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Re: 2NFL - ESPN Insider Writeups, etc. (5 New Articles Added 8/22/06)
Re: 2NFL - ESPN Insider Writeups, etc. (5 New Articles Added 8/22/06)
Aug. 22, 2006, 4:08 PM
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FFL: Weekend Wrap
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By Scott Engel
ESPN Fantasy Games
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Here's an in-depth look at some of the top stories from the past weekend, including player news, injuries and exhibition game performances.
? Jets acquire Kevan Barlow: Before this trade, Barlow was considered a past disappointment with limited fantasy appeal. Frank Gore has obvious upside, but fantasy leaguers still weren't sure about his possible output with Barlow still in the San Francisco RB picture. The trade instantly boosts the value of both players.
A change of scenery is good for Barlow, who hasn't officially been named the new Jets starter, but it's clear he is in line to be the No. 1 guy in New York. In the past, Barlow has been enigmatic and only occasionally looked like he is worthy of being a fantasy starter. But he could be motivated by a chance to start over and he still has the chance to post decent overall numbers with the Jets if he avoids injuries. Barlow is coming off knee surgery in January, and he has already dealt with shoulder and thigh problems this preseason. New York has an offensive line that could potentially be solid if everyone stays healthy and the younger players come along quickly. The Jets will need Barlow to take pressure off the QB as well.
Chad Pennington's shoulder remains a question mark, as does the Jets' QB situation. So Barlow's owners will have to hope the New York passing game can at least be respectable, and there is also the reality that the Jets could play from behind often, neutralizing the running game. Barlow still has the skills to perform well occasionally and he should be dependable near the goal line when needed. Look for Barlow to be inconsistent overall, and he is more attractive as a "flex" player or top backup to your best two starters. Don't expect more than a maximum of 950 rushing yards or six TDs. Barlow still has a lot to prove, must stay healthy, and is surrounded by questionable talent at the other skill positions. All signs now point to Curtis Martin being a wasted fantasy draft choice.
Gore now becomes a very good fourth-round pick as long as he doesn't have any further shoulder issues. He's a sparkplug with good speed who should now become a focal point of the offense, as offensive coordinator Norv Turner has always made the running game a major part of his offensive attack. If Gore stays healthy, he could be good for 1,100-plus rushing yards and six or more TDs. His owners just have to hope QB Alex Smith can keep defenses honest. Maurice Hicks is good late-round insurance for Gore, who has dealt with injury problems in the past.
? QB controversy in Dallas?: The buzz is getting louder that Tony Romo, who looked sharp in Dallas' second preseason game, could threaten the playing time of Drew Blesdoe at some point. While Bledsoe remains the starter for now, and Bill Parcells has openly dismissed any talk of a QB "race", Bledsoe might not have much room for error early in the regular season. If Romo continues to impress, he could take over for Bledsoe at some point during the 2006 schedule. How Romo would fare during the regular season remains to be seen, but fantasy owners should drop Bledsoe a few spots on their cheat sheets for now, knowing there is a chance he could lose his job at some point. Don't worry about Terrell Owens in light of this talk. Once Romo gets the ball in the hands of Owens, T.O. can do much of the rest and he's still worthy of a second-round selection. Parcells won't give Romo the chance to play if he doesn't trust him to get the ball to his best target.
? Jamal Lewis out two weeks: Just when it appeared his preseason was getting off to a good start, Baltimore's top RB had a setback. Lewis is expected to miss two weeks because of a hip problem. He has recurring soreness in the hip and quadriceps areas, and will now rest and rehab for the regular season. Lewis had rushed for 65 yards on 15 carries in the first two Baltimore exhibition games, but he still has pain and said he isn't playing at 100 percent. While Lewis should still be ready for the regular season, fantasy owners should proceed with caution and avoid him until the fourth round. Lewis had been on the physically-unable-to-perform list earlier in the summer because of the problem. While Lewis has been happy about his new contract and wants to prove he can still be a top RB, his body is not guaranteed to cooperate. Mike Anderson, who is trying to overcome a foot problem, is the obvious handcuff pick in the middle rounds.
? The Houston RB picture: It is still uncertain when Domanick Davis will return from a knee injury, or if he will be ready for the beginning of the regular season. