New England. It's a challenging assignment for him, so Mike Shanahan would likely give him another home game in which to try to rebound. </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

<TABLE style="FONT-SIZE: 10px; FONT-FAMILY: verdana; BACKGROUND-COLOR: #c9c9c9" cellSpacing=1 cellPadding=2 width="100%"><TBODY><TR style="COLOR: white; BACKGROUND-COLOR: #2969ad"><TD width="100%">HISTORY LESSON</TD></TR><TR style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #acacac"><TD width="100%">The following players have tremendous recent track records against their scheduled opponents, making them more appealing fantasy options for this week.</TD></TR><TR style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: white"><TD>Tom Brady, QB, Patriots (DEN): He has passed for 299+ yards in each of his last 3 games against the Broncos (postseason included), with 5 TD total. He has also averaged 208.1 passing yards with 61 TDs and 19 interceptions in 41 career home games. </TD></TR><TR style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #dedede"><TD>Jake Delhomme, QB, Panthers (@TB): He's 3-0 lifetime as a starter @TB, and has averaged 228.0 passing yards with 10 TDs, 4 interceptions in his last 5 vs. them. </TD></TR><TR style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: white"><TD>Donald Driver, WR, Packers (@DET): He has 4+ receptions in 7 straight games against the Lions, and 41 catches for 548 yards and 4 TD total during that span. </TD></TR><TR style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #dedede"><TD>Torry Holt, WR, Rams (@ARI): He has 57 receptions for 816 yards and 5 TDs in 8 career games against the Cardinals (average of 7.1 catches, 102.0 yards per G). </TD></TR><TR style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: white"><TD>Rudi Johnson, RB, Bengals (@PIT): In his last 5 G (postseason incl.) vs. PIT, he has averaged 80.8 rushing yards per G and 4.7 yards per carry with 4 total TD. </TD></TR><TR style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #dedede"><TD>Jamal Lewis, RB, Ravens (@CLE): His 3 best career rushing G have all come vs. the Browns, 295 (9/14/03), 205 (12/21/03) and 187 (9/30/02), and he has averaged 132.9 rushing yards with 7 TDs in 10 career G vs. CLE. Of course, Lewis hasn't been quite so dominant recently, with 86 carries for 286 yards and 1 TD in his last 4 G vs. them. </TD></TR><TR style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: white"><TD>Eli Manning, QB, Giants (@SEA): Had 344 passing yards, 2 TD and 1 interception in these teams' last meeting (11/27/05); he also has a TD pass in 9 straight road G. </TD></TR><TR style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #dedede"><TD>Willis McGahee, RB, Bills (NYJ): He has 3 consecutive 100-yard rushing games vs. the Jets, and has 96 carries for 430 yards and 2 TD in 4 career G against them. </TD></TR><TR style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: white"><TD>Steve McNair, QB, Ravens (@CLE): He has averaged 215.0 passing yards with 8 TD and 1 interception in his last 4 games against the Browns. </TD></TR><TR style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #dedede"><TD>Willie Parker, RB, Steelers (CIN): He has 33 carries for 202 yards and 1 TD in 2 career G vs. CIN, with his career-long (regular season) 37-yard TD run coming vs. CIN on 10/23/05. </TD></TR><TR style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: white"><TD>Steve Smith, WR, Panthers (@TB): He topped 100 yards receiving in each of 2 G vs. TB in 2005, with 10 receptions for 209 yards and 1 TD combined. </TD></TR><TR style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #dedede"><TD>Michael Vick, QB, Falcons (@NO): He's 5-0 vs. NO, averaging 182.0 passing yards, 60.8 rushing yards with 6 passing TDs, 6 rushing TDs during that span. </TD></TR><TR style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: white"><TD>Jermaine Wiggins, TE, Vikings (CHI): He had a career-high 10 receptions (for 68 yards) vs. CHI on 10/16/05, and had 13-84-0 numbers vs. them in 2 G in 2006. </TD></TR><TR style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: white"><TD>TRISTAN'S TAKE: Delhomme's fantasy value is closely tied to Smith's status, so keep tabs on Smith's progress as game time approaches. I'm usually more fond of Delhomme in home games, but with this seemingly a must-win game, he should step up with an encouraging effort if he has his favorite receiving target back on the field. ... Johnson's numbers should help allay fears that his assignment against the Steelers makes him a fantasy risk. Pittsburgh clearly hasn't given him much trouble in the past. ... Manning's Week 2 comeback effort spoke volumes about his talent, and while this week's game at Seattle presents quite a challenge to him and his teammates, he'll be asked to throw a fair share to hang in there against the Seattle offense. He's a must-start, this and every week. ... Wiggins is my sleeper pick among tight ends for the week. If the Vikings are going to move the ball at all against the Chicago secondary, it'll be in short tosses his way. </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

<TABLE style="FONT-SIZE: 10px; FONT-FAMILY: verdana; BACKGROUND-COLOR: #c9c9c9" cellSpacing=1 cellPadding=2 width="100%"><TBODY><TR style="COLOR: white; BACKGROUND-COLOR: #2969ad"><TD width="100%">WEATHER REPORT</TD></TR><TR style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #acacac"><TD width="100%">Up-to-the-minute conditions can be found on The Weather Channel's website.</TD></TR><TR style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: white"><TD>Rain in the forecast (40-percent chance or worse): Jets at Bills (70 percent), Ravens at Browns (60) and Bengals at Steelers (40). </TD></TR><TR style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #dedede"><TD>Cold temperatures (40 degrees or lower): No games. </TD></TR><TR style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: white"><TD>Hot temperatures (80 degrees or higher): Panthers at Buccaneers could push 90, while Titans at Dolphins should be in the mid 80s. </TD></TR><TR style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #dedede"><TD>Weatherproof games (safest playing conditions): Redskins at Texans (Reliant Stadium), Packers at Lions (Ford Field), Jaguars at Colts (RCA Dome), Bears at Vikings (Metrodome), Rams at Cardinals (Cardinals Stadium) and Falcons at Saints (Superdome). </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

<TABLE style="FONT-SIZE: 10px; FONT-FAMILY: verdana; BACKGROUND-COLOR: #c9c9c9" cellSpacing=1 cellPadding=2 width="100%"><TBODY><TR style="COLOR: white; BACKGROUND-COLOR: #2969ad"><TD width="100%">KICKERS IN DOMES</TD></TR><TR style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #acacac"><TD width="100%">As kickers are as a whole fairly unpredictable, weather can play a big part in determining which ones to use each week. Those who kick indoors are safest from the elements and therefore least likely to hurt you, making the names below more attractive plays. Statistics listed are career numbers indoors, unless otherwise noted (G: games, FGpct: field-goal percentage; XPTpct: extra-point percentage; ppg: points per game).</TD></TR><TR style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: white"><TD>Kris Brown, Texans (WAS): 24 G, 80.0 FGpct, 100.0 XPTpct, 5.25 ppg. </TD></TR><TR style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #dedede"><TD>John Carney, Saints (ATL): 58 G, 85.8 FGpct, 99.2 XPTpct, 8.03 ppg. </TD></TR><TR style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: white"><TD>Robbie Gould, Bears (@MIN): 2 G, 100.0 FGpct, XPTpct, 5.50 ppg. </TD></TR><TR style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #dedede"><TD>John Hall, Redskins (@HOU): 12 G, 76.7 FGpct, 95.8 XPTpct, 7.67 ppg. </TD></TR><TR style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: white"><TD>Jason Hanson, Lions (GB): 118 G, 83.7 FGpct, 99.2 XPTpct, 6.80 ppg. </TD></TR><TR style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #dedede"><TD>Michael Koenen, Falcons (@NO): 11 G, 16.7 FGpct, 100.0 XPTpct, 0.45 ppg. </TD></TR><TR style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: white"><TD>Ryan Longwell, Vikings (CHI): 25 G, 85.5 FGpct, 100.0 XPTpct, 8.04 ppg. </TD></TR><TR style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #dedede"><TD>Neil Rackers, Cardinals (STL): 12 G, 94.7 FGpct, 100.0 XPTpct, 6.42 ppg. </TD></TR><TR style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: white"><TD>Dave Rayner, Packers (@DET): 8 G, 0.0 FGpct, -- XPTpct, 0.00 ppg. </TD></TR><TR style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #dedede"><TD>Josh Scobee, Jaguars (@IND): 5 G, 69.2 FGpct, 100.0 XPTpct, 7.40 ppg. </TD></TR><TR style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: white"><TD>Adam Vinatieri, Colts (JAC): 17 G, 94.9 FGpct, 100.0 XPTpct, 9.12 ppg. </TD></TR><TR style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #dedede"><TD>Jeff Wilkins, Rams (@ARI): 93 G, 83.2 FGpct, 100.0 XPTpct, 7.56 ppg</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
 
Hache Man

Hache Man

"Seven Days Without Gambling Makes One Weak"
Re: NFL Fantasy Football News/Articles - ESPN Insider 3 New Articles Added 9/20/06)

Re: NFL Fantasy Football News/Articles - ESPN Insider 3 New Articles Added 9/20/06)

Thursday, September 21, 2006
<SCRIPT language=javascript src="http://ai059.insightexpressai.com/adServer/adServer.aspx?bannerID=7560"></SCRIPT> Matchup Madness


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By Scott Engel
ESPN.com

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<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width=762 border=0><TBODY><TR><TD vAlign=top width=552><!-- begin leftcol --><!-- template inline -->After two weeks of the regular season, it's already apparent that a lot has changed this season. Making starting lineup decisions isn't easy, and players who were drafted high are already being considered for benchings. Carnell Williams is no lock to start in any fantasy league this week, and Roy Williams certainly doesn't appear to be on his way to the big breakthrough year many of us expected for him in 2006.
When one of the better players isn't performing as hoped, it's only natural to consider using another guy with a friendlier matchup in his place. But sometimes, some fantasy owners tend to go overboard with matchup analysis, and consider benching prime starters for much lesser players with a better matchup. Yes, Cadillac Williams has struggled so far, and facing the Panthers this week doesn't make him look promising. But it's certainly not a reason to consider using Isaac Bruce over him at a flex position, just because Bruce faces the 49ers. Williams is very likely to get more touches and can easily bounce back to post decent numbers this week.
Matchups should be used to help you make a decision between two players of similar value, not to use a lesser player over a much more productive one. You shouldn't use Ahman Green over Rudi Johnson because Green faces the Lions and Johnson lines up against the Steelers. Johnson is simply the much better fantasy player, and should be a must-start player regardless of the matchup. The best players become the best by performing well against all levels of opposition. In last season's game at Pittsburgh, Johnson rushed for 98 yards and two touchdowns. Green looks like he will post mediocre numbers all year long, no matter who the opponent is. Green should never be started over Johnson because he's not close to him in current value as a fantasy player.
Another prominent fantasy player who has a formidable opponent this week is Minnesota RB Chester Taylor, who faces the Bears. If you have both Taylor and Warrick Dunn, it's clear you should use Dunn, because the players have similar fantasy value and the matchup helps push you in the direction of using Dunn. But don't use Kevan Barlow over Taylor, just because Barlow might start and the Bills seem like a lesser opponent than the Bears. Taylor is a workhorse who will get a lot of touches, while Barlow has been a regular disappointment who has proved nothing yet in New York.
Matchup overanalysis comes into play very often at quarterback. You shouldn't consider benching Peyton Manning (vs. Jaguars) or Carson Palmer (vs. Steelers) this week. Using Brett Favre because he faces the Lions or Mark Brunell against the Texans is a major mistake. You never bench your dependable superstars, because they usually produce fine numbers against any kind of opponent. This might seem like common sense to some fantasy owners, but even some savvy fantasy players have tried to experiment with leaning too heavily on matchups in the past, and it's a strategy that often doesn't produce optimum results. <STYLE> .headshot { visibility: visible; padding: 0px 5px 4px 0px; float: left;} .bottom { font: 10px verdana, san-serif; color: #fff; font-weight: bold; background: #006633; padding: 5px; } </STYLE>BETWEEN THE LINES
In addition to overemphasizing matchups, some fantasy players tend to panic too much when injuries strike. I've gotten many questions from owners who are considering benching a player just because he is listed as probable. When a player is listed as probable, that technically means he has a 75 percent chance of playing, and in many cases, the percentages are often better than the actual 75 percent designation. You shouldn't consider sitting Chad Pennington (calf), listed as probable, in favor of say, Mark Brunell, just because Pennington is listed on the injury report. Shaun Alexander is listed as probable with a foot injury, but it's not time to consider using Kevin Jones over him because Jones faces the Packers. There are no indications yet that the injury is serious enough to keep Alexander out of action against the Giants, and you should only use a player like Jones if Alexander is downgraded in the next few days. Some teams, such as the Colts and Ravens, seem to use the "questionable" (50 percent chance of playing) designation very loosely. Each probable and questionable designation is different, and requires extra research on the part of the fantasy owner. Clinton Portis (shoulder) is listed as probable, but even if he plays, he could be looking at less than a full workload. He's probable to play, but that doesn't mean he'll probably be close to full form. By contrast, Alexander could look like his usual self if he has setbacks. Many injuries are unique and the official injury report should serve as a guide, not an ironclad directive on whom to start.


THE BOTTOM LINE

Jerricho Cotchery, WR, N.Y. Jets
6 receptions, 121 yards, 1 TD
Cotchery has been one of the pleasant surprises and hottest free-agent additions of the early season. After beating out the annually disappointing Justin McCareins for a starting job in the preseason, Cotchery has caught TD passes in each of the first two games. He has quickly emerged as a sure-handed, dependable complement to Laveranues Coles. Much of Chad Pennington's early statistical success must be credited to his receivers, who have been ultra-reliable and have made key plays at critical points of the first two games. Cotchery is looking like a Darrell Jackson clone. He's often in the right place at the right time, will make the tough catch and will surprise defenses by breaking loose for extra yardage after the catch. Some fantasy owners might consider Cotchery's 71-yard touchdown reception against New England an aberration, because it came on an unusual play in which he was seemingly down under two tacklers, but heard no whistle, slipped through the defenders and kept going. Instead of considering the play a fluke, credit Cotchery for having great presence of mind for a 24-year-old receiver who has never started before. Cotchery has quickly become a quality No. 3 fantasy wide receiver and could soon be a solid No. 2 if he continues to play well.
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<TABLE class=tablehead cellSpacing=1 cellPadding=3><TBODY><TR><TD class=stathead align=middle bgColor=#555555 colSpan=6>Week 2</TD></TR><TR><TD bgColor=#ffffff> </TD><TD colSpan=5>Alex Smith, QB, 49ers: Quickly developing into a solid fantasy reserve</TD></TR><!-- inline box score --><TR class=colhead><TD>passYDS</TD><TD>passTD</TD><TD>INT</TD><TD>rushYDS</TD><TD>FPTS</TD></TR><TR class=evenrow vAlign=top><TD><NOBR>233</NOBR></TD><TD><NOBR>1</NOBR></TD><TD><NOBR>0</NOBR></TD><TD><NOBR>-1</NOBR></TD><TD><NOBR>15</NOBR></TD></TR><TR><TD bgColor=#ffffff colSpan=5 height=3></TD></TR><TR><TD bgColor=#ffffff> </TD><TD colSpan=5>Edgerrin James, RB, Cardinals: Not terrible so far, but not what you want from a first-rounder</TD></TR><!-- inline box score --><TR class=colhead><TD>ATT</TD><TD>rushYDS</TD><TD>recYDS</TD><TD>TD</TD><TD>FPTS</TD></TR><TR class=evenrow vAlign=top><TD><NOBR>18</NOBR></TD><TD><NOBR>64</NOBR></TD><TD><NOBR>0</NOBR></TD><TD><NOBR>33</NOBR></TD><TD><NOBR>9</NOBR></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><TABLE class=tablehead cellSpacing=1 cellPadding=3><!-- <tr><td align=center bgcolor="#555555" COLSPAN=6 class="stathead" colspan="6"> </td></tr> --><TBODY><TR><TD bgColor=#ffffff> </TD><TD colSpan=5>Darrell Jackson, WR, Seahawks: Has battled through injuries, and Deion Branch will help him draw fewer defenders</TD></TR><!-- inline box score --><TR class=colhead><TD>REC</TD><TD>recYDS</TD><TD>TARGET</TD><TD>TD</TD><TD>FPTS</TD></TR><TR class=evenrow vAlign=top><TD><NOBR>5</NOBR></TD><TD><NOBR>127</NOBR></TD><TD><NOBR>11</NOBR></TD><TD><NOBR>1</NOBR></TD><TD><NOBR>20</NOBR></TD></TR><TR><TD bgColor=#ffffff colSpan=5 height=3></TD></TR><TR><TD bgColor=#ffffff> </TD><TD colSpan=5>Kellen Winslow Jr., TE, Browns: Stuck in a mediocre offense where he doesn't have enough quality complements</TD></TR><!-- inline box score --><TR class=colhead><TD>REC</TD><TD>recYDS</TD><TD>TARGET</TD><TD>TD</TD><TD>FPTS</TD></TR><TR class=evenrow vAlign=top><TD><NOBR>4</NOBR></TD><TD><NOBR>42</NOBR></TD><TD><NOBR>9</NOBR></TD><TD><NOBR>0</NOBR></TD><TD><NOBR>4</NOBR></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

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<!-- begin also see2 -->Surfin' the Scoreboard

Trainer's Room
? More fantasy drama surrounding Bengals WR T.J. Houshmandzadeh (heel) After Marvin Lewis said earlier in the week he expected Houshmandzadeh to play against Pittsburgh, the wideout missed practice on Wednesday and is now listed as questionable.
? Eagles RB Brian Westbrook (knee) is listed as questionable. Correll Buckhalter would likely start in Westbrook's place if he cannot play.
? Jacksonville WR Matt Jones is listed as questionable with a groin injury. He missed part of practice on Wednesday but was able to play through the injury on Monday, so don't rule him out of your lineup just yet.
? Patriots WR Chad Jackson is listed as questionable with a hamstring injury. Health issues have been an early problem for the rookie wideout, who could easily be the best fantasy receiver on the Patriots' roster if he can stay on the field.
? Browns RB Reuben Droughns is listed as questionable with a shoulder injury. If he isn't able to play, rookie Jerome Harrison could start in his place and is worth adding as a free agent.
? Vikings WR Troy Williamson (shoulder) is listed as questionable, but he was able to practice on Wednesday. ? Wed Box | Tue Box | Mon Box | Karabell's Blog





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Hache Man

Hache Man

"Seven Days Without Gambling Makes One Weak"
Re: NFL Fantasy Football News/Articles - ESPN Insider 3 New Articles Added 9/20/06)

Re: NFL Fantasy Football News/Articles - ESPN Insider 3 New Articles Added 9/20/06)

Thursday, September 21, 2006
<SCRIPT language=javascript src="http://ai059.insightexpressai.com/adServer/adServer.aspx?bannerID=7560"></SCRIPT> Matchup Madness


<!-- begin bylinebox -->

By Scott Engel
ESPN.com

<!-- begin presby2 -->
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<!-- end bylinebox -->
<!-- begin text11 div -->
<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width=762 border=0><TBODY><TR><TD vAlign=top width=552><!-- begin leftcol --><!-- template inline -->After two weeks of the regular season, it's already apparent that a lot has changed this season. Making starting lineup decisions isn't easy, and players who were drafted high are already being considered for benchings. Carnell Williams is no lock to start in any fantasy league this week, and Roy Williams certainly doesn't appear to be on his way to the big breakthrough year many of us expected for him in 2006.
When one of the better players isn't performing as hoped, it's only natural to consider using another guy with a friendlier matchup in his place. But sometimes, some fantasy owners tend to go overboard with matchup analysis, and consider benching prime starters for much lesser players with a better matchup. Yes, Cadillac Williams has struggled so far, and facing the Panthers this week doesn't make him look promising. But it's certainly not a reason to consider using Isaac Bruce over him at a flex position, just because Bruce faces the 49ers. Williams is very likely to get more touches and can easily bounce back to post decent numbers this week.
Matchups should be used to help you make a decision between two players of similar value, not to use a lesser player over a much more productive one. You shouldn't use Ahman Green over Rudi Johnson because Green faces the Lions and Johnson lines up against the Steelers. Johnson is simply the much better fantasy player, and should be a must-start player regardless of the matchup. The best players become the best by performing well against all levels of opposition. In last season's game at Pittsburgh, Johnson rushed for 98 yards and two touchdowns. Green looks like he will post mediocre numbers all year long, no matter who the opponent is. Green should never be started over Johnson because he's not close to him in current value as a fantasy player.
Another prominent fantasy player who has a formidable opponent this week is Minnesota RB Chester Taylor, who faces the Bears. If you have both Taylor and Warrick Dunn, it's clear you should use Dunn, because the players have similar fantasy value and the matchup helps push you in the direction of using Dunn. But don't use Kevan Barlow over Taylor, just because Barlow might start and the Bills seem like a lesser opponent than the Bears. Taylor is a workhorse who will get a lot of touches, while Barlow has been a regular disappointment who has proved nothing yet in New York.
Matchup overanalysis comes into play very often at quarterback. You shouldn't consider benching Peyton Manning (vs. Jaguars) or Carson Palmer (vs. Steelers) this week. Using Brett Favre because he faces the Lions or Mark Brunell against the Texans is a major mistake. You never bench your dependable superstars, because they usually produce fine numbers against any kind of opponent. This might seem like common sense to some fantasy owners, but even some savvy fantasy players have tried to experiment with leaning too heavily on matchups in the past, and it's a strategy that often doesn't produce optimum results. <STYLE> .headshot { visibility: visible; padding: 0px 5px 4px 0px; float: left;} .bottom { font: 10px verdana, san-serif; color: #fff; font-weight: bold; background: #006633; padding: 5px; } </STYLE>BETWEEN THE LINES
In addition to overemphasizing matchups, some fantasy players tend to panic too much when injuries strike. I've gotten many questions from owners who are considering benching a player just because he is listed as probable. When a player is listed as probable, that technically means he has a 75 percent chance of playing, and in many cases, the percentages are often better than the actual 75 percent designation. You shouldn't consider sitting Chad Pennington (calf), listed as probable, in favor of say, Mark Brunell, just because Pennington is listed on the injury report. Shaun Alexander is listed as probable with a foot injury, but it's not time to consider using Kevin Jones over him because Jones faces the Packers. There are no indications yet that the injury is serious enough to keep Alexander out of action against the Giants, and you should only use a player like Jones if Alexander is downgraded in the next few days. Some teams, such as the Colts and Ravens, seem to use the "questionable" (50 percent chance of playing) designation very loosely. Each probable and questionable designation is different, and requires extra research on the part of the fantasy owner. Clinton Portis (shoulder) is listed as probable, but even if he plays, he could be looking at less than a full workload. He's probable to play, but that doesn't mean he'll probably be close to full form. By contrast, Alexander could look like his usual self if he has setbacks. Many injuries are unique and the official injury report should serve as a guide, not an ironclad directive on whom to start.


THE BOTTOM LINE

Jerricho Cotchery, WR, N.Y. Jets
6 receptions, 121 yards, 1 TD
Cotchery has been one of the pleasant surprises and hottest free-agent additions of the early season. After beating out the annually disappointing Justin McCareins for a starting job in the preseason, Cotchery has caught TD passes in each of the first two games. He has quickly emerged as a sure-handed, dependable complement to Laveranues Coles. Much of Chad Pennington's early statistical success must be credited to his receivers, who have been ultra-reliable and have made key plays at critical points of the first two games. Cotchery is looking like a Darrell Jackson clone. He's often in the right place at the right time, will make the tough catch and will surprise defenses by breaking loose for extra yardage after the catch. Some fantasy owners might consider Cotchery's 71-yard touchdown reception against New England an aberration, because it came on an unusual play in which he was seemingly down under two tacklers, but heard no whistle, slipped through the defenders and kept going. Instead of considering the play a fluke, credit Cotchery for having great presence of mind for a 24-year-old receiver who has never started before. Cotchery has quickly become a quality No. 3 fantasy wide receiver and could soon be a solid No. 2 if he continues to play well.
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<TABLE class=tablehead cellSpacing=1 cellPadding=3><TBODY><TR><TD class=stathead align=middle bgColor=#555555 colSpan=6>Week 2</TD></TR><TR><TD bgColor=#ffffff> </TD><TD colSpan=5>Alex Smith, QB, 49ers: Quickly developing into a solid fantasy reserve</TD></TR><!-- inline box score --><TR class=colhead><TD>passYDS</TD><TD>passTD</TD><TD>INT</TD><TD>rushYDS</TD><TD>FPTS</TD></TR><TR class=evenrow vAlign=top><TD><NOBR>233</NOBR></TD><TD><NOBR>1</NOBR></TD><TD><NOBR>0</NOBR></TD><TD><NOBR>-1</NOBR></TD><TD><NOBR>15</NOBR></TD></TR><TR><TD bgColor=#ffffff colSpan=5 height=3></TD></TR><TR><TD bgColor=#ffffff> </TD><TD colSpan=5>Edgerrin James, RB, Cardinals: Not terrible so far, but not what you want from a first-rounder</TD></TR><!-- inline box score --><TR class=colhead><TD>ATT</TD><TD>rushYDS</TD><TD>recYDS</TD><TD>TD</TD><TD>FPTS</TD></TR><TR class=evenrow vAlign=top><TD><NOBR>18</NOBR></TD><TD><NOBR>64</NOBR></TD><TD><NOBR>0</NOBR></TD><TD><NOBR>33</NOBR></TD><TD><NOBR>9</NOBR></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><TABLE class=tablehead cellSpacing=1 cellPadding=3><!-- <tr><td align=center bgcolor="#555555" COLSPAN=6 class="stathead" colspan="6"> </td></tr> --><TBODY><TR><TD bgColor=#ffffff> </TD><TD colSpan=5>Darrell Jackson, WR, Seahawks: Has battled through injuries, and Deion Branch will help him draw fewer defenders</TD></TR><!-- inline box score --><TR class=colhead><TD>REC</TD><TD>recYDS</TD><TD>TARGET</TD><TD>TD</TD><TD>FPTS</TD></TR><TR class=evenrow vAlign=top><TD><NOBR>5</NOBR></TD><TD><NOBR>127</NOBR></TD><TD><NOBR>11</NOBR></TD><TD><NOBR>1</NOBR></TD><TD><NOBR>20</NOBR></TD></TR><TR><TD bgColor=#ffffff colSpan=5 height=3></TD></TR><TR><TD bgColor=#ffffff> </TD><TD colSpan=5>Kellen Winslow Jr., TE, Browns: Stuck in a mediocre offense where he doesn't have enough quality complements</TD></TR><!-- inline box score --><TR class=colhead><TD>REC</TD><TD>recYDS</TD><TD>TARGET</TD><TD>TD</TD><TD>FPTS</TD></TR><TR class=evenrow vAlign=top><TD><NOBR>4</NOBR></TD><TD><NOBR>42</NOBR></TD><TD><NOBR>9</NOBR></TD><TD><NOBR>0</NOBR></TD><TD><NOBR>4</NOBR></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

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<!-- begin also see2 -->Surfin' the Scoreboard

Trainer's Room
? More fantasy drama surrounding Bengals WR T.J. Houshmandzadeh (heel) After Marvin Lewis said earlier in the week he expected Houshmandzadeh to play against Pittsburgh, the wideout missed practice on Wednesday and is now listed as questionable.
? Eagles RB Brian Westbrook (knee) is listed as questionable. Correll Buckhalter would likely start in Westbrook's place if he cannot play.
? Jacksonville WR Matt Jones is listed as questionable with a groin injury. He missed part of practice on Wednesday but was able to play through the injury on Monday, so don't rule him out of your lineup just yet.
? Patriots WR Chad Jackson is listed as questionable with a hamstring injury. Health issues have been an early problem for the rookie wideout, who could easily be the best fantasy receiver on the Patriots' roster if he can stay on the field.
? Browns RB Reuben Droughns is listed as questionable with a shoulder injury. If he isn't able to play, rookie Jerome Harrison could start in his place and is worth adding as a free agent.
? Vikings WR Troy Williamson (shoulder) is listed as questionable, but he was able to practice on Wednesday. ? Wed Box | Tue Box | Mon Box | Karabell's Blog





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Hache Man

Hache Man

"Seven Days Without Gambling Makes One Weak"
Re: NFL Fantasy Football News/Articles - ESPN Insider 6 New Articles Added 9/21/06)

Re: NFL Fantasy Football News/Articles - ESPN Insider 6 New Articles Added 9/21/06)

Week 3 start/sit


posted: Friday, September 22, 2006 | Feedback | Print Entry
filed under: Fantasy NFL

I think this is the week we can finally make some important decisions about fantasy players. We've spent so much time talking about the disappointments (Cadillac, Raiders, etc.), and a certain Chicago quarterback, it's hard to remember there are plenty of players in between.

Just look at how many surprises there have been so far:
Leaders in passing rating: Four QBs nobody wanted, and McNabb
Rex Grossman, Bears
David Carr, Texans
Philip Rivers, Chargers
Chad Pennington, Jets
Donovan McNabb, Eagles

Leaders in rushing yards: Two Falcons and two Chargers in top 10?
Warrick Dunn, Falcons
Rudi Johnson, Bengals
Steven Jackson, Rams
Frank Gore, 49ers
LaDainian Tomlinson, Chargers
Chester Taylor, Vikings
Larry Johnson, Chiefs
Michael Turner, Chargers
Michael Vick, Falcons
Tatum Bell, Broncos

Leaders in receptions: A Jet? A Jag? A RB? The other Giant?
Amani Toomer, Giants
Marvin Harrison, Colts
Donald Driver, Packers
Reggie Bush, Saints
Laveranues Coles, Jets
Reggie Williams, Jaguars

So basically the fantasy football world has been turned upside down so far. Crazy stuff has happened. And more wild things will occur this weekend. It's not only Separation Sunday for teams, with a number of critical matchups, but in fantasy, too. We'll either trust or not trust Grossman, Gore, Green Bay and others after this week.
So let's get to the games:
Bills 24, Jets 17: It's hard to tell whether J.P. Losman is going to be someone to watch this year in fantasy or not. I know he played fairly well in Week 1, but lost, and not quite as well in Week 2, but won. Losman isn't much of a fantasy option again this week, but Lee Evans sure is. Some of you have given up on this guy, a fantasy No. 2 receiver for sure, and that's a mistake. He's going to score in this one. So will Willis McGahee, who tops 100 yards.
Chad Pennington won't have a nothing game, but he's not a great option this week, either. Laveranues Coles is always a good play, really, but to all those who spent waiver pickups on Jerricho Cotchery, I think you'll be disappointed in the long run. Meanwhile, Kevan Barlow reached the disappointing stage two years ago, and he's still there. Don't play him. Even if you have bye week issues, he's just not likely to have more than a big game or two, if that.
Worthy starts: McGahee, Evans, Coles
You can do better: Both QBs, Cotchery, Barlow
Packers 30, Lions 20: Yep, I'm back on the Brett Favre bandwagon again. I called for a big game against the Saints, and he delivered 340 yards and three scores. If you saw how easy it was for Grossman to torch the Lions, then you'd understand. Favre is still better than Grossman in just about every way (arm, decision making, leadership), even at this stage of his career. It's two weeks and people are way too in love with Rex. Favre gets at least two touchdown passes in this game, maybe three. Yes, I've decided that the Week 1 shutdown of the Seahawks was not reality, but last week was. Favre isn't the best QB play out there, but he's not a bad one. And it doesn't matter to me that the Lions shut him down last season to no touchdowns and a total of 371 yards in two games.
I like both Green Bay receivers as well, and who knows, Ahman Green might even find the end zone. Should get 70 yards or so.
Of course, while the Packers take, they also giveth away. The Saints scored 34 at their place. Good test for Jon Kitna, Kevin Jones and a very confident, selfish wide receiver, who should put up numbers. Ultimately I think Jones is going to struggle again, but maybe his 50 yards rushing will include a score.
Worthy starts: All Packers, Williams, Kitna
You can do better: Kevin Jones
Colts 24, Jaguars 21: This shouldn't be a 9-0 game, or even a 10-3 game, which is what happened in Week 2 last year in Indy when these teams met. Peyton Manning is a good play, every week. I don't think Dominic Rhodes or Joseph Addai will succeed on the ground, so Manning will be throwing a lot. He gets three scores in this one, despite the proficiency of the Jacksonville defense. Remember, the second time he met the Jags last year, he had 324 yards and two touchdowns.
I like Byron Leftwich as a sleeper fantasy option most weeks, and I could see him getting a score or two in this one as the Colts start out strong and get a nice lead. That's kind of how it happens. This has nothing to do with what David Carr did last week; total aberration. Do the Colts care if they win by 30 or 20? No. I like Reggie Williams over Matt Jones this week, too.
Worthy starts: Manning, Indy WRs, Leftwich, R.Williams
You can do better: All RBs, Matt Jones
Dolphins 23, Titans 10: This is pretty clear already, but Tennessee is not very good. Why Vince Young isn't the starting quarterback at this point makes little sense to me. Might as well throw LenDale White in there as well. I haven't been a bit impressed by any part of the Miami team, but sit all your Titans, as if you'd even consider them anyway.
Ronnie Brown is always a good play, so is Chris Chambers, but how about the much maligned signal caller? If there's ever a week to use Daunte Culpepper, it's this week, at home against a brutal defense. I can't see how he messes this one up. Play him.
Worthy starts: All Dolphins
You can do better: All Titans
Vikings 16, Bears 13: I do think Rex Grossman is a smart pickup. I don't think he's a smart play this week. Maybe I've been overrating the Vikings, but they have a pretty nice defense. I'll play Thomas Jones because he'll get the 20 carries and most running backs can do something with 20 carries. But I'm still not convinced about the Chicago aerial attack.
I don't expect the Vikings to do a whole lot on offense either, as these teams keep their field goal kickers busy. I'd stick with Chester Taylor, though, because he's going to get the touches. This will be a different game than Bears-Packers from Week 1, but if Ahman Green can run effectively, then Taylor can.
Worthy plays: Both starting RBs
You can do better: Both QBs, WRs, Cedric Benson
Bengals 31, Steelers 24: I know all about that Steelers defense, and how they're at home for this one, but Palmer scorched this team for three touchdowns in their place last season, and he started the playoff game with another score. Palmer will have success because the Bengals have so many weapons. T.J. Houshmandzadeh is back, but that doesn't make Chris Henry irrelevant. Rudi Johnson will have to work harder for his yards this week, but he's still a good play.
Get Willie Parker back in your lineup. It was one bad week. And depending on your other options, I expect Ben Roethlisberger, sans fever this time, to be worth using, topping 200 yards.
Worthy starts: I'll go with pretty much everyone you'd normally consider
Panthers 27, Buccaneers 13: Someone has to be 0-3, and I choose Tampa Bay. It's only Friday, and the Steve Smith situation might change, but I think he will play, and play well. Jake Delhomme owners can't be pleased by his zero touchdown passes so far, but having Smith back changes everything. By next Monday the Panthers will be back as NFC contenders. As for the team's running game, DeAngelo Williams will have his time, but DeShaun Foster gets more carries for a few more weeks. I'd play Foster over Williams this week for that reason only.
Jon Gruden's team is a mess, and now we're hearing that Carnell Williams could have more problems than merely Chris Simms and some back spasms. Add Michael Pittman now, before the game, just in case. And I'd leave your Bucs on the bench, except for Joey Galloway. Will Simms get another three interceptions? It's certainly possible. Both teams are quite mad, but only one is equipped to do something about it.
Worthy starts: Delhomme, Foster, S.Smith, Galloway
You can do better: All Bucs but Galloway, D.Williams
Redskins 26, Texans 24: The Skins desperately need a win, but why would we assume this would be easy? Houston has to win a game at some point. The Redskins haven't looked good at all. Why can't the Texans win this one?
They can make it interesting, at least. Let's say Clinton Portis not only plays, but rambles for 100 yards and scores a touchdown. I'm not much of a Mark Brunell fan, not even in a favorable matchup. Santana Moss should enjoy himself, though.
I'd play David Carr and Andre Johnson, and certainly consider Sam Gado if you're in a bind. We haven't heard much from Houston this week about who will get the carries, but the way Wali Lundy has played, and knowing Ron Dayne, it shouldn't take long for Gado to play a larger role. Dayne might start, but he might not finish.
Worthy plays: Portis, S.Moss, Chris Cooley, Carr, A.Johnson
You can do better: Brunell, Gado, Dayne
Ravens 27, Browns 3: Certainly the Ravens' defense is in a terrific spot to dominate the game, so while you shouldn't give up total hope on Reuben Droughns for the season, this isn't the game to stick with him. This isn't the game to go with any Browns, really. Look for that line to be used more times this season.
Couldn't you see Baltimore doing what Rexy and the Bears did last weekend, just piling up the points on an inferior opponent? I can. Steve McNair should get a few touchdowns, Jamal Lewis should approach or pass 100 yards, and the Ravens' defense is, again, a solid play.
Worthy starts: All Ravens
You can do better: All Browns
Cardinals 34, Rams 31: Well, obviously I see quite a few points being scored in this one. Kurt Warner and his receivers, Marc Bulger and his, this should be a fun game to watch.
And while I didn't name Edgerrin James as a first-round pick in yesterday's blog, I'd go with him against the Rams. Go with everyone in this game. How the Rams shut down Denver, I just don't know.
Worthy starts: Pretty much everyone
You can do better: The defenses, which you don't own anyway
Eagles 34, 49ers 27: I don't think it's going to be easy, but watch the Eagles come out strong, with Donovan McNabb throwing early and often and Philly getting a nice lead. Then, like Week 2, the comeback is on. San Francisco has moved the ball this season, it will move the ball again. And when that happens, everyone wins in fantasy, don't they?
Play all your Eagles. They will score plenty. Play all your Niners. Alex Smith might have three quarters like Eli Manning had, but he should pile up some numbers.
Worthy starts: The starters
You can do better: Correll Buckhalter, defenses
Giants 23, Seahawks 20 (OT): OK, all the Eli talk aside, why can't the Giants win this game? Of course, as an Eagles fan, I'm not rooting for them to do so, but have you really been impressed with Seattle so far? Neither have I. The Giants offered nothing for three quarters at Philly, but that doesn't mean the team will start flat this Sunday, too. Plus, the Giants should have won that game in Seattle last season. You know it. Only Jay Feely didn't.
Most players on these teams are fantasy fixtures. If you own the quarterbacks, you don't sit them ever. Same with the running backs and top wide receivers. I'd reconsider Deion Branch, because we just don't know how much he will play. Depends who else you have. And while you might assume Amani Toomer is a must-play, that wouldn't be wise.
Worthy starts: QBs, Tiki Barber, Shaun Alexander, Darrell Jackson, Jeremy Shockey, Plaxico Burress
You can do better: Brandon Jacobs, Branch, Toomer
Patriots 21, Broncos 17: You've got way too many running backs to notice in this game, and tough choices to make. I wouldn't play Mike Bell and I don't think Laurence Maroney is going to put up great numbers. Really, I don't think any of them running backs will be great this week, but at least Tatum Bell and Corey Dillon are guaranteed some carries.
While Tom Brady remains a must start, Jake Plummer surely doesn't. I've also been pretty unimpressed with the receiving corps on each team. So why take a chance that this is the week Doug Gabriel or Javon Walker breaks out? Look elsewhere.
Worthy starts: T.Bell, Dillon, Brady
You can do better: Plummer, M.Bell, Maroney, all WRs, TEs
Falcons 31, Saints 20: I really want to go with the home team in such a big game, with all the good feelings about football coming back to New Orleans a year later. But how can the Saints reasonably stop this Atlanta running game? I received a few e-mails off the Thursday blog, which omitted Warrick Dunn from my new top 12 you should draft this weekend, but that wasn't a mistake. I wouldn't put Dunn in the top 12. He hasn't scored yet, and he's unlikely to keep rushing for 130 yards per game. But he should perform well Monday night. So should Michael Vick.
Play both your Saints running backs. While Deuce McAllister gets the most carries, and apparently the ones near the goal line, you don't want to have Reggie Bush sitting on your bench when he has that monster game, which could be this week. Bush is in the top five in the league in receptions. He didn't do much with his six rushes last week (five yards), but I think that's a pure aberration. Bush is a terrific talent who can't be held back too often.
This should be an exciting game; I just hope the Saints can keep up. I don't know if I can take another Monday nighter with nary a touchdown.
Worthy starts: Vick, Dunn, Jerious Norwood, Drew Brees, McAllister, Bush, Joe Horn, Marques Colston
You can do better: Atlanta WRs OK, that's it for the Week 3 prep -- well, until Sunday morning when we check in with the latest news and have a chat and, well, you know. Get ready. Big weekend
 
Hache Man

Hache Man

"Seven Days Without Gambling Makes One Weak"
Re: NFL Fantasy Football News/Articles - ESPN Insider 6 New Articles Added 9/21/06)

Re: NFL Fantasy Football News/Articles - ESPN Insider 6 New Articles Added 9/21/06)

Week 3 start/sit


posted: Friday, September 22, 2006 | Feedback | Print Entry
filed under: Fantasy NFL

I think this is the week we can finally make some important decisions about fantasy players. We've spent so much time talking about the disappointments (Cadillac, Raiders, etc.), and a certain Chicago quarterback, it's hard to remember there are plenty of players in between.

Just look at how many surprises there have been so far:
Leaders in passing rating: Four QBs nobody wanted, and McNabb
Rex Grossman, Bears
David Carr, Texans
Philip Rivers, Chargers
Chad Pennington, Jets
Donovan McNabb, Eagles

Leaders in rushing yards: Two Falcons and two Chargers in top 10?
Warrick Dunn, Falcons
Rudi Johnson, Bengals
Steven Jackson, Rams
Frank Gore, 49ers
LaDainian Tomlinson, Chargers
Chester Taylor, Vikings
Larry Johnson, Chiefs
Michael Turner, Chargers
Michael Vick, Falcons
Tatum Bell, Broncos

Leaders in receptions: A Jet? A Jag? A RB? The other Giant?
Amani Toomer, Giants
Marvin Harrison, Colts
Donald Driver, Packers
Reggie Bush, Saints
Laveranues Coles, Jets
Reggie Williams, Jaguars

So basically the fantasy football world has been turned upside down so far. Crazy stuff has happened. And more wild things will occur this weekend. It's not only Separation Sunday for teams, with a number of critical matchups, but in fantasy, too. We'll either trust or not trust Grossman, Gore, Green Bay and others after this week.
So let's get to the games:
Bills 24, Jets 17: It's hard to tell whether J.P. Losman is going to be someone to watch this year in fantasy or not. I know he played fairly well in Week 1, but lost, and not quite as well in Week 2, but won. Losman isn't much of a fantasy option again this week, but Lee Evans sure is. Some of you have given up on this guy, a fantasy No. 2 receiver for sure, and that's a mistake. He's going to score in this one. So will Willis McGahee, who tops 100 yards.
Chad Pennington won't have a nothing game, but he's not a great option this week, either. Laveranues Coles is always a good play, really, but to all those who spent waiver pickups on Jerricho Cotchery, I think you'll be disappointed in the long run. Meanwhile, Kevan Barlow reached the disappointing stage two years ago, and he's still there. Don't play him. Even if you have bye week issues, he's just not likely to have more than a big game or two, if that.
Worthy starts: McGahee, Evans, Coles
You can do better: Both QBs, Cotchery, Barlow
Packers 30, Lions 20: Yep, I'm back on the Brett Favre bandwagon again. I called for a big game against the Saints, and he delivered 340 yards and three scores. If you saw how easy it was for Grossman to torch the Lions, then you'd understand. Favre is still better than Grossman in just about every way (arm, decision making, leadership), even at this stage of his career. It's two weeks and people are way too in love with Rex. Favre gets at least two touchdown passes in this game, maybe three. Yes, I've decided that the Week 1 shutdown of the Seahawks was not reality, but last week was. Favre isn't the best QB play out there, but he's not a bad one. And it doesn't matter to me that the Lions shut him down last season to no touchdowns and a total of 371 yards in two games.
I like both Green Bay receivers as well, and who knows, Ahman Green might even find the end zone. Should get 70 yards or so.
Of course, while the Packers take, they also giveth away. The Saints scored 34 at their place. Good test for Jon Kitna, Kevin Jones and a very confident, selfish wide receiver, who should put up numbers. Ultimately I think Jones is going to struggle again, but maybe his 50 yards rushing will include a score.
Worthy starts: All Packers, Williams, Kitna
You can do better: Kevin Jones
Colts 24, Jaguars 21: This shouldn't be a 9-0 game, or even a 10-3 game, which is what happened in Week 2 last year in Indy when these teams met. Peyton Manning is a good play, every week. I don't think Dominic Rhodes or Joseph Addai will succeed on the ground, so Manning will be throwing a lot. He gets three scores in this one, despite the proficiency of the Jacksonville defense. Remember, the second time he met the Jags last year, he had 324 yards and two touchdowns.
I like Byron Leftwich as a sleeper fantasy option most weeks, and I could see him getting a score or two in this one as the Colts start out strong and get a nice lead. That's kind of how it happens. This has nothing to do with what David Carr did last week; total aberration. Do the Colts care if they win by 30 or 20? No. I like Reggie Williams over Matt Jones this week, too.
Worthy starts: Manning, Indy WRs, Leftwich, R.Williams
You can do better: All RBs, Matt Jones
Dolphins 23, Titans 10: This is pretty clear already, but Tennessee is not very good. Why Vince Young isn't the starting quarterback at this point makes little sense to me. Might as well throw LenDale White in there as well. I haven't been a bit impressed by any part of the Miami team, but sit all your Titans, as if you'd even consider them anyway.
Ronnie Brown is always a good play, so is Chris Chambers, but how about the much maligned signal caller? If there's ever a week to use Daunte Culpepper, it's this week, at home against a brutal defense. I can't see how he messes this one up. Play him.
Worthy starts: All Dolphins
You can do better: All Titans
Vikings 16, Bears 13: I do think Rex Grossman is a smart pickup. I don't think he's a smart play this week. Maybe I've been overrating the Vikings, but they have a pretty nice defense. I'll play Thomas Jones because he'll get the 20 carries and most running backs can do something with 20 carries. But I'm still not convinced about the Chicago aerial attack.
I don't expect the Vikings to do a whole lot on offense either, as these teams keep their field goal kickers busy. I'd stick with Chester Taylor, though, because he's going to get the touches. This will be a different game than Bears-Packers from Week 1, but if Ahman Green can run effectively, then Taylor can.
Worthy plays: Both starting RBs
You can do better: Both QBs, WRs, Cedric Benson
Bengals 31, Steelers 24: I know all about that Steelers defense, and how they're at home for this one, but Palmer scorched this team for three touchdowns in their place last season, and he started the playoff game with another score. Palmer will have success because the Bengals have so many weapons. T.J. Houshmandzadeh is back, but that doesn't make Chris Henry irrelevant. Rudi Johnson will have to work harder for his yards this week, but he's still a good play.
Get Willie Parker back in your lineup. It was one bad week. And depending on your other options, I expect Ben Roethlisberger, sans fever this time, to be worth using, topping 200 yards.
Worthy starts: I'll go with pretty much everyone you'd normally consider
Panthers 27, Buccaneers 13: Someone has to be 0-3, and I choose Tampa Bay. It's only Friday, and the Steve Smith situation might change, but I think he will play, and play well. Jake Delhomme owners can't be pleased by his zero touchdown passes so far, but having Smith back changes everything. By next Monday the Panthers will be back as NFC contenders. As for the team's running game, DeAngelo Williams will have his time, but DeShaun Foster gets more carries for a few more weeks. I'd play Foster over Williams this week for that reason only.
Jon Gruden's team is a mess, and now we're hearing that Carnell Williams could have more problems than merely Chris Simms and some back spasms. Add Michael Pittman now, before the game, just in case. And I'd leave your Bucs on the bench, except for Joey Galloway. Will Simms get another three interceptions? It's certainly possible. Both teams are quite mad, but only one is equipped to do something about it.
Worthy starts: Delhomme, Foster, S.Smith, Galloway
You can do better: All Bucs but Galloway, D.Williams
Redskins 26, Texans 24: The Skins desperately need a win, but why would we assume this would be easy? Houston has to win a game at some point. The Redskins haven't looked good at all. Why can't the Texans win this one?
They can make it interesting, at least. Let's say Clinton Portis not only plays, but rambles for 100 yards and scores a touchdown. I'm not much of a Mark Brunell fan, not even in a favorable matchup. Santana Moss should enjoy himself, though.
I'd play David Carr and Andre Johnson, and certainly consider Sam Gado if you're in a bind. We haven't heard much from Houston this week about who will get the carries, but the way Wali Lundy has played, and knowing Ron Dayne, it shouldn't take long for Gado to play a larger role. Dayne might start, but he might not finish.
Worthy plays: Portis, S.Moss, Chris Cooley, Carr, A.Johnson
You can do better: Brunell, Gado, Dayne
Ravens 27, Browns 3: Certainly the Ravens' defense is in a terrific spot to dominate the game, so while you shouldn't give up total hope on Reuben Droughns for the season, this isn't the game to stick with him. This isn't the game to go with any Browns, really. Look for that line to be used more times this season.
Couldn't you see Baltimore doing what Rexy and the Bears did last weekend, just piling up the points on an inferior opponent? I can. Steve McNair should get a few touchdowns, Jamal Lewis should approach or pass 100 yards, and the Ravens' defense is, again, a solid play.
Worthy starts: All Ravens
You can do better: All Browns
Cardinals 34, Rams 31: Well, obviously I see quite a few points being scored in this one. Kurt Warner and his receivers, Marc Bulger and his, this should be a fun game to watch.
And while I didn't name Edgerrin James as a first-round pick in yesterday's blog, I'd go with him against the Rams. Go with everyone in this game. How the Rams shut down Denver, I just don't know.
Worthy starts: Pretty much everyone
You can do better: The defenses, which you don't own anyway
Eagles 34, 49ers 27: I don't think it's going to be easy, but watch the Eagles come out strong, with Donovan McNabb throwing early and often and Philly getting a nice lead. Then, like Week 2, the comeback is on. San Francisco has moved the ball this season, it will move the ball again. And when that happens, everyone wins in fantasy, don't they?
Play all your Eagles. They will score plenty. Play all your Niners. Alex Smith might have three quarters like Eli Manning had, but he should pile up some numbers.
Worthy starts: The starters
You can do better: Correll Buckhalter, defenses
Giants 23, Seahawks 20 (OT): OK, all the Eli talk aside, why can't the Giants win this game? Of course, as an Eagles fan, I'm not rooting for them to do so, but have you really been impressed with Seattle so far? Neither have I. The Giants offered nothing for three quarters at Philly, but that doesn't mean the team will start flat this Sunday, too. Plus, the Giants should have won that game in Seattle last season. You know it. Only Jay Feely didn't.
Most players on these teams are fantasy fixtures. If you own the quarterbacks, you don't sit them ever. Same with the running backs and top wide receivers. I'd reconsider Deion Branch, because we just don't know how much he will play. Depends who else you have. And while you might assume Amani Toomer is a must-play, that wouldn't be wise.
Worthy starts: QBs, Tiki Barber, Shaun Alexander, Darrell Jackson, Jeremy Shockey, Plaxico Burress
You can do better: Brandon Jacobs, Branch, Toomer
Patriots 21, Broncos 17: You've got way too many running backs to notice in this game, and tough choices to make. I wouldn't play Mike Bell and I don't think Laurence Maroney is going to put up great numbers. Really, I don't think any of them running backs will be great this week, but at least Tatum Bell and Corey Dillon are guaranteed some carries.
While Tom Brady remains a must start, Jake Plummer surely doesn't. I've also been pretty unimpressed with the receiving corps on each team. So why take a chance that this is the week Doug Gabriel or Javon Walker breaks out? Look elsewhere.
Worthy starts: T.Bell, Dillon, Brady
You can do better: Plummer, M.Bell, Maroney, all WRs, TEs
Falcons 31, Saints 20: I really want to go with the home team in such a big game, with all the good feelings about football coming back to New Orleans a year later. But how can the Saints reasonably stop this Atlanta running game? I received a few e-mails off the Thursday blog, which omitted Warrick Dunn from my new top 12 you should draft this weekend, but that wasn't a mistake. I wouldn't put Dunn in the top 12. He hasn't scored yet, and he's unlikely to keep rushing for 130 yards per game. But he should perform well Monday night. So should Michael Vick.
Play both your Saints running backs. While Deuce McAllister gets the most carries, and apparently the ones near the goal line, you don't want to have Reggie Bush sitting on your bench when he has that monster game, which could be this week. Bush is in the top five in the league in receptions. He didn't do much with his six rushes last week (five yards), but I think that's a pure aberration. Bush is a terrific talent who can't be held back too often.
This should be an exciting game; I just hope the Saints can keep up. I don't know if I can take another Monday nighter with nary a touchdown.
Worthy starts: Vick, Dunn, Jerious Norwood, Drew Brees, McAllister, Bush, Joe Horn, Marques Colston
You can do better: Atlanta WRs OK, that's it for the Week 3 prep -- well, until Sunday morning when we check in with the latest news and have a chat and, well, you know. Get ready. Big weekend
 
Hache Man

Hache Man

"Seven Days Without Gambling Makes One Weak"
Re: NFL Fantasy Football News/Articles - ESPN Insider 6 New Articles Added 9/21/06)

Re: NFL Fantasy Football News/Articles - ESPN Insider 6 New Articles Added 9/21/06)

Friday, September 22, 2006
<SCRIPT language=javascript src="http://ai059.insightexpressai.com/adServer/adServer.aspx?bannerID=7560"></SCRIPT> Stopgap Seven: Week 3


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By Tristan H. Cockcroft
ESPN.com

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<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width=762 border=0><TBODY><TR><TD vAlign=top width=552><!-- begin leftcol --><!-- template inline -->The rough-and-tumble NFL can take a toll on your fantasy team's depth, so if you're looking particularly thin at a position, consider the following players who are a little more under-the-radar as starters. (I'll list my Stopgap Seven each Friday all season.)
Kevan Barlow (@BUF): The Jets acquired him presumably to shoulder the bulk of the running workload, and this is his first real chance to step up and claim that job. Barlow's looking healthier than he has in the past, and this is a real show-me game for him.
Dolphins defense (TEN): With both Chris Brown and Travis Henry battling toe injuries, the Titans are running out of healthy, reliable weapons on offense. Miami's defense is hardly considered elite, but it has enough depth to shut down a team like Tennessee.
Greg Jennings, WR, Packers (@DET): His numbers so far -- seven catches, 72 yards -- aren't quite up to expectations, but consider that Jennings has been targeted 18 times so far. Sooner or later, a big game is coming, and this one's as good a bet as any.
Jon Kitna, QB, Lions (GB): He has yet to throw for a TD, but it's only a matter of time, as the Lions are a pass-oriented offense that should have him throwing 35-plus times a week. Green Bay's a soft secondary, and Kitna's more efficient than he's given credit.
Jermaine Wiggins, TE, Vikings (CHI): On paper, this is the kind of matchup that could scare anyone away. But the Vikings will need to dump off short passes to Wiggins often, like they did when he had a career-high 10 receptions in Week 6 last year.
DeAngelo Williams, RB, Panthers (@TB): This game has all the feelings of a must-win, so while DeShaun Foster will start, if he struggles early, as I expect he will, the Panthers won't hesitate to turn to Williams. A dozen carries and a score are possible.
Reggie Williams, WR, Jaguars (@IND): He has 14 receptions and has been targeted 19 times in two games, and in each, he has shown flashes of his big-play potential. The Jaguars will need to throw often, and should find Williams open for a score. <STYLE> .headshot { visibility: visible; padding: 0px 5px 4px 0px; float: left;} .bottom { font: 10px verdana, san-serif; color: #fff; font-weight: bold; background: #006633; padding: 5px; } </STYLE>BETWEEN THE LINES
Among the players I'm avoiding in Week 3: Carnell Williams' back is still not 100 percent, no matter what he tells you. Facing Carolina's 31st-ranked rush defense might not make him look like so risky a play, but much of that ranking is a result of the Panthers falling behind early and being run on a league-high 80 times in two games. Carolina's is a better defense than the numbers, and it should give Cadillac tons of trouble. ... Reuben Droughns is questionable with a shoulder problem, and even if he's able to play, he'll be facing the Ravens, a team that should shut him down early and then mount a handy enough lead that he'll be a virtual non-factor by the third quarter. ... Given the choice between the two Bronco backs, I'd play Tatum Bell and avoid Mike Bell at New England. That's a poor matchup for each, as the Patriots generally play better at home, and will likely force Jake Plummer to try to beat them through the air. As a result, I'd rather have the one with the better breakaway potential. ... Troy Williamson has looked great in the first two games of the season, but his matchup against the Bears isn't a good one, especially not taking into account that he has been limited of late by a shoulder injury. ... Vernon Davis should have his fair share of quality games this season, but Week 3 against the Eagles is not one of them. Look what Philadelphia did to Jeremy Shockey in Week 2, and consider that Davis was targeted only once in the 49ers' last game against the Rams. That's not an encouraging sign.


THE BOTTOM LINE

Chris Cooley, TE, Redskins
3 receptions for 20 yards and 0 TD in 2 G
Cooley owners who read all preseason about associate head coach Al Saunders' plan to use the tight end in a similar fashion to Tony Gonzalez's role in Kansas City have surely been disappointed, as to date, Cooley has done virtually nothing for either the Redskins or his fantasy owners. Part of the problem has been Mark Brunell's performance, as the quarterback has regularly been erratic with his passes, particularly to his tight end. Brunell has regularly underthrown Cooley, which really speaks volumes about how poorly a job Brunell has done. Fortunately for Cooley owners, it's worth noting that he has been targeted 13 times combined in the Redskins' first two games, which demonstrates that he's still considered an integral part of the passing game, and that the team's issues are more to blame for his slow start. Week 3 brings a decent matchup for him at Houston, one that could help turn his season around, but even if it's not a big game for him, the threat of a quarterback switch could actually do him some good. If Jason Campbell or Todd Collins were forced to take over Brunell, Cooley would serve as a needed option for them dumping off short passes, meaning his value is least likely to be affected in the event of a quarterback switch. Cooley's a buy-low candidate, for sure, and I still see top-10 upside in him at his position.
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<TABLE class=tablehead cellSpacing=1 cellPadding=3><TBODY><TR><TD class=stathead align=middle bgColor=#555555 colSpan=6>Week 2</TD></TR><TR><TD bgColor=#ffffff> </TD><TD colSpan=5>Michael Vick, QB, Falcons: Not quite an every-week start yet, but he should shine on Monday Night Football</TD></TR><!-- inline box score --><TR class=colhead><TD>passYDS</TD><TD>passTD</TD><TD>rushYDS</TD><TD>rushTD</TD><TD>FPTS</TD></TR><TR class=evenrow vAlign=top><TD><NOBR>92</NOBR></TD><TD><NOBR>1</NOBR></TD><TD><NOBR>127</NOBR></TD><TD><NOBR>1</NOBR></TD><TD><NOBR>23</NOBR></TD></TR><TR><TD bgColor=#ffffff colSpan=5 height=3></TD></TR><TR><TD bgColor=#ffffff> </TD><TD colSpan=5>Deuce McAllister, RB, Saints: Had 29 carries for 128 yards in his last G vs. ATL at the Superdome (12/26/04)</TD></TR><!-- inline box score --><TR class=colhead><TD>ATT</TD><TD>rushYDS</TD><TD>recYDS</TD><TD>TD</TD><TD>FPTS</TD></TR><TR class=evenrow vAlign=top><TD><NOBR>12</NOBR></TD><TD><NOBR>47</NOBR></TD><TD><NOBR>24</NOBR></TD><TD><NOBR>2</NOBR></TD><TD><NOBR>18</NOBR></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><TABLE class=tablehead cellSpacing=1 cellPadding=3><!-- <tr><td align=center bgcolor="#555555" COLSPAN=6 class="stathead" colspan="6"> </td></tr> --><TBODY><TR><TD bgColor=#ffffff> </TD><TD colSpan=5>Jerricho Cotchery, WR, Jets: He has 26 catches for 404 yards and 2 TD in his last 8 regular-season games</TD></TR><!-- inline box score --><TR class=colhead><TD>REC</TD><TD>recYDS</TD><TD>TARGET</TD><TD>TD</TD><TD>FPTS</TD></TR><TR class=evenrow vAlign=top><TD><NOBR>6</NOBR></TD><TD><NOBR>121</NOBR></TD><TD><NOBR>7</NOBR></TD><TD><NOBR>1</NOBR></TD><TD><NOBR>20</NOBR></TD></TR><TR><TD bgColor=#ffffff colSpan=5 height=3></TD></TR><TR><TD bgColor=#ffffff> </TD><TD colSpan=5>Todd Heap, TE, Ravens: He has 5+ receptions in 9 of his last 14 G, and 6 TD in his last 8 G overall</TD></TR><!-- inline box score --><TR class=colhead><TD>REC</TD><TD>recYDS</TD><TD>TARGET</TD><TD>TD</TD><TD>FPTS</TD></TR><TR class=evenrow vAlign=top><TD><NOBR>5</NOBR></TD><TD><NOBR>17</NOBR></TD><TD><NOBR>8</NOBR></TD><TD><NOBR>1</NOBR></TD><TD><NOBR>7</NOBR></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

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<!-- begin also see2 -->Surfin' the Scoreboard

Lineup Shuffling
? The Texans plan to give RB Ron Dayne the start in Week 3 against the Redskins, though they'll use a running back-by-committee approach in which both Wali Lundy and Samkon Gado will also get carries. With the running workload from week to week entirely up in the air in Houston, none of these three should be trusted, even as bye-week subs.
? Packers WR Koren Robinson has been used extensively in practice this week, and he should serve as the team's No. 3 or 4 receiver for Week 3 at Detroit. It's a nice matchup for Green Bay receivers, but Robinson still needs to get more acclimated in the offense before he'd warrant starting fantasy consideration outside of the deepest of leagues.

Trainer's Room
? Seahawks RB Shaun Alexander (foot) missed Thursday's practice and is probable for Week 3 against the Giants. He's expected to practice on Friday and play Sunday, but if you're an Alexander owner, it's a smart move to insure your investment with RB Maurice Morris. Also, while Alexander is a must-start, temper your expectations for this week.
? Ravens RB Jamal Lewis (hip) was limited in practice on Thursday and is questionable for Week 3 at the Browns. This appears more of a precautionary move so that the injury-prone Lewis doesn't wear down throughout the week, and with it such a favorable matchup for him, he remains a must-start No. 2 RB barring a setback.
? Eagles TE L.J. Smith (shoulder) practiced on Thursday and has been upgraded to probable for Week 3 at the 49ers. He's getting more throws sent his way than any other tight end in the game right now, so even if he's somewhat limited, it's a strong enough matchup and he'll be involved enough to be a must-start. ? Thu Box | Wed Box | Karabell's Blog





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Hache Man

Hache Man

"Seven Days Without Gambling Makes One Weak"
Re: NFL Fantasy Football News/Articles - ESPN Insider 6 New Articles Added 9/21/06)

Re: NFL Fantasy Football News/Articles - ESPN Insider 6 New Articles Added 9/21/06)

Friday, September 22, 2006
<SCRIPT language=javascript src="http://ai059.insightexpressai.com/adServer/adServer.aspx?bannerID=7560"></SCRIPT> Stopgap Seven: Week 3


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By Tristan H. Cockcroft
ESPN.com

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<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width=762 border=0><TBODY><TR><TD vAlign=top width=552><!-- begin leftcol --><!-- template inline -->The rough-and-tumble NFL can take a toll on your fantasy team's depth, so if you're looking particularly thin at a position, consider the following players who are a little more under-the-radar as starters. (I'll list my Stopgap Seven each Friday all season.)
Kevan Barlow (@BUF): The Jets acquired him presumably to shoulder the bulk of the running workload, and this is his first real chance to step up and claim that job. Barlow's looking healthier than he has in the past, and this is a real show-me game for him.
Dolphins defense (TEN): With both Chris Brown and Travis Henry battling toe injuries, the Titans are running out of healthy, reliable weapons on offense. Miami's defense is hardly considered elite, but it has enough depth to shut down a team like Tennessee.
Greg Jennings, WR, Packers (@DET): His numbers so far -- seven catches, 72 yards -- aren't quite up to expectations, but consider that Jennings has been targeted 18 times so far. Sooner or later, a big game is coming, and this one's as good a bet as any.
Jon Kitna, QB, Lions (GB): He has yet to throw for a TD, but it's only a matter of time, as the Lions are a pass-oriented offense that should have him throwing 35-plus times a week. Green Bay's a soft secondary, and Kitna's more efficient than he's given credit.
Jermaine Wiggins, TE, Vikings (CHI): On paper, this is the kind of matchup that could scare anyone away. But the Vikings will need to dump off short passes to Wiggins often, like they did when he had a career-high 10 receptions in Week 6 last year.
DeAngelo Williams, RB, Panthers (@TB): This game has all the feelings of a must-win, so while DeShaun Foster will start, if he struggles early, as I expect he will, the Panthers won't hesitate to turn to Williams. A dozen carries and a score are possible.
Reggie Williams, WR, Jaguars (@IND): He has 14 receptions and has been targeted 19 times in two games, and in each, he has shown flashes of his big-play potential. The Jaguars will need to throw often, and should find Williams open for a score. <STYLE> .headshot { visibility: visible; padding: 0px 5px 4px 0px; float: left;} .bottom { font: 10px verdana, san-serif; color: #fff; font-weight: bold; background: #006633; padding: 5px; } </STYLE>BETWEEN THE LINES
Among the players I'm avoiding in Week 3: Carnell Williams' back is still not 100 percent, no matter what he tells you. Facing Carolina's 31st-ranked rush defense might not make him look like so risky a play, but much of that ranking is a result of the Panthers falling behind early and being run on a league-high 80 times in two games. Carolina's is a better defense than the numbers, and it should give Cadillac tons of trouble. ... Reuben Droughns is questionable with a shoulder problem, and even if he's able to play, he'll be facing the Ravens, a team that should shut him down early and then mount a handy enough lead that he'll be a virtual non-factor by the third quarter. ... Given the choice between the two Bronco backs, I'd play Tatum Bell and avoid Mike Bell at New England. That's a poor matchup for each, as the Patriots generally play better at home, and will likely force Jake Plummer to try to beat them through the air. As a result, I'd rather have the one with the better breakaway potential. ... Troy Williamson has looked great in the first two games of the season, but his matchup against the Bears isn't a good one, especially not taking into account that he has been limited of late by a shoulder injury. ... Vernon Davis should have his fair share of quality games this season, but Week 3 against the Eagles is not one of them. Look what Philadelphia did to Jeremy Shockey in Week 2, and consider that Davis was targeted only once in the 49ers' last game against the Rams. That's not an encouraging sign.


THE BOTTOM LINE

Chris Cooley, TE, Redskins
3 receptions for 20 yards and 0 TD in 2 G
Cooley owners who read all preseason about associate head coach Al Saunders' plan to use the tight end in a similar fashion to Tony Gonzalez's role in Kansas City have surely been disappointed, as to date, Cooley has done virtually nothing for either the Redskins or his fantasy owners. Part of the problem has been Mark Brunell's performance, as the quarterback has regularly been erratic with his passes, particularly to his tight end. Brunell has regularly underthrown Cooley, which really speaks volumes about how poorly a job Brunell has done. Fortunately for Cooley owners, it's worth noting that he has been targeted 13 times combined in the Redskins' first two games, which demonstrates that he's still considered an integral part of the passing game, and that the team's issues are more to blame for his slow start. Week 3 brings a decent matchup for him at Houston, one that could help turn his season around, but even if it's not a big game for him, the threat of a quarterback switch could actually do him some good. If Jason Campbell or Todd Collins were forced to take over Brunell, Cooley would serve as a needed option for them dumping off short passes, meaning his value is least likely to be affected in the event of a quarterback switch. Cooley's a buy-low candidate, for sure, and I still see top-10 upside in him at his position.
<!--end leftcol --></TD><TD width=15><SPACER type="block" height="1" width="15"></TD><TD class=rightcell vAlign=top width=195><!-- begin rightcol --><!-- begin also see -->TOP LINES
<TABLE class=tablehead cellSpacing=1 cellPadding=3><TBODY><TR><TD class=stathead align=middle bgColor=#555555 colSpan=6>Week 2</TD></TR><TR><TD bgColor=#ffffff> </TD><TD colSpan=5>Michael Vick, QB, Falcons: Not quite an every-week start yet, but he should shine on Monday Night Football</TD></TR><!-- inline box score --><TR class=colhead><TD>passYDS</TD><TD>passTD</TD><TD>rushYDS</TD><TD>rushTD</TD><TD>FPTS</TD></TR><TR class=evenrow vAlign=top><TD><NOBR>92</NOBR></TD><TD><NOBR>1</NOBR></TD><TD><NOBR>127</NOBR></TD><TD><NOBR>1</NOBR></TD><TD><NOBR>23</NOBR></TD></TR><TR><TD bgColor=#ffffff colSpan=5 height=3></TD></TR><TR><TD bgColor=#ffffff> </TD><TD colSpan=5>Deuce McAllister, RB, Saints: Had 29 carries for 128 yards in his last G vs. ATL at the Superdome (12/26/04)</TD></TR><!-- inline box score --><TR class=colhead><TD>ATT</TD><TD>rushYDS</TD><TD>recYDS</TD><TD>TD</TD><TD>FPTS</TD></TR><TR class=evenrow vAlign=top><TD><NOBR>12</NOBR></TD><TD><NOBR>47</NOBR></TD><TD><NOBR>24</NOBR></TD><TD><NOBR>2</NOBR></TD><TD><NOBR>18</NOBR></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><TABLE class=tablehead cellSpacing=1 cellPadding=3><!-- <tr><td align=center bgcolor="#555555" COLSPAN=6 class="stathead" colspan="6"> </td></tr> --><TBODY><TR><TD bgColor=#ffffff> </TD><TD colSpan=5>Jerricho Cotchery, WR, Jets: He has 26 catches for 404 yards and 2 TD in his last 8 regular-season games</TD></TR><!-- inline box score --><TR class=colhead><TD>REC</TD><TD>recYDS</TD><TD>TARGET</TD><TD>TD</TD><TD>FPTS</TD></TR><TR class=evenrow vAlign=top><TD><NOBR>6</NOBR></TD><TD><NOBR>121</NOBR></TD><TD><NOBR>7</NOBR></TD><TD><NOBR>1</NOBR></TD><TD><NOBR>20</NOBR></TD></TR><TR><TD bgColor=#ffffff colSpan=5 height=3></TD></TR><TR><TD bgColor=#ffffff> </TD><TD colSpan=5>Todd Heap, TE, Ravens: He has 5+ receptions in 9 of his last 14 G, and 6 TD in his last 8 G overall</TD></TR><!-- inline box score --><TR class=colhead><TD>REC</TD><TD>recYDS</TD><TD>TARGET</TD><TD>TD</TD><TD>FPTS</TD></TR><TR class=evenrow vAlign=top><TD><NOBR>5</NOBR></TD><TD><NOBR>17</NOBR></TD><TD><NOBR>8</NOBR></TD><TD><NOBR>1</NOBR></TD><TD><NOBR>7</NOBR></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

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<!-- begin also see2 -->Surfin' the Scoreboard

Lineup Shuffling
? The Texans plan to give RB Ron Dayne the start in Week 3 against the Redskins, though they'll use a running back-by-committee approach in which both Wali Lundy and Samkon Gado will also get carries. With the running workload from week to week entirely up in the air in Houston, none of these three should be trusted, even as bye-week subs.
? Packers WR Koren Robinson has been used extensively in practice this week, and he should serve as the team's No. 3 or 4 receiver for Week 3 at Detroit. It's a nice matchup for Green Bay receivers, but Robinson still needs to get more acclimated in the offense before he'd warrant starting fantasy consideration outside of the deepest of leagues.

Trainer's Room
? Seahawks RB Shaun Alexander (foot) missed Thursday's practice and is probable for Week 3 against the Giants. He's expected to practice on Friday and play Sunday, but if you're an Alexander owner, it's a smart move to insure your investment with RB Maurice Morris. Also, while Alexander is a must-start, temper your expectations for this week.
? Ravens RB Jamal Lewis (hip) was limited in practice on Thursday and is questionable for Week 3 at the Browns. This appears more of a precautionary move so that the injury-prone Lewis doesn't wear down throughout the week, and with it such a favorable matchup for him, he remains a must-start No. 2 RB barring a setback.
? Eagles TE L.J. Smith (shoulder) practiced on Thursday and has been upgraded to probable for Week 3 at the 49ers. He's getting more throws sent his way than any other tight end in the game right now, so even if he's somewhat limited, it's a strong enough matchup and he'll be involved enough to be a must-start. ? Thu Box | Wed Box | Karabell's Blog





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Hache Man

Hache Man

"Seven Days Without Gambling Makes One Weak"
Re: NFL Fantasy Football News/Articles - ESPN Insider 6 New Articles Added 9/21/06)

Re: NFL Fantasy Football News/Articles - ESPN Insider 6 New Articles Added 9/21/06)

Sep. 22, 2006, 2:45 PM
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Week 3: Fantasy Matchups


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By Scott Engel
ESPN Fantasy Games

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Every week, we preview all of the upcoming games from a fantasy perspective. To help you with lineup decisions, we give you matchups to exploit, some key starting choices and advice on whom to leave on your bench.
Baltimore at Cleveland: With RB Reuben Droughns battling a shoulder injury, the mediocre-looking Cleveland offense appears even weaker. It's going to be a very long day for Charlie Frye, and another very good day for the Baltimore defense, even though they are banged up. Braylon Edwards will get extra defensive attention and won't be much of a factor. The Ravens should easily dominate time of possession, and Steve McNair will be good for more than one TD pass as Baltimore runs the ball effectively and McNair completes several key passes to Derrick Mason and Todd Heap on critical downs. If you're desperate for receiving help, Mark Clayton has been a disappointment so far, but he could be a nice, sneaky play this week. Start and Smile: Steve McNair, Derrick Mason, Mark Clayton. Watch and Worry: Braylon Edwards.
Carolina at Tampa Bay: The Tampa Bay offensive line will be dominated by the Carolina front four for much of the day, and Chris Simms will especially be in for more trouble when the Panthers bring extra pressure. Carnell Williams will have trouble finding open running lanes, forcing Simms into adverse passing situations early. There is no stopping Joey Galloway completely, but a good secondary should keep him out of the end zone. The Panthers will wear the Buccaneers down with a two-pronged attack of DeShaun Foster and DeAngelo Williams, taking pressure of Jake Delhomme, who could play conservatively even if Steve Smith returns. Smith is a risky play because we simply don't know how effective he can be. If you have a starter on a bye in a two-receiver league, strongly consider Keyshawn Johnson, who faces his former team. He won't post great yardage numbers but he's a good bet to catch a TD pass. Start and Smile: DeShaun Foster, DeAngelo Williams, Keyshawn Johnson. Watch and Worry: Carnell Williams, Steve Smith.
Chicago at Minnesota: This should be a physical affair, with the Vikings looking to rein in the hot Rex Grossman, who should still be good for two TD passes as he uses play-action passing very effectively. Grossman's early success should open up more room for the running game, and Thomas Jones could have his best day so far this year. Look for good yardage numbers and a TD run. With Bernard Berrian now a threat to opposing defenses, Muhsin Muhammad should draw a little less defensive attention and should be in for a good day. The Bears will be focused on containing Chester Taylor, and Brad Johnson might be forced to throw more often than usual in an attempt to keep the offense moving, and he won't have much success. Look for Chicago's secondary to take away WR Troy Williamson and the deep ball. Start and Smile: Thomas Jones, Muhsin Muhammad. Watch and Worry: Brad Johnson, Troy Williamson.
Cincinnati at Pittsburgh: Both teams should come out strong offensively, with the emotion of the rivalry and recent events spurring each team to play well. The Steelers will be primed to erase last week's awful performance against Jacksonville, and it will begin with the running game, where Willie Parker should have a lot of success working outside against a still-vulnerable Bengals front seven. Ben Roethlisberger should be conservative, but effective, and expect him to find Hines Ward for a score. The Bengals will immediately attack the Pittsburgh secondary, and you can count on at least two TD passes from Carson Palmer. Chad Johnson is ready to make the Steelers pay for the big hit he took last week against Cleveland. T.J. Houshmandzadeh (heel) is a risky play after missing two games, though. Start and Smile: Willie Parker, Hines Ward, Carson Palmer, Chris Henry. Watch and Worry: T.J. Houshmandzadeh.
Denver at New England: The Patriots will try to stuff the run early and force the struggling Jake Plummer to throw often. That will mean good receiving totals for Javon Walker, but also more than one turnover for the Denver QB as the calls for rookie Jay Cutler grow louder. Even if he gets stuffed often in the first half, though, you can still expect Tatum Bell to rip off a long run or two as he uses his speed to outrun the New England LBs a few times in the second half. The Broncos will also concentrate on containing the running game, and while Corey Dillon might bang his way into the end zone for another score, Laurence Maroney will post only mediocre fantasy totals this week. Tom Brady will benefit much from the attention on the ground game, though, and expect more than one TD pass from him. Start and Smile: Javon Walker, Tom Brady. Watch and Worry: Jake Plummer, Mike Bell.
Green Bay at Detroit: The Packers will try to establish Ahman Green early, but with limited success, as the Detroit defensive line shuts off any open running lanes very quickly. Green should still score on a short TD run, though. Brett Favre will still have to throw often, and while that means good numbers for Donald Driver again, it also means Favre will be intercepted more than once. He won't have nearly the same level of success Rex Grossman did against the Lions last week. Lions RB Kevin Jones isn't an outstanding play against any opponent, but his newfound receiving prowess will assure his owners that he will finish with at least respectable overall numbers. Jon Kitna will sling the ball often this week, with mixed results. Expect more than one TD pass, one to Roy Williams, but a busy Kitna often makes mistakes against any defense. Start and Smile: Donald Driver, Kevin Jones, Roy Williams. Watch and Worry: Favre and Kitna aren't stable starting options because of the matchups. They could easily throw more interceptions than TDs.
Jacksonville at Indianapolis: Manning struggled at home against the Jaguars last year, and Jacksonville looked very impressive on defense against the Steelers. But you can't bench Manning, regardless of matchup, because he will have to throw often with his running game still a work in progress. Dominic Rhodes will have a terrible game against the Jacksonville front four, and Manning will spread the ball around among Marvin Harrison and some of his tight ends. Manning won't have a stellar day, but he'll certainly throw more than one TD pass. Byron Leftwich will take quick drops and throw often to the quickly-improving Reggie Williams, and Leftwich should be good for more than one TD pass as well. A quality passing game should open up wide running lanes for Fred Taylor, who will finish with good yardage numbers. Start and Smile: Byron Leftwich, Fred Taylor, Reggie Williams, Dallas Clark. Watch and Worry: Dominic Rhodes.
N.Y. Giants at Seattle: The Seattle defense will have their hands full, as Eli Manning comes out throwing early and TE Jeremy Shockey makes many important catches. Seattle might contain RB Tiki Barber early, but expect him to bust loose for some long runs in the second half. Manning could get picked off more than once, but big yardage numbers and at least two TD passes will compensate statistically. The Giants will shut down Shaun Alexander early and often, as their front seven dominates for long periods against the run. But expect the Seattle RB to score on at least one short run. Just the presence of newcomer Deion Branch will open up the Seattle passing game more, but Branch likely won't contribute enough statistically to be a good starting option this week. Matt Hasselbeck will throw more than one TD pass, and Darrell Jackson should have another fine game. Start and Smile: Eli Manning, Jeremy Shockey, Matt Hasselbeck, Darrell Jackson. Watch and Worry: It's too early to start Deion Branch. Give him at least one more week to become more comfortable in game action.
N.Y. Jets at Buffalo: The numbers of Chad Pennington should come down a bit here, as the Bills drop extra defenders back into coverage, and their front seven easily handles the Jets running game. New York should score enough to win, but Pennington won't finish with more than 250 passing yards or two TD passes. With Laveranues Coles hurting, Jerricho Cotchery will seize an opportunity to be a prime target. For Buffalo, Willis McGahee will be a workhorse, and will score at least once. J.P. Losman is never a good fanasy play, but he'll find Lee Evans downfield more than once, and Evans should catch a long TD pass while putting a very slow start behind him, at least for one week. Start and Smile: Jerricho Cotchery, Willis McGahee, Lee Evans. Watch and Worry: Kevan Barlow.
Philadelphia at San Francisco: No team can seemingly stop the Philadelphia passing game right now, and it's certainly not going to be the Niners. Donovan McNabb is an obvious must-start, and Donte' Stallworth should have another impressive outing. WR Reggie Brown, however, is dealing with a hamstring problem, so don't automatically assume he's a lock because of the matchup. The Eagles secondary is banged up, so Alex Smith won't hesitate to test them, especially after the Giants threw the ball so effectively overall last week. Smith will be more conservative, though, taking shorter drops to reduce defensive pass pressure while throwing often to Antonio Bryant and giving TE Vernon Davis a chance to make some important possession grabs. A respectable passing game will take some of the attention off Frank Gore, but he will still have to battle hard to finish with respectable final totals. Start and Smile: Donte' Stallworth, Antonio Bryant. Watch and Worry: Reggie Brown.
St. Louis at Arizona: With LT Orlando Pace (concussion) listed as doubtful, Marc Bulger could become more conservative, throwing quick strikes to Torry Holt and Isaac Bruce as the St. Louis passing game is efficient, but not explosive. Fortunately for the Rams, they do face Arizona, so even with Pace not expected to play, Steven Jackson could still have his best game of the year so far. Kurt Warner won't post great numbers, as the Rams try to contain the Cardinals' passing game early, and make Edgerrin James prove he can flash his old form. This game won't be as high-scoring as you would expect, but it's hard to bench top players on either side of the ball. Start and Smile: Steven Jackson. Watch and Worry: Warner won't be terrible, but don't expect monster numbers and don't start him over another top-rated fantasy QB.
Tennessee at Miami: The Dolphins' defense will dominate this day, even if the offense continues to sputter. The Titans are dealing with injuries at RB and terrible play at QB. They have no chance of challenging the Miami defense on the road, especially after the Dolphins were shocked by the Bills last week. Miami will come out ready to simply be adequate on offense, while the defense rules the day. Daunte Culpepper isn't going to have a great game just because of the matchup. He'll try to operate a controlled, mistake-free passing game. That means important throws in the direction of TE Randy McMichael and another TD pass to Chris Chambers, who is no lock for outstanding yardage numbers. Ronnie Brown should be good for more than one score as the Miami defense puts the offense in great position for Brown to ultimately score from short range. Start and Smile: Ronnie Brown, Randy McMichael. Watch and Worry: Chris Brown, Drew Bennett.
Washington at Houston: Houston has a terrible pass defense, but that doesn't mean you should use Mark Brunell over a top-tier fantasy starter. Brunell should throw more than one TD pass, at least one to Santana Moss, and the return of Clinton Portis should help the passing game. But Brunell isn't going to look to air it out, but rather manage the game well and won't suddenly turn the passing game loose. David Carr should actually be the more prolific passer of the two, as he attacks a Washington secondary that has obviously missed injured CB Shawn Springs. Carr will hook up with Andre Johnson often, and Eric Moulds is a viable bye week plug-in option. Don't use Ron Dayne just because he is expected to start. He could split reps with Samkon Gado and the fading Wali Lundy. Avoid the Houston RBs this week. Start and Smile: Santana Moss, David Carr, Andre Johnson, Eric Moulds. Watch and Worry: Ron Dayne. Atlanta at New Orleans: Deuce McAllister won't find as much running room as he did late in last week's win against Green Bay, and his yardage numbers could be disappointing. Reggie Bush will continue to be an open-field threat as a receiver, even if his rushing numbers aren't impressive. Drew Brees should have time to throw, and Joe Horn could have his best game in some time. Atlanta will fire right back, and Warrick Dunn will post very good numbers, with rookie Jerious Norwood being a quality bye week option for some decent fantasy totals. Michael Vick is a good starting option, and look for at least one TD pass and one rushing score in an exciting Monday night affair. Start and Smile: Michael Vick, Warrick Dunn, Drew Brees, Reggie Bush, Joe Horn. Watch and Worry: Deuce McAllister.
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"Seven Days Without Gambling Makes One Weak"
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Sep. 22, 2006, 2:45 PM
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Week 3: Fantasy Matchups


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By Scott Engel
ESPN Fantasy Games

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Every week, we preview all of the upcoming games from a fantasy perspective. To help you with lineup decisions, we give you matchups to exploit, some key starting choices and advice on whom to leave on your bench.
Baltimore at Cleveland: With RB Reuben Droughns battling a shoulder injury, the mediocre-looking Cleveland offense appears even weaker. It's going to be a very long day for Charlie Frye, and another very good day for the Baltimore defense, even though they are banged up. Braylon Edwards will get extra defensive attention and won't be much of a factor. The Ravens should easily dominate time of possession, and Steve McNair will be good for more than one TD pass as Baltimore runs the ball effectively and McNair completes several key passes to Derrick Mason and Todd Heap on critical downs. If you're desperate for receiving help, Mark Clayton has been a disappointment so far, but he could be a nice, sneaky play this week. Start and Smile: Steve McNair, Derrick Mason, Mark Clayton. Watch and Worry: Braylon Edwards.
Carolina at Tampa Bay: The Tampa Bay offensive line will be dominated by the Carolina front four for much of the day, and Chris Simms will especially be in for more trouble when the Panthers bring extra pressure. Carnell Williams will have trouble finding open running lanes, forcing Simms into adverse passing situations early. There is no stopping Joey Galloway completely, but a good secondary should keep him out of the end zone. The Panthers will wear the Buccaneers down with a two-pronged attack of DeShaun Foster and DeAngelo Williams, taking pressure of Jake Delhomme, who could play conservatively even if Steve Smith returns. Smith is a risky play because we simply don't know how effective he can be. If you have a starter on a bye in a two-receiver league, strongly consider Keyshawn Johnson, who faces his former team. He won't post great yardage numbers but he's a good bet to catch a TD pass. Start and Smile: DeShaun Foster, DeAngelo Williams, Keyshawn Johnson. Watch and Worry: Carnell Williams, Steve Smith.
Chicago at Minnesota: This should be a physical affair, with the Vikings looking to rein in the hot Rex Grossman, who should still be good for two TD passes as he uses play-action passing very effectively. Grossman's early success should open up more room for the running game, and Thomas Jones could have his best day so far this year. Look for good yardage numbers and a TD run. With Bernard Berrian now a threat to opposing defenses, Muhsin Muhammad should draw a little less defensive attention and should be in for a good day. The Bears will be focused on containing Chester Taylor, and Brad Johnson might be forced to throw more often than usual in an attempt to keep the offense moving, and he won't have much success. Look for Chicago's secondary to take away WR Troy Williamson and the deep ball. Start and Smile: Thomas Jones, Muhsin Muhammad. Watch and Worry: Brad Johnson, Troy Williamson.
Cincinnati at Pittsburgh: Both teams should come out strong offensively, with the emotion of the rivalry and recent events spurring each team to play well. The Steelers will be primed to erase last week's awful performance against Jacksonville, and it will begin with the running game, where Willie Parker should have a lot of success working outside against a still-vulnerable Bengals front seven. Ben Roethlisberger should be conservative, but effective, and expect him to find Hines Ward for a score. The Bengals will immediately attack the Pittsburgh secondary, and you can count on at least two TD passes from Carson Palmer. Chad Johnson is ready to make the Steelers pay for the big hit he took last week against Cleveland. T.J. Houshmandzadeh (heel) is a risky play after missing two games, though. Start and Smile: Willie Parker, Hines Ward, Carson Palmer, Chris Henry. Watch and Worry: T.J. Houshmandzadeh.
Denver at New England: The Patriots will try to stuff the run early and force the struggling Jake Plummer to throw often. That will mean good receiving totals for Javon Walker, but also more than one turnover for the Denver QB as the calls for rookie Jay Cutler grow louder. Even if he gets stuffed often in the first half, though, you can still expect Tatum Bell to rip off a long run or two as he uses his speed to outrun the New England LBs a few times in the second half. The Broncos will also concentrate on containing the running game, and while Corey Dillon might bang his way into the end zone for another score, Laurence Maroney will post only mediocre fantasy totals this week. Tom Brady will benefit much from the attention on the ground game, though, and expect more than one TD pass from him. Start and Smile: Javon Walker, Tom Brady. Watch and Worry: Jake Plummer, Mike Bell.
Green Bay at Detroit: The Packers will try to establish Ahman Green early, but with limited success, as the Detroit defensive line shuts off any open running lanes very quickly. Green should still score on a short TD run, though. Brett Favre will still have to throw often, and while that means good numbers for Donald Driver again, it also means Favre will be intercepted more than once. He won't have nearly the same level of success Rex Grossman did against the Lions last week. Lions RB Kevin Jones isn't an outstanding play against any opponent, but his newfound receiving prowess will assure his owners that he will finish with at least respectable overall numbers. Jon Kitna will sling the ball often this week, with mixed results. Expect more than one TD pass, one to Roy Williams, but a busy Kitna often makes mistakes against any defense. Start and Smile: Donald Driver, Kevin Jones, Roy Williams. Watch and Worry: Favre and Kitna aren't stable starting options because of the matchups. They could easily throw more interceptions than TDs.
Jacksonville at Indianapolis: Manning struggled at home against the Jaguars last year, and Jacksonville looked very impressive on defense against the Steelers. But you can't bench Manning, regardless of matchup, because he will have to throw often with his running game still a work in progress. Dominic Rhodes will have a terrible game against the Jacksonville front four, and Manning will spread the ball around among Marvin Harrison and some of his tight ends. Manning won't have a stellar day, but he'll certainly throw more than one TD pass. Byron Leftwich will take quick drops and throw often to the quickly-improving Reggie Williams, and Leftwich should be good for more than one TD pass as well. A quality passing game should open up wide running lanes for Fred Taylor, who will finish with good yardage numbers. Start and Smile: Byron Leftwich, Fred Taylor, Reggie Williams, Dallas Clark. Watch and Worry: Dominic Rhodes.
N.Y. Giants at Seattle: The Seattle defense will have their hands full, as Eli Manning comes out throwing early and TE Jeremy Shockey makes many important catches. Seattle might contain RB Tiki Barber early, but expect him to bust loose for some long runs in the second half. Manning could get picked off more than once, but big yardage numbers and at least two TD passes will compensate statistically. The Giants will shut down Shaun Alexander early and often, as their front seven dominates for long periods against the run. But expect the Seattle RB to score on at least one short run. Just the presence of newcomer Deion Branch will open up the Seattle passing game more, but Branch likely won't contribute enough statistically to be a good starting option this week. Matt Hasselbeck will throw more than one TD pass, and Darrell Jackson should have another fine game. Start and Smile: Eli Manning, Jeremy Shockey, Matt Hasselbeck, Darrell Jackson. Watch and Worry: It's too early to start Deion Branch. Give him at least one more week to become more comfortable in game action.
N.Y. Jets at Buffalo: The numbers of Chad Pennington should come down a bit here, as the Bills drop extra defenders back into coverage, and their front seven easily handles the Jets running game. New York should score enough to win, but Pennington won't finish with more than 250 passing yards or two TD passes. With Laveranues Coles hurting, Jerricho Cotchery will seize an opportunity to be a prime target. For Buffalo, Willis McGahee will be a workhorse, and will score at least once. J.P. Losman is never a good fanasy play, but he'll find Lee Evans downfield more than once, and Evans should catch a long TD pass while putting a very slow start behind him, at least for one week. Start and Smile: Jerricho Cotchery, Willis McGahee, Lee Evans. Watch and Worry: Kevan Barlow.
Philadelphia at San Francisco: No team can seemingly stop the Philadelphia passing game right now, and it's certainly not going to be the Niners. Donovan McNabb is an obvious must-start, and Donte' Stallworth should have another impressive outing. WR Reggie Brown, however, is dealing with a hamstring problem, so don't automatically assume he's a lock because of the matchup. The Eagles secondary is banged up, so Alex Smith won't hesitate to test them, especially after the Giants threw the ball so effectively overall last week. Smith will be more conservative, though, taking shorter drops to reduce defensive pass pressure while throwing often to Antonio Bryant and giving TE Vernon Davis a chance to make some important possession grabs. A respectable passing game will take some of the attention off Frank Gore, but he will still have to battle hard to finish with respectable final totals. Start and Smile: Donte' Stallworth, Antonio Bryant. Watch and Worry: Reggie Brown.
St. Louis at Arizona: With LT Orlando Pace (concussion) listed as doubtful, Marc Bulger could become more conservative, throwing quick strikes to Torry Holt and Isaac Bruce as the St. Louis passing game is efficient, but not explosive. Fortunately for the Rams, they do face Arizona, so even with Pace not expected to play, Steven Jackson could still have his best game of the year so far. Kurt Warner won't post great numbers, as the Rams try to contain the Cardinals' passing game early, and make Edgerrin James prove he can flash his old form. This game won't be as high-scoring as you would expect, but it's hard to bench top players on either side of the ball. Start and Smile: Steven Jackson. Watch and Worry: Warner won't be terrible, but don't expect monster numbers and don't start him over another top-rated fantasy QB.
Tennessee at Miami: The Dolphins' defense will dominate this day, even if the offense continues to sputter. The Titans are dealing with injuries at RB and terrible play at QB. They have no chance of challenging the Miami defense on the road, especially after the Dolphins were shocked by the Bills last week. Miami will come out ready to simply be adequate on offense, while the defense rules the day. Daunte Culpepper isn't going to have a great game just because of the matchup. He'll try to operate a controlled, mistake-free passing game. That means important throws in the direction of TE Randy McMichael and another TD pass to Chris Chambers, who is no lock for outstanding yardage numbers. Ronnie Brown should be good for more than one score as the Miami defense puts the offense in great position for Brown to ultimately score from short range. Start and Smile: Ronnie Brown, Randy McMichael. Watch and Worry: Chris Brown, Drew Bennett.
Washington at Houston: Houston has a terrible pass defense, but that doesn't mean you should use Mark Brunell over a top-tier fantasy starter. Brunell should throw more than one TD pass, at least one to Santana Moss, and the return of Clinton Portis should help the passing game. But Brunell isn't going to look to air it out, but rather manage the game well and won't suddenly turn the passing game loose. David Carr should actually be the more prolific passer of the two, as he attacks a Washington secondary that has obviously missed injured CB Shawn Springs. Carr will hook up with Andre Johnson often, and Eric Moulds is a viable bye week plug-in option. Don't use Ron Dayne just because he is expected to start. He could split reps with Samkon Gado and the fading Wali Lundy. Avoid the Houston RBs this week. Start and Smile: Santana Moss, David Carr, Andre Johnson, Eric Moulds. Watch and Worry: Ron Dayne. Atlanta at New Orleans: Deuce McAllister won't find as much running room as he did late in last week's win against Green Bay, and his yardage numbers could be disappointing. Reggie Bush will continue to be an open-field threat as a receiver, even if his rushing numbers aren't impressive. Drew Brees should have time to throw, and Joe Horn could have his best game in some time. Atlanta will fire right back, and Warrick Dunn will post very good numbers, with rookie Jerious Norwood being a quality bye week option for some decent fantasy totals. Michael Vick is a good starting option, and look for at least one TD pass and one rushing score in an exciting Monday night affair. Start and Smile: Michael Vick, Warrick Dunn, Drew Brees, Reggie Bush, Joe Horn. Watch and Worry: Deuce McAllister.
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Hache Man

Hache Man

"Seven Days Without Gambling Makes One Weak"
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Alexander's out


posted: Monday, September 25, 2006 | Feedback | Print Entry
filed under: Fantasy NFL, Seattle Seahawks

Fantasy football owners hoping to cash in on Shaun Alexander's record-breaking performance from last season are not going to like this news. Alexander is not only off to a slow start, ranking 18th in the league in rushing after three weeks, but now the Seahawks and fantasy owners will be without Alexander for an indefinite period of time after the star running back broke a bone in his foot.

(Hopefully Alexander didn't break that foot filming the Mobile ESPN commercial, in which he slips in his kitchen and John Clayton reports Alexander is questionable for the next game after slipping on a lemon and a weiner dog. OK, back to reality, because if you own Alexander, well, you're not laughing.)
What should a fantasy owner do? Obviously, if your league allows free agent moves on a Monday or Tuesday, you want to get Maurice Morris as fast as you can. But should we really expect good things from Morris if Alexander wasn't having success?
Alexander's slow start this season, with only two touchdowns and a total of 187 rushing yards in three games, was initially blamed on the Seahawks losing left guard Steve Hutchinson, who bolted for the big money in Minnesota. On Sunday Alexander did score a touchdown in the opening minutes of play, but after that was largely ineffective, totaling a mere 47 yards on 20 carries. Matt Hasselbeck had no such worries, throwing five touchdown passes. Is Seattle more of a passing team now? Sans Hutchinson, Seattle gave that big money to franchise back Alexander, who rambled for 1,880 yards and an NFL record 27 touchdowns last season.
Still, those lofty figures didn't guarantee Alexander top status in fantasy football. In probably three out of every four leagues the first overall draft pick was likely the Chiefs' Larry Johnson, who was more productive than Alexander on a per game basis. Big deal. You get Alexander at No. 2, or even a spot later with LaDainian Tomlinson moving up, you felt safe. Alexander was picked second in most ESPN live drafts.
Alexander has been one of fantasy's safest running back options this decade and one of the most durable as well, not missing a game in his career. Basically, if you drafted Alexander, don't blame yourself. It's bad luck, like drafting Derrek Lee or Hideki Matsui this baseball season, others who had never been hurt over a long period of time. You couldn't have known Alexander would get hurt. Don't complain about it. There's a reason fantasy football drafts are generally 15 rounds or more -- it's so you can build up proper depth.
So how long will Alexander be out? Impossible to tell at this point, but if it is less than a month, fantasy owners actually catch something of a break, pardon the pun. This week the Seahawks face the Bears, a team that is generally recognized as having the league's top defense. The Bears did allow Ahman Green to top 100 yards rushing in Week 1, but don't read much into that. It was a blowout and the Packers were safer running the ball than forcing Brett Favre to throw. The last two weeks Chicago had been better against the run. So chances are Alexander wouldn't have had a great day anyway. Then, in Week 5, the Seahawks have a bye. Will Alexander be ready for the Week 6 game against the Rams, a team he normally torches?
Morris is recognized as a change of pace back, a guy who entered this season averaging 200 yards per year in his four year career. Has he ever been the guy? Nope, and while everyone in fantasy will flock to him, remember that the Bears are this week's opponent. Pick Morris up anyway. Just about any starting running back is worth owning in a fantasy league, but there are certainly some you don't want to activate. Morris is likely in that class, though the Week 6 game vs. the Rams will be enticing. In the next few days I expect to receive plenty of mail from Alexander owners whining about their plight. It does no good. I have him as well, and all you can do is move on. He's not out for the season, and the way he was playing, this gives you an opportunity to use someone else since, as we all know, nobody in their right mind would have actually benched the guy. I had the first pick in one draft, and I selected Alexander. Then in round two the injured Steve Smith slipped down to 24. You know what? I'm 1-2, but I'll figure things out. So will you
 
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Alexander's out


posted: Monday, September 25, 2006 | Feedback | Print Entry
filed under: Fantasy NFL, Seattle Seahawks

Fantasy football owners hoping to cash in on Shaun Alexander's record-breaking performance from last season are not going to like this news. Alexander is not only off to a slow start, ranking 18th in the league in rushing after three weeks, but now the Seahawks and fantasy owners will be without Alexander for an indefinite period of time after the star running back broke a bone in his foot.

(Hopefully Alexander didn't break that foot filming the Mobile ESPN commercial, in which he slips in his kitchen and John Clayton reports Alexander is questionable for the next game after slipping on a lemon and a weiner dog. OK, back to reality, because if you own Alexander, well, you're not laughing.)
What should a fantasy owner do? Obviously, if your league allows free agent moves on a Monday or Tuesday, you want to get Maurice Morris as fast as you can. But should we really expect good things from Morris if Alexander wasn't having success?
Alexander's slow start this season, with only two touchdowns and a total of 187 rushing yards in three games, was initially blamed on the Seahawks losing left guard Steve Hutchinson, who bolted for the big money in Minnesota. On Sunday Alexander did score a touchdown in the opening minutes of play, but after that was largely ineffective, totaling a mere 47 yards on 20 carries. Matt Hasselbeck had no such worries, throwing five touchdown passes. Is Seattle more of a passing team now? Sans Hutchinson, Seattle gave that big money to franchise back Alexander, who rambled for 1,880 yards and an NFL record 27 touchdowns last season.
Still, those lofty figures didn't guarantee Alexander top status in fantasy football. In probably three out of every four leagues the first overall draft pick was likely the Chiefs' Larry Johnson, who was more productive than Alexander on a per game basis. Big deal. You get Alexander at No. 2, or even a spot later with LaDainian Tomlinson moving up, you felt safe. Alexander was picked second in most ESPN live drafts.
Alexander has been one of fantasy's safest running back options this decade and one of the most durable as well, not missing a game in his career. Basically, if you drafted Alexander, don't blame yourself. It's bad luck, like drafting Derrek Lee or Hideki Matsui this baseball season, others who had never been hurt over a long period of time. You couldn't have known Alexander would get hurt. Don't complain about it. There's a reason fantasy football drafts are generally 15 rounds or more -- it's so you can build up proper depth.
So how long will Alexander be out? Impossible to tell at this point, but if it is less than a month, fantasy owners actually catch something of a break, pardon the pun. This week the Seahawks face the Bears, a team that is generally recognized as having the league's top defense. The Bears did allow Ahman Green to top 100 yards rushing in Week 1, but don't read much into that. It was a blowout and the Packers were safer running the ball than forcing Brett Favre to throw. The last two weeks Chicago had been better against the run. So chances are Alexander wouldn't have had a great day anyway. Then, in Week 5, the Seahawks have a bye. Will Alexander be ready for the Week 6 game against the Rams, a team he normally torches?
Morris is recognized as a change of pace back, a guy who entered this season averaging 200 yards per year in his four year career. Has he ever been the guy? Nope, and while everyone in fantasy will flock to him, remember that the Bears are this week's opponent. Pick Morris up anyway. Just about any starting running back is worth owning in a fantasy league, but there are certainly some you don't want to activate. Morris is likely in that class, though the Week 6 game vs. the Rams will be enticing. In the next few days I expect to receive plenty of mail from Alexander owners whining about their plight. It does no good. I have him as well, and all you can do is move on. He's not out for the season, and the way he was playing, this gives you an opportunity to use someone else since, as we all know, nobody in their right mind would have actually benched the guy. I had the first pick in one draft, and I selected Alexander. Then in round two the injured Steve Smith slipped down to 24. You know what? I'm 1-2, but I'll figure things out. So will you
 
Hache Man

Hache Man

"Seven Days Without Gambling Makes One Weak"
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Sep. 25, 2006, 6:37 PM
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Carroll: Alexander might not miss much time


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By Will Carroll
ESPN Fantasy Games

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Shaun Alexander is out with a broken left foot. Those words alone have some fantasy owners rocking on the floor in the fetal position, mumbling something about LaDainian Tomlinson and Peyton Manning. But what exactly has Alexander out and what does it mean? That's where you can save your season or maybe steal one of the top running backs.
Alexander has been dealing with a foot injury for the last couple weeks. All indications were that it was a mild sprain. Calls made to team sources there earlier today pointed to the injuries on the line and the loss of Steve Hutchinson and not injury were holding their MVP back. Instead, we learned today that Alexander suffered a non-displaced fracture in his left foot during his Week 2 start against the Cardinals. According to both Coach Mike Holmgren at his weekly press conference and medical sources, the fracture is very small and was missed on the initial images. This is in direct contrast to Holmgren's statements earlier in the day saying he expected Alexander to play in Week 4 against the Bears. Asked about the possibility that the fracture could have gotten worse during his Week 3 play or even the practices leading up to it, one orthopedist said "Sure, it could, but it wasn't unstable. The question I would have is whether it's fusing already."
Indeed the question of fusion is as important as the question of location. Bones heal. It's that simple in most cases, especially with advanced techniques like electrical stimulation and prescription medications that can accelerate the process. Descriptions of the injury paint this as a stress fracture, one that resulted from what had initially been described as a bruise. Given the location, the non-displaced fracture (which means that the bone is more or less in the same line as anatomically normal), it is only the time frame for fusion that is in question. Alexander should be able to play as soon as the bone is fused enough to hold under the stress and workload of an NFL running back. That could be as little as Holmgren's "couple weeks" and as much as the eight weeks we saw Brian Westbrook miss with a more serious Lisfranc fracture. (Westbrook missed only four games due to the season ending but was estimated to be ready in eight weeks.) At this stage, it's impossible to say with any certainty, but the available information suggests more towards the optimistic side of that range. Foot injuries to running backs can be painful injuries, but most recent comparable injuries have had good endings. Westbrook is just one who fully recovered. The database also shows Kevin Faulk as someone who missed time with a broken foot and returned to full function, though his nine-week rehabilitation has to give Seahawks fans pause. It's important to note that Alexander has healed quickly from previous injuries, which include minor knee and ankle injuries. It's one from 2002 that interests me -- he missed no time with a severely bruised foot.
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Hache Man

Hache Man

"Seven Days Without Gambling Makes One Weak"
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Sep. 25, 2006, 6:37 PM
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Carroll: Alexander might not miss much time


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By Will Carroll
ESPN Fantasy Games

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Shaun Alexander is out with a broken left foot. Those words alone have some fantasy owners rocking on the floor in the fetal position, mumbling something about LaDainian Tomlinson and Peyton Manning. But what exactly has Alexander out and what does it mean? That's where you can save your season or maybe steal one of the top running backs.
Alexander has been dealing with a foot injury for the last couple weeks. All indications were that it was a mild sprain. Calls made to team sources there earlier today pointed to the injuries on the line and the loss of Steve Hutchinson and not injury were holding their MVP back. Instead, we learned today that Alexander suffered a non-displaced fracture in his left foot during his Week 2 start against the Cardinals. According to both Coach Mike Holmgren at his weekly press conference and medical sources, the fracture is very small and was missed on the initial images. This is in direct contrast to Holmgren's statements earlier in the day saying he expected Alexander to play in Week 4 against the Bears. Asked about the possibility that the fracture could have gotten worse during his Week 3 play or even the practices leading up to it, one orthopedist said "Sure, it could, but it wasn't unstable. The question I would have is whether it's fusing already."
Indeed the question of fusion is as important as the question of location. Bones heal. It's that simple in most cases, especially with advanced techniques like electrical stimulation and prescription medications that can accelerate the process. Descriptions of the injury paint this as a stress fracture, one that resulted from what had initially been described as a bruise. Given the location, the non-displaced fracture (which means that the bone is more or less in the same line as anatomically normal), it is only the time frame for fusion that is in question. Alexander should be able to play as soon as the bone is fused enough to hold under the stress and workload of an NFL running back. That could be as little as Holmgren's "couple weeks" and as much as the eight weeks we saw Brian Westbrook miss with a more serious Lisfranc fracture. (Westbrook missed only four games due to the season ending but was estimated to be ready in eight weeks.) At this stage, it's impossible to say with any certainty, but the available information suggests more towards the optimistic side of that range. Foot injuries to running backs can be painful injuries, but most recent comparable injuries have had good endings. Westbrook is just one who fully recovered. The database also shows Kevin Faulk as someone who missed time with a broken foot and returned to full function, though his nine-week rehabilitation has to give Seahawks fans pause. It's important to note that Alexander has healed quickly from previous injuries, which include minor knee and ankle injuries. It's one from 2002 that interests me -- he missed no time with a severely bruised foot.
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Hache Man

Hache Man

"Seven Days Without Gambling Makes One Weak"
Re: NFL Fantasy Football News/Articles - ESPN Insider 3New Articles Added 9/22/06)

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Monday, September 25, 2006
<SCRIPT language=javascript src="http://ai059.insightexpressai.com/adServer/adServer.aspx?bannerID=7560"></SCRIPT> New RB in New England?


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By Tristan H. Cockcroft
ESPN.com

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<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width=762 border=0><TBODY><TR><TD vAlign=top width=552><!-- begin leftcol --><!-- template inline -->Sunday night's 17-7 Broncos victory -- a bit of a shocker considering it was played in New England -- might not look like a big night for fantasy stories by virtue of the score alone. Take a closer look at the stat sheet, though; a few things of note stand out:
Corey Dillon got hurt. No shock, really, since Dillon's 31 years old and missed eight games combined from 2003-05. He left in the second quarter with an apparent arm issue, something of concern since he also was seen having his shoulder examined during his Week 2 game. Dillon's health is a big reason so many people are excited about rookie Laurence Maroney, because there's a high degree of likelihood Maroney's going to get a start at some point, perhaps riding a breakout game to the starting role. Maybe it'll happen in Week 4, and it's hard to know since the Patriots are notoriously poor at offering information on their injured players. But while Maroney might be a much-talked-about name this week, there's a reason to be a bit cautious about him, and that's because ?
Laurence Maroney disappointed as a runner. Maroney managed only 18 yards on 12 carries, mostly after Dillon's departure, which marks his first poor performance in the NFL. Sure, Maroney managed five receptions for 61 yards, his first catches of the season, but with his team playing from behind, Tom Brady threw 55 times, something we're not likely to see happen too often. Maroney's fantasy value comes mostly from his contributions on the ground, and he struggled in this one, albeit against a Broncos defense better than its numbers the first two weeks indicated. (Remember, Denver's rush defense ranked second in the league in 2005.) Maroney and the Patriots head to Cincinnati in Week 4, which isn't a bad matchup if Dillon's absent, though keep in mind the Patriots could again wind up passing to play catch-up. Maroney's an exciting one, for sure, but it's games like Sunday's that should offer room for pause regarding his rookie-season upside.
Jake Plummer staked claim to his job. His 50.0-percent completion percentage isn't all that exciting, but the fantasy numbers -- 256 passing yards, 2 TDs, no interceptions -- are. Plummer sure looked like he's getting more comfortable with top receiver Javon Walker, and did just what his team expects of him, making key throws and not turning the ball over. He'll get one more tough matchup in Week 4 (vs. BAL) before hitting the meaty part of the schedule, so wait for him because he's heating up apparently at just the right time.
Tatum Bell was the rushing standout. He didn't score, and he didn't break off any long runs, but Tatum was the better of the two Bells on Sunday night, with 27 carries for 123 yards, compared to Mike's four for 12. Mike's still seemingly a bit limited by his finger injury, but this game was a Tatum showcase, and he sure looked up to the task. He'll get the tricky Week 4 matchup against the Ravens, but a strong game there could cement his status as the go-to guy and a reliable No. 2 fantasy option each week. <STYLE> .headshot { visibility: visible; padding: 0px 5px 4px 0px; float: left;} .bottom { font: 10px verdana, san-serif; color: #fff; font-weight: bold; background: #006633; padding: 5px; } </STYLE>BETWEEN THE LINES
Other thoughts from the Sunday games: I fully expected QB Eli Manning to sometimes flash his big-play potential but also scatter in the occasional mistake this season, but what I didn't expect was for him to do so much the latter in the first half of his games, and so much the former in the second half of his games. His Week 3 was yet another such instance of a poor first half (a disastrous 8-for-16, 65-yard, 3 INT effort) followed by a rally in the second (16-for-20, 210 yards, 3 TD), and one can only hope Eli and the Giants' coaching staff can help steer him through the problems that have been leading to such poor performances coming out of the gate. I'd hardly call him the kind of guy who only racks up gaudy garbage-time numbers, like Aaron Brooks seemed to do in his final years in New Orleans, and rather think this is a case of him working out the final kinks in his game. Watch Eli play and it's clear he's going to be an every-week fantasy stud, like brother Peyton, in the very near future. I just think it could take another five to 10 games before he hits that groove, though he'll be good enough for fantasy even in these shaky times. ? I still can't believe how little the Rams seem to trust Steven Jackson in the red zone, despite the fact that he's more the focal point of the offense this season than ever before. St. Louis had seven plays from within the Arizona 10-yard line on Sunday, and five times called a passing play. Granted, Jackson's two rushing attempts went for minus-6 yards combined, but put this together with how little he was used in these roles in the first two games and it's a bit of a worry for his long-term value as a No. 1 fantasy RB. It looks like it's going to be awfully tough for him to crack double-digit scores this season.


THE BOTTOM LINE

Ben Roethlisberger, QB, Steelers
18-for-39 passing, 208 yards, 0 TD, 3 INT
It's still a little early to downgrade Roethlisberger as a fantasy asset, since he's only two regular-season games removed from his offseason motorcycle accident and the emergency appendectomy he needed shortly before the season's kickoff. But one thing's for certain: Roethlisberger has plenty of work to do before getting back to the promising, high-upside passer he seemed to be in last year's postseason. He's making poor reads, bad decisions with his throws and often waits too long to locate his receivers. In fact, his Week 3 numbers might have looked even worse had he not racked up 113 yards on 20 attempts after Cincinnati mounted an 11-point lead with a little over seven minutes to go in the game. Roethlisberger hasn't looked at all like the efficient, consistent passer he was in his first two NFL seasons, nor does he really seem close to that model as of yet. Fortunately, he now has the bye week to rest, after which point he could be one week healthier and one week readier to pick up where he left off late last season. Keep an eye on that Week 5 game at San Diego, though; another poor effort could mark Roethlisberger as someone too mistake-prone to be a trustworthy fantasy option, even when facing quality matchups.
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<TABLE class=tablehead cellSpacing=1 cellPadding=3><TBODY><TR><TD class=stathead align=middle bgColor=#555555 colSpan=6>Week 3</TD></TR><TR><TD bgColor=#ffffff> </TD><TD colSpan=5>Brett Favre, QB, Packers: Now how do you feel about the DET secondary? (269.0 yds, 2.3 TD allowed/G)</TD></TR><!-- inline box score --><TR class=colhead><TD>passYDS</TD><TD>passTD</TD><TD>INT</TD><TD>rushYDS</TD><TD>FPTS</TD></TR><TR class=evenrow vAlign=top><TD><NOBR>340</NOBR></TD><TD><NOBR>3</NOBR></TD><TD><NOBR>0</NOBR></TD><TD><NOBR>-5</NOBR></TD><TD><NOBR>27</NOBR></TD></TR><TR><TD bgColor=#ffffff colSpan=5 height=3></TD></TR><TR><TD bgColor=#ffffff> </TD><TD colSpan=5>Brian Westbrook, RB, Eagles: If only he can stay healthy; he's on pace for 2,240 scrimmage yds, 27 TD.</TD></TR><!-- inline box score --><TR class=colhead><TD>ATT</TD><TD>rushYDS</TD><TD>recYDS</TD><TD>TD</TD><TD>FPTS</TD></TR><TR class=evenrow vAlign=top><TD><NOBR>8</NOBR></TD><TD><NOBR>117</NOBR></TD><TD><NOBR>47</NOBR></TD><TD><NOBR>3</NOBR></TD><TD><NOBR>33</NOBR></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><TABLE class=tablehead cellSpacing=1 cellPadding=3><!-- <tr><td align=center bgcolor="#555555" COLSPAN=6 class="stathead" colspan="6"> </td></tr> --><TBODY><TR><TD bgColor=#ffffff> </TD><TD colSpan=5>Keyshawn Johnson, WR, Panthers: Steve Smith's healthy return means less defensive attention on Keyshawn.</TD></TR><!-- inline box score --><TR class=colhead><TD>REC</TD><TD>recYDS</TD><TD>TARGET</TD><TD>TD</TD><TD>FPTS</TD></TR><TR class=evenrow vAlign=top><TD><NOBR>7</NOBR></TD><TD><NOBR>97</NOBR></TD><TD><NOBR>9</NOBR></TD><TD><NOBR>2</NOBR></TD><TD><NOBR>21</NOBR></TD></TR><TR><TD bgColor=#ffffff colSpan=5 height=3></TD></TR><TR><TD bgColor=#ffffff> </TD><TD colSpan=5>Todd Heap, TE, Ravens: Now has 5-plus receptions in 10 of his last 15 G, and 7 TD in his last 9 G overall.</TD></TR><!-- inline box score --><TR class=colhead><TD>REC</TD><TD>recYDS</TD><TD>TARGET</TD><TD>TD</TD><TD>FPTS</TD></TR><TR class=evenrow vAlign=top><TD><NOBR>5</NOBR></TD><TD><NOBR>36</NOBR></TD><TD><NOBR>11</NOBR></TD><TD><NOBR>1</NOBR></TD><TD><NOBR>9</NOBR></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

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<!-- begin also see2 -->Surfin' the Scoreboard

Trainer's Room
? Bears TE Desmond Clark left Sunday's game with a sprained left foot. His status for Week 4 against the Seahawks is unclear. Clark has been one of the more surprising early performers, though he's not going to step up with big games nearly as often as he did in the first two games, when QB Rex Grossman was going off.
? 49ers TE Vernon Davis suffered a cracked bone in his left leg and will miss four weeks. TE Eric Johnson, who stepped up with solid fantasy numbers in Week 3, should get a few more passes thrown his way, and is a useful bye-week fill-in in larger leagues.
? 49ers RB Frank Gore suffered a strained abdominal muscle in Week 3, and will be questionable for Week 4 at the Chiefs. RB Maurice Hicks also suffered a sprained ankle but will be probable for Week 4's game. Keep tabs on Gore's progress in practice this week, but his injury could allow RB Michael Robinson to sneak in as the goal-line back, as Robinson had two touchdowns in the Week 3 game.
? Buccaneers QB Chris Simms had his spleen removed following Sunday's game, after apparently rupturing it in the second quarter after he took a few hard hits. He's out for two to three months, meaning fantasy owners shouldn't expect him back this season at all. Simms' absence will thrust QB Bruce Gradkowski into the starting role, but more important, it'll probably have an adverse effect on the fantasy totals of RB Carnell Williams and WRs Joey Galloway and Michael Clayton. ? Friday Box | Thursday Box | Karabell's Blog





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Hache Man

Hache Man

"Seven Days Without Gambling Makes One Weak"
Re: NFL Fantasy Football News/Articles - ESPN Insider 3New Articles Added 9/22/06)

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Monday, September 25, 2006
<SCRIPT language=javascript src="http://ai059.insightexpressai.com/adServer/adServer.aspx?bannerID=7560"></SCRIPT> New RB in New England?


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By Tristan H. Cockcroft
ESPN.com

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<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width=762 border=0><TBODY><TR><TD vAlign=top width=552><!-- begin leftcol --><!-- template inline -->Sunday night's 17-7 Broncos victory -- a bit of a shocker considering it was played in New England -- might not look like a big night for fantasy stories by virtue of the score alone. Take a closer look at the stat sheet, though; a few things of note stand out:
Corey Dillon got hurt. No shock, really, since Dillon's 31 years old and missed eight games combined from 2003-05. He left in the second quarter with an apparent arm issue, something of concern since he also was seen having his shoulder examined during his Week 2 game. Dillon's health is a big reason so many people are excited about rookie Laurence Maroney, because there's a high degree of likelihood Maroney's going to get a start at some point, perhaps riding a breakout game to the starting role. Maybe it'll happen in Week 4, and it's hard to know since the Patriots are notoriously poor at offering information on their injured players. But while Maroney might be a much-talked-about name this week, there's a reason to be a bit cautious about him, and that's because ?
Laurence Maroney disappointed as a runner. Maroney managed only 18 yards on 12 carries, mostly after Dillon's departure, which marks his first poor performance in the NFL. Sure, Maroney managed five receptions for 61 yards, his first catches of the season, but with his team playing from behind, Tom Brady threw 55 times, something we're not likely to see happen too often. Maroney's fantasy value comes mostly from his contributions on the ground, and he struggled in this one, albeit against a Broncos defense better than its numbers the first two weeks indicated. (Remember, Denver's rush defense ranked second in the league in 2005.) Maroney and the Patriots head to Cincinnati in Week 4, which isn't a bad matchup if Dillon's absent, though keep in mind the Patriots could again wind up passing to play catch-up. Maroney's an exciting one, for sure, but it's games like Sunday's that should offer room for pause regarding his rookie-season upside.
Jake Plummer staked claim to his job. His 50.0-percent completion percentage isn't all that exciting, but the fantasy numbers -- 256 passing yards, 2 TDs, no interceptions -- are. Plummer sure looked like he's getting more comfortable with top receiver Javon Walker, and did just what his team expects of him, making key throws and not turning the ball over. He'll get one more tough matchup in Week 4 (vs. BAL) before hitting the meaty part of the schedule, so wait for him because he's heating up apparently at just the right time.
Tatum Bell was the rushing standout. He didn't score, and he didn't break off any long runs, but Tatum was the better of the two Bells on Sunday night, with 27 carries for 123 yards, compared to Mike's four for 12. Mike's still seemingly a bit limited by his finger injury, but this game was a Tatum showcase, and he sure looked up to the task. He'll get the tricky Week 4 matchup against the Ravens, but a strong game there could cement his status as the go-to guy and a reliable No. 2 fantasy option each week. <STYLE> .headshot { visibility: visible; padding: 0px 5px 4px 0px; float: left;} .bottom { font: 10px verdana, san-serif; color: #fff; font-weight: bold; background: #006633; padding: 5px; } </STYLE>BETWEEN THE LINES
Other thoughts from the Sunday games: I fully expected QB Eli Manning to sometimes flash his big-play potential but also scatter in the occasional mistake this season, but what I didn't expect was for him to do so much the latter in the first half of his games, and so much the former in the second half of his games. His Week 3 was yet another such instance of a poor first half (a disastrous 8-for-16, 65-yard, 3 INT effort) followed by a rally in the second (16-for-20, 210 yards, 3 TD), and one can only hope Eli and the Giants' coaching staff can help steer him through the problems that have been leading to such poor performances coming out of the gate. I'd hardly call him the kind of guy who only racks up gaudy garbage-time numbers, like Aaron Brooks seemed to do in his final years in New Orleans, and rather think this is a case of him working out the final kinks in his game. Watch Eli play and it's clear he's going to be an every-week fantasy stud, like brother Peyton, in the very near future. I just think it could take another five to 10 games before he hits that groove, though he'll be good enough for fantasy even in these shaky times. ? I still can't believe how little the Rams seem to trust Steven Jackson in the red zone, despite the fact that he's more the focal point of the offense this season than ever before. St. Louis had seven plays from within the Arizona 10-yard line on Sunday, and five times called a passing play. Granted, Jackson's two rushing attempts went for minus-6 yards combined, but put this together with how little he was used in these roles in the first two games and it's a bit of a worry for his long-term value as a No. 1 fantasy RB. It looks like it's going to be awfully tough for him to crack double-digit scores this season.


THE BOTTOM LINE

Ben Roethlisberger, QB, Steelers
18-for-39 passing, 208 yards, 0 TD, 3 INT
It's still a little early to downgrade Roethlisberger as a fantasy asset, since he's only two regular-season games removed from his offseason motorcycle accident and the emergency appendectomy he needed shortly before the season's kickoff. But one thing's for certain: Roethlisberger has plenty of work to do before getting back to the promising, high-upside passer he seemed to be in last year's postseason. He's making poor reads, bad decisions with his throws and often waits too long to locate his receivers. In fact, his Week 3 numbers might have looked even worse had he not racked up 113 yards on 20 attempts after Cincinnati mounted an 11-point lead with a little over seven minutes to go in the game. Roethlisberger hasn't looked at all like the efficient, consistent passer he was in his first two NFL seasons, nor does he really seem close to that model as of yet. Fortunately, he now has the bye week to rest, after which point he could be one week healthier and one week readier to pick up where he left off late last season. Keep an eye on that Week 5 game at San Diego, though; another poor effort could mark Roethlisberger as someone too mistake-prone to be a trustworthy fantasy option, even when facing quality matchups.
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<TABLE class=tablehead cellSpacing=1 cellPadding=3><TBODY><TR><TD class=stathead align=middle bgColor=#555555 colSpan=6>Week 3</TD></TR><TR><TD bgColor=#ffffff> </TD><TD colSpan=5>Brett Favre, QB, Packers: Now how do you feel about the DET secondary? (269.0 yds, 2.3 TD allowed/G)</TD></TR><!-- inline box score --><TR class=colhead><TD>passYDS</TD><TD>passTD</TD><TD>INT</TD><TD>rushYDS</TD><TD>FPTS</TD></TR><TR class=evenrow vAlign=top><TD><NOBR>340</NOBR></TD><TD><NOBR>3</NOBR></TD><TD><NOBR>0</NOBR></TD><TD><NOBR>-5</NOBR></TD><TD><NOBR>27</NOBR></TD></TR><TR><TD bgColor=#ffffff colSpan=5 height=3></TD></TR><TR><TD bgColor=#ffffff> </TD><TD colSpan=5>Brian Westbrook, RB, Eagles: If only he can stay healthy; he's on pace for 2,240 scrimmage yds, 27 TD.</TD></TR><!-- inline box score --><TR class=colhead><TD>ATT</TD><TD>rushYDS</TD><TD>recYDS</TD><TD>TD</TD><TD>FPTS</TD></TR><TR class=evenrow vAlign=top><TD><NOBR>8</NOBR></TD><TD><NOBR>117</NOBR></TD><TD><NOBR>47</NOBR></TD><TD><NOBR>3</NOBR></TD><TD><NOBR>33</NOBR></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><TABLE class=tablehead cellSpacing=1 cellPadding=3><!-- <tr><td align=center bgcolor="#555555" COLSPAN=6 class="stathead" colspan="6"> </td></tr> --><TBODY><TR><TD bgColor=#ffffff> </TD><TD colSpan=5>Keyshawn Johnson, WR, Panthers: Steve Smith's healthy return means less defensive attention on Keyshawn.</TD></TR><!-- inline box score --><TR class=colhead><TD>REC</TD><TD>recYDS</TD><TD>TARGET</TD><TD>TD</TD><TD>FPTS</TD></TR><TR class=evenrow vAlign=top><TD><NOBR>7</NOBR></TD><TD><NOBR>97</NOBR></TD><TD><NOBR>9</NOBR></TD><TD><NOBR>2</NOBR></TD><TD><NOBR>21</NOBR></TD></TR><TR><TD bgColor=#ffffff colSpan=5 height=3></TD></TR><TR><TD bgColor=#ffffff> </TD><TD colSpan=5>Todd Heap, TE, Ravens: Now has 5-plus receptions in 10 of his last 15 G, and 7 TD in his last 9 G overall.</TD></TR><!-- inline box score --><TR class=colhead><TD>REC</TD><TD>recYDS</TD><TD>TARGET</TD><TD>TD</TD><TD>FPTS</TD></TR><TR class=evenrow vAlign=top><TD><NOBR>5</NOBR></TD><TD><NOBR>36</NOBR></TD><TD><NOBR>11</NOBR></TD><TD><NOBR>1</NOBR></TD><TD><NOBR>9</NOBR></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

<!-- end also see -->

<!-- begin also see2 -->Surfin' the Scoreboard

Trainer's Room
? Bears TE Desmond Clark left Sunday's game with a sprained left foot. His status for Week 4 against the Seahawks is unclear. Clark has been one of the more surprising early performers, though he's not going to step up with big games nearly as often as he did in the first two games, when QB Rex Grossman was going off.
? 49ers TE Vernon Davis suffered a cracked bone in his left leg and will miss four weeks. TE Eric Johnson, who stepped up with solid fantasy numbers in Week 3, should get a few more passes thrown his way, and is a useful bye-week fill-in in larger leagues.
? 49ers RB Frank Gore suffered a strained abdominal muscle in Week 3, and will be questionable for Week 4 at the Chiefs. RB Maurice Hicks also suffered a sprained ankle but will be probable for Week 4's game. Keep tabs on Gore's progress in practice this week, but his injury could allow RB Michael Robinson to sneak in as the goal-line back, as Robinson had two touchdowns in the Week 3 game.
? Buccaneers QB Chris Simms had his spleen removed following Sunday's game, after apparently rupturing it in the second quarter after he took a few hard hits. He's out for two to three months, meaning fantasy owners shouldn't expect him back this season at all. Simms' absence will thrust QB Bruce Gradkowski into the starting role, but more important, it'll probably have an adverse effect on the fantasy totals of RB Carnell Williams and WRs Joey Galloway and Michael Clayton. ? Friday Box | Thursday Box | Karabell's Blog





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Hache Man

Hache Man

"Seven Days Without Gambling Makes One Weak"
Re: NFL Fantasy Football News/Articles - ESPN Insider 3New Articles Added 9/22/06)

Re: NFL Fantasy Football News/Articles - ESPN Insider 3New Articles Added 9/22/06)

Sep. 25, 2006, 1:50 PM
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Week 4: Walker, Brunell and more


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By Scott Engel
ESPN Fantasy Games

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Each Monday afternoon, the Fantasy Scout takes an early look ahead to the coming week and beyond. We give you the early lowdown on players to watch and consider emerging trends that will affect your fantasy strategy, even before the "Monday Night Football" game!
Player Spotlight
Entering Sunday night's game at New England, there appeared to be no reason to expect major fireworks from the Denver passing game.<!--##FRONTSTOP##--> Javon Walker is still in his first year back from a major knee injury, and his quarterback Jake Plummer was struggling to the point where Broncos fans were calling for him to be replaced by a rookie. Walker had 120 receiving yards in his first two games, and had done nothing to convince his fantasy owners he was on the verge of recapturing the form that had made him an elite fantasy receiver in Green Bay. At New England, though, Walker proved his recovery from last year's injury was complete, as he busted loose and helped his QB stave off some critics, at least temporarily. Walker finished with 130 receiving yards and scored twice, including an 83-yard TD reception that clearly showed Walker is back in his best form.
Plummer found Walker downfield, and Walker then split two defenders and took off for the end zone, showing off the classic open-field awareness and breakaway ability that made him a highly-coveted fantasy wideout before his 2005 season was wiped out. Walker has dealt with health problems, unhappiness with his old team, a trade, and an up-and-down preseason. But he has put all the negativity behind him and Sunday night was his showcase to prove he can still be a must-start fantasy player. Walker is not only sleek, quick and smart, he has a knack for making the tough catch, and often makes it look pretty. He has superb awareness, concentration and body control. It will take more than one game like last night's to convince some fantasy owners that Walker has re-emerged as a top fantasy receiver. For those who still have doubts, though, you can still use him as an excellent No. 2 fantasy receiver going forward.
Injury Fallout
The 49ers were no match for the Eagles on Sunday, and lost a lot more than an opportunity to show they can hang with the NFC's stronger teams. Both running back Frank Gore and tight end Vernon Davis suffered key injuries. As he tried to finish off a potential scoring drive in the third quarter, Gore not only lost a fumble that was returned for a touchdown, he also suffered an abdomen injury, and the strain already has him listed as questionable for the Oct. 1 game at Kansas City. The San Francisco Chronicle reports that no one is actually sure how long Gore will be out. Gore has fumbled twice at the goal line in the past two games. Rookie Michael Robinson was able to punch the ball in from the goal line twice on Sunday. The former college QB appears to be in line for more playing time at RB, and looks like a viable fantasy addition. Robinson does have limited RB experience, but he can battle for tough yards and has the speed to stack up some decent yardage numbers against weaker opponents. The Chiefs won't be a major test for him if Robinson plays often next week, and if he doesn't look capable of carrying too often, he and Maurice Hicks conceivably could split some carries in Gore's place. Davis told the Chronicle he will miss four weeks with a calf strain and fractured right fibula. Davis has been an early disappointment, and Eric Johnson, who always has looked like a quality fantasy option when healthy, caught seven passes for 87 yards and a TD Sunday and is a fine free agent addition if you need help at tight end.
Preparing for Changes
The Jets' running back picture has been adjusted, and two runners stood out as prime options for New York after the Buffalo game, while another could get a chance to re-establish himself. Kevan Barlow started against the Bills, and while he only rushed for 31 yards on 12 carries, Barlow definitely is a quality short-yardage runner. He scored New York's first TD, on a three-yard run. Barlow will be a decent flex player for his scoring potential as long as he stays healthy. Rookie Leon Washington showed the burst and big-play potential that could earn him a decent amount of touches every week, and he's worth a look if you're hurting for RB depth. Washington set up Barlow's score, as he took a screen pass for 47 yards. Washington also carried seven times for 25 yards. If Barlow avoids injuries, he and Washington could end up sharing carries. But Barlow limped off the field in the fourth quarter and lost an opportunity to score twice. Cedric Houston scored on a five-yard run while Barlow went to the sidelines, and it could be Houston who shares some touches with Washington if Barlow misses any time. Derrick Blaylock was deactivated on Sunday and appears to be out of the mix for now.
Reality Strikes
Mark Brunell set a new NFL record by completing 22 consecutive passes to begin the game against the Texans. But the pretty-looking record doesn't suddenly make him a quality fantasy starter again. Brunell finished with 261 passing yards, a number that was inflated by a 74-yard catch-and-run by Clinton Portis. Brunell threw only one TD pass. Yes, he led Washington to a win, and quieted some talk about a possible benching. But for fantasy purposes, Brunell is still nothing more than a fantasy reserve. Most of Brunell's completions, especially early in the game, were swing passes, flat passes and underneath throws. Outside of Portis, no Washington receiver finished with more than 50 receiving yards. After the 74-yarder to Portis, which was Brunell's first completion, 14 of 21 Brunell's next completions were for less than 10 yards, and 18 of 21 were for 14 yards or less. Don't let the record snow you. Brunell is still a mediocre fantasy QB.
Scout's Notebook
? Time to trade your Lions if you can after they performed rather well statistically against the mostly defenseless Packers on Sunday. Jon Kitna threw for 342 yards and two TDs, but he still had trouble locating open receivers at critical times and will be pressured more often against better opponents. You might not get much for him, but you could sell Kitna off to a team that is very thin at QB. Kevin Jones totaled 125 yards from scrimmage and scored, and he's not looking terrible. But he's certainly not dependable and you can spin him as a versatile guy with newfound receiving skills to a team in desperate need of an RB. Roy Williams caught seven passes for 138 yards, and his talents are undeniable, but he has a shaky QB and no other quality receivers around him, so sell high on him now.
? More on Steve Smith: After watching some more tape of him on Sunday, it's clear to me that Smith does lack some of his classic explosion. But Smith did a great job of getting open often against Tampa Bay, and proved he is more than just a deep guy. Smith used his experience, moves, smarts and polish to find openings in the defense. He obviously prepared well for game day, and even if he's not 100 percent, his great all-around skills will continue to make him a must-start while he is available. ? While I'm not sold on Rex Grossman as a top fantasy QB (he is a good NFL QB right now, there is a difference), WR Bernard Berrian now gets my endorsement. I thought Berrian was just a speed guy who could only catch deep balls, and would disappear when opponents tried to take away his opportunities to get behind the secondary. But the Vikings robbed Berrian of downfield opportunities for most of the day on Sunday, and he still finished with a respectable six catches for 70 yards. Berrian can run good routes and will make key catches on shorter patterns. He should be a regular starter as a No. 3 fantasy WR
</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
 
Hache Man

Hache Man

"Seven Days Without Gambling Makes One Weak"
Re: NFL Fantasy Football News/Articles - ESPN Insider 3New Articles Added 9/22/06)

Re: NFL Fantasy Football News/Articles - ESPN Insider 3New Articles Added 9/22/06)

Sep. 25, 2006, 1:50 PM
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Week 4: Walker, Brunell and more


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By Scott Engel
ESPN Fantasy Games

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Each Monday afternoon, the Fantasy Scout takes an early look ahead to the coming week and beyond. We give you the early lowdown on players to watch and consider emerging trends that will affect your fantasy strategy, even before the "Monday Night Football" game!
Player Spotlight
Entering Sunday night's game at New England, there appeared to be no reason to expect major fireworks from the Denver passing game.<!--##FRONTSTOP##--> Javon Walker is still in his first year back from a major knee injury, and his quarterback Jake Plummer was struggling to the point where Broncos fans were calling for him to be replaced by a rookie. Walker had 120 receiving yards in his first two games, and had done nothing to convince his fantasy owners he was on the verge of recapturing the form that had made him an elite fantasy receiver in Green Bay. At New England, though, Walker proved his recovery from last year's injury was complete, as he busted loose and helped his QB stave off some critics, at least temporarily. Walker finished with 130 receiving yards and scored twice, including an 83-yard TD reception that clearly showed Walker is back in his best form.
Plummer found Walker downfield, and Walker then split two defenders and took off for the end zone, showing off the classic open-field awareness and breakaway ability that made him a highly-coveted fantasy wideout before his 2005 season was wiped out. Walker has dealt with health problems, unhappiness with his old team, a trade, and an up-and-down preseason. But he has put all the negativity behind him and Sunday night was his showcase to prove he can still be a must-start fantasy player. Walker is not only sleek, quick and smart, he has a knack for making the tough catch, and often makes it look pretty. He has superb awareness, concentration and body control. It will take more than one game like last night's to convince some fantasy owners that Walker has re-emerged as a top fantasy receiver. For those who still have doubts, though, you can still use him as an excellent No. 2 fantasy receiver going forward.
Injury Fallout
The 49ers were no match for the Eagles on Sunday, and lost a lot more than an opportunity to show they can hang with the NFC's stronger teams. Both running back Frank Gore and tight end Vernon Davis suffered key injuries. As he tried to finish off a potential scoring drive in the third quarter, Gore not only lost a fumble that was returned for a touchdown, he also suffered an abdomen injury, and the strain already has him listed as questionable for the Oct. 1 game at Kansas City. The San Francisco Chronicle reports that no one is actually sure how long Gore will be out. Gore has fumbled twice at the goal line in the past two games. Rookie Michael Robinson was able to punch the ball in from the goal line twice on Sunday. The former college QB appears to be in line for more playing time at RB, and looks like a viable fantasy addition. Robinson does have limited RB experience, but he can battle for tough yards and has the speed to stack up some decent yardage numbers against weaker opponents. The Chiefs won't be a major test for him if Robinson plays often next week, and if he doesn't look capable of carrying too often, he and Maurice Hicks conceivably could split some carries in Gore's place. Davis told the Chronicle he will miss four weeks with a calf strain and fractured right fibula. Davis has been an early disappointment, and Eric Johnson, who always has looked like a quality fantasy option when healthy, caught seven passes for 87 yards and a TD Sunday and is a fine free agent addition if you need help at tight end.
Preparing for Changes
The Jets' running back picture has been adjusted, and two runners stood out as prime options for New York after the Buffalo game, while another could get a chance to re-establish himself. Kevan Barlow started against the Bills, and while he only rushed for 31 yards on 12 carries, Barlow definitely is a quality short-yardage runner. He scored New York's first TD, on a three-yard run. Barlow will be a decent flex player for his scoring potential as long as he stays healthy. Rookie Leon Washington showed the burst and big-play potential that could earn him a decent amount of touches every week, and he's worth a look if you're hurting for RB depth. Washington set up Barlow's score, as he took a screen pass for 47 yards. Washington also carried seven times for 25 yards. If Barlow avoids injuries, he and Washington could end up sharing carries. But Barlow limped off the field in the fourth quarter and lost an opportunity to score twice. Cedric Houston scored on a five-yard run while Barlow went to the sidelines, and it could be Houston who shares some touches with Washington if Barlow misses any time. Derrick Blaylock was deactivated on Sunday and appears to be out of the mix for now.
Reality Strikes
Mark Brunell set a new NFL record by completing 22 consecutive passes to begin the game against the Texans. But the pretty-looking record doesn't suddenly make him a quality fantasy starter again. Brunell finished with 261 passing yards, a number that was inflated by a 74-yard catch-and-run by Clinton Portis. Brunell threw only one TD pass. Yes, he led Washington to a win, and quieted some talk about a possible benching. But for fantasy purposes, Brunell is still nothing more than a fantasy reserve. Most of Brunell's completions, especially early in the game, were swing passes, flat passes and underneath throws. Outside of Portis, no Washington receiver finished with more than 50 receiving yards. After the 74-yarder to Portis, which was Brunell's first completion, 14 of 21 Brunell's next completions were for less than 10 yards, and 18 of 21 were for 14 yards or less. Don't let the record snow you. Brunell is still a mediocre fantasy QB.
Scout's Notebook
? Time to trade your Lions if you can after they performed rather well statistically against the mostly defenseless Packers on Sunday. Jon Kitna threw for 342 yards and two TDs, but he still had trouble locating open receivers at critical times and will be pressured more often against better opponents. You might not get much for him, but you could sell Kitna off to a team that is very thin at QB. Kevin Jones totaled 125 yards from scrimmage and scored, and he's not looking terrible. But he's certainly not dependable and you can spin him as a versatile guy with newfound receiving skills to a team in desperate need of an RB. Roy Williams caught seven passes for 138 yards, and his talents are undeniable, but he has a shaky QB and no other quality receivers around him, so sell high on him now.
? More on Steve Smith: After watching some more tape of him on Sunday, it's clear to me that Smith does lack some of his classic explosion. But Smith did a great job of getting open often against Tampa Bay, and proved he is more than just a deep guy. Smith used his experience, moves, smarts and polish to find openings in the defense. He obviously prepared well for game day, and even if he's not 100 percent, his great all-around skills will continue to make him a must-start while he is available. ? While I'm not sold on Rex Grossman as a top fantasy QB (he is a good NFL QB right now, there is a difference), WR Bernard Berrian now gets my endorsement. I thought Berrian was just a speed guy who could only catch deep balls, and would disappear when opponents tried to take away his opportunities to get behind the secondary. But the Vikings robbed Berrian of downfield opportunities for most of the day on Sunday, and he still finished with a respectable six catches for 70 yards. Berrian can run good routes and will make key catches on shorter patterns. He should be a regular starter as a No. 3 fantasy WR
</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
 
Hache Man

Hache Man

"Seven Days Without Gambling Makes One Weak"
Re: NFL Fantasy Football News/Articles - ESPN Insider 3New Articles Added 9/22/06)

Re: NFL Fantasy Football News/Articles - ESPN Insider 3New Articles Added 9/22/06)

Sep. 25, 2006, 1:44 PM
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Week 4: Patriots struggle and other defensive news


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By Jason Langendorf
ESPN Fantasy Games

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Shock and dismay. Pain and frustration. Not the names of the street free agents the New England Patriots plan to sign to compete with their current starting linebackers -- although I wouldn't put it past Bill Belichick.
They're about the only words fit for print that can describe the reactions of Belichick, Patriot Nation and any fantasy owner who banked on the sustained defensive genius of the last NFL dynasty. We all knew the Pats were old. We knew they'd miss some dearly departed teammates. We had no clue they'd look so, well ... average.
That was my impression as I watched Denver's offensive line, fullbacks and tight ends dismantle the Patriots' front seven Sunday night. It was a masterful performance, and it didn't take me long to realize I'd underestimated the 2006 Broncos. (I'll have more on that Friday.)
<TABLE class=text11 cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=2 width=300 align=right border=0><TBODY><TR vAlign=top><TD width=8><SPACER type="block" height="1" width="8"></TD><TD width=300 bgColor=#ecece4>FIVE DEFENSES TO OWN FOR WEEK 4 1. Falcons: The damage to Arizona's offense could be irreparable after a weekend in the Dome.
2. Eagles: Overlooked by many on draft day. Not after the Packers visit the Linc.
3. Cowboys: This D hasn't yet hit its stride, and Collins and Tennessee are the perfect jump-off point.
4. Dolphins: I know I just ripped the DBs. But Carr still has to face a pretty ferocious Miami front seven.
5. 49ers: In a deep league, San Fran (12 sacks in three games) could be a sneaky fill-in vs. Kansas City and QB Damon Huard.
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But these were the Patriots and this was Foxborough. Opponents aren't supposed to pull masterful performances out of their hats, not even those with wily veteran linemen who have played together for years. And if you think 17 points isn't much for a defense to give up against a playoff-caliber offense that's clicking, you'd be right -- except that it could have been much worse.
The Pats' special teams units pinned Denver inside its 5 on three occasions, but it never fazed the Broncos. New England's defense put a little pressure on QB Jake Plummer and did an excellent job of hemming him in, to the point that Denver all but gave up on rollouts and bootlegs by the second half. Still, the Pats had no sacks or takeaways. The Broncos averaged 4.2 yards per rush, 8.5 per pass and converted a very respectable 7 of 16 third downs.
So what happened? New England obviously missed FS Eugene Wilson after he left the game because of a leg injury. WR Javon Walker's second touchdown of the night came when the Pats were in cover 2, and Wilson's replacement, James Sanders, didn't get to the sideline in time and blew the tackle on Walker after he arrived. Wilson is a key cog in this unit, an extremely versatile defender and one of the few good veteran Pats who doesn't require a walker and extra fiber in his diet.
Here's what concerned me more: the front seven. Always a strength of recent Patriots defenses, the linebackers looked crotchety and ineffective against the Broncos. Denver's blockers are excellent technicians, but the offensive line also is the league's lightest. Using mostly two-gap techniques designed to tie up blockers and snuff the run, DE Richard Seymour (310 pounds), DE Ty Warren (300) and DT Vince Wilfork (325 in his dreams) should have been able to keep the linebackers clean. Too often they didn't, as LB Tedy Bruschi seemed to get caught up in traffic a lot and LB Junior Seau was routinely blocked (when he wasn't doing his modified Elaine Benes after one of the two decent stops he made all night).
The Pats seem to have a WR Deion Branch hangover, and the offense hasn't done enough to give the D adequate rest and chances to play with a lead. Still, I can't help but feel Belichick has lost a little of his magic. With ancient veterans and little depth behind them, there is zero room for injuries. And even some of the healthy vets appear over the hill. The Pats aren't creating much pressure, and they seem reluctant to blitz -- probably because of a suspect secondary. I might have chalked Sunday up to just a bad game in a long season, but I went back to watch the tape of the Week 2 Jets game and came away even more concerned.
The Pats almost exclusively used one-gap techniques and stayed in a 4-3 against a New York offense with a weak run game and green offensive linemen. They created some pressure on QB Chad Pennington, but probably not as much as they should have. New England's linemen aren't natural penetrators, and the defense lacks the cover men to blitz regularly. Pennington and WR Laveranues Coles torched them for a TD on one of the rare occasions the Pats sent extra rushers. The 3-4 can create tricky pressure and force mistakes, but a good offensive line (say, Denver's) can find the rushers and the Pats seem reluctant to put their linebackers in too many potentially dangerous pass-coverage situations.
Bottom line: New England's defense seems to be neither fish nor fowl, and Belichick and his staff might be powerless to change things. They could have all kinds of trouble coming up with big plays and keeping the score down against the likes of Cincinnati (Week 4) and Indianapolis (Week 9). But it's the more harmless-looking offenses (Minnesota, Jets and Green Bay) that might really expose this unit. I'd say we can't assume anymore that the Pats will bounce back simply because they're the Pats.
TWO CENTS, AND THEN SOME ...
Plummer is nothing short of confounding. How can a quarterback look so positively out of his league one week and then deftly dissect a well-coached, veteran defense the next? (Don't get me started on QB Mark Brunell.) I will say this about Plummer: He made very few bad decisions Sunday, even when the Pats managed to keep him mostly stuck in the pocket and out of his comfort zone. He was dropped in a lot of leagues out there, and you could do worse for a No. 2 fantasy quarterback.
I don't know if WR Steve Smith was doing his version of rope-a-dope or if he's just that tough, but fantasy owners shouldn't be ready to fall back in love with QB Jake Delhomme after Smith's surprisingly sudden and productive return to Carolina's lineup. The offensive line has some issues, and Delhomme becomes a turnover machine when he faces regular pressure. QB Kerry Collins' line against Miami after just a few weeks in Tennessee and virtually no prep time in camp and preseason: 19-for-33, 269 yards and a TD. Holy moses, is that Dolphins secondary overmatched. I'm not kidding when I say every opposing quarterback through Week 17 could be start-worthy in standard leagues against Miami, including QBs David Carr and J.P. Losman.
</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
 
Hache Man

Hache Man

"Seven Days Without Gambling Makes One Weak"
Re: NFL Fantasy Football News/Articles - ESPN Insider 3New Articles Added 9/22/06)

Re: NFL Fantasy Football News/Articles - ESPN Insider 3New Articles Added 9/22/06)

Sep. 25, 2006, 1:44 PM
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Week 4: Patriots struggle and other defensive news


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By Jason Langendorf
ESPN Fantasy Games

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Shock and dismay. Pain and frustration. Not the names of the street free agents the New England Patriots plan to sign to compete with their current starting linebackers -- although I wouldn't put it past Bill Belichick.
They're about the only words fit for print that can describe the reactions of Belichick, Patriot Nation and any fantasy owner who banked on the sustained defensive genius of the last NFL dynasty. We all knew the Pats were old. We knew they'd miss some dearly departed teammates. We had no clue they'd look so, well ... average.
That was my impression as I watched Denver's offensive line, fullbacks and tight ends dismantle the Patriots' front seven Sunday night. It was a masterful performance, and it didn't take me long to realize I'd underestimated the 2006 Broncos. (I'll have more on that Friday.)
<TABLE class=text11 cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=2 width=300 align=right border=0><TBODY><TR vAlign=top><TD width=8><SPACER type="block" height="1" width="8"></TD><TD width=300 bgColor=#ecece4>FIVE DEFENSES TO OWN FOR WEEK 4 1. Falcons: The damage to Arizona's offense could be irreparable after a weekend in the Dome.
2. Eagles: Overlooked by many on draft day. Not after the Packers visit the Linc.
3. Cowboys: This D hasn't yet hit its stride, and Collins and Tennessee are the perfect jump-off point.
4. Dolphins: I know I just ripped the DBs. But Carr still has to face a pretty ferocious Miami front seven.
5. 49ers: In a deep league, San Fran (12 sacks in three games) could be a sneaky fill-in vs. Kansas City and QB Damon Huard.
</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

But these were the Patriots and this was Foxborough. Opponents aren't supposed to pull masterful performances out of their hats, not even those with wily veteran linemen who have played together for years. And if you think 17 points isn't much for a defense to give up against a playoff-caliber offense that's clicking, you'd be right -- except that it could have been much worse.
The Pats' special teams units pinned Denver inside its 5 on three occasions, but it never fazed the Broncos. New England's defense put a little pressure on QB Jake Plummer and did an excellent job of hemming him in, to the point that Denver all but gave up on rollouts and bootlegs by the second half. Still, the Pats had no sacks or takeaways. The Broncos averaged 4.2 yards per rush, 8.5 per pass and converted a very respectable 7 of 16 third downs.
So what happened? New England obviously missed FS Eugene Wilson after he left the game because of a leg injury. WR Javon Walker's second touchdown of the night came when the Pats were in cover 2, and Wilson's replacement, James Sanders, didn't get to the sideline in time and blew the tackle on Walker after he arrived. Wilson is a key cog in this unit, an extremely versatile defender and one of the few good veteran Pats who doesn't require a walker and extra fiber in his diet.
Here's what concerned me more: the front seven. Always a strength of recent Patriots defenses, the linebackers looked crotchety and ineffective against the Broncos. Denver's blockers are excellent technicians, but the offensive line also is the league's lightest. Using mostly two-gap techniques designed to tie up blockers and snuff the run, DE Richard Seymour (310 pounds), DE Ty Warren (300) and DT Vince Wilfork (325 in his dreams) should have been able to keep the linebackers clean. Too often they didn't, as LB Tedy Bruschi seemed to get caught up in traffic a lot and LB Junior Seau was routinely blocked (when he wasn't doing his modified Elaine Benes after one of the two decent stops he made all night).
The Pats seem to have a WR Deion Branch hangover, and the offense hasn't done enough to give the D adequate rest and chances to play with a lead. Still, I can't help but feel Belichick has lost a little of his magic. With ancient veterans and little depth behind them, there is zero room for injuries. And even some of the healthy vets appear over the hill. The Pats aren't creating much pressure, and they seem reluctant to blitz -- probably because of a suspect secondary. I might have chalked Sunday up to just a bad game in a long season, but I went back to watch the tape of the Week 2 Jets game and came away even more concerned.
The Pats almost exclusively used one-gap techniques and stayed in a 4-3 against a New York offense with a weak run game and green offensive linemen. They created some pressure on QB Chad Pennington, but probably not as much as they should have. New England's linemen aren't natural penetrators, and the defense lacks the cover men to blitz regularly. Pennington and WR Laveranues Coles torched them for a TD on one of the rare occasions the Pats sent extra rushers. The 3-4 can create tricky pressure and force mistakes, but a good offensive line (say, Denver's) can find the rushers and the Pats seem reluctant to put their linebackers in too many potentially dangerous pass-coverage situations.
Bottom line: New England's defense seems to be neither fish nor fowl, and Belichick and his staff might be powerless to change things. They could have all kinds of trouble coming up with big plays and keeping the score down against the likes of Cincinnati (Week 4) and Indianapolis (Week 9). But it's the more harmless-looking offenses (Minnesota, Jets and Green Bay) that might really expose this unit. I'd say we can't assume anymore that the Pats will bounce back simply because they're the Pats.
TWO CENTS, AND THEN SOME ...
Plummer is nothing short of confounding. How can a quarterback look so positively out of his league one week and then deftly dissect a well-coached, veteran defense the next? (Don't get me started on QB Mark Brunell.) I will say this about Plummer: He made very few bad decisions Sunday, even when the Pats managed to keep him mostly stuck in the pocket and out of his comfort zone. He was dropped in a lot of leagues out there, and you could do worse for a No. 2 fantasy quarterback.
I don't know if WR Steve Smith was doing his version of rope-a-dope or if he's just that tough, but fantasy owners shouldn't be ready to fall back in love with QB Jake Delhomme after Smith's surprisingly sudden and productive return to Carolina's lineup. The offensive line has some issues, and Delhomme becomes a turnover machine when he faces regular pressure. QB Kerry Collins' line against Miami after just a few weeks in Tennessee and virtually no prep time in camp and preseason: 19-for-33, 269 yards and a TD. Holy moses, is that Dolphins secondary overmatched. I'm not kidding when I say every opposing quarterback through Week 17 could be start-worthy in standard leagues against Miami, including QBs David Carr and J.P. Losman.
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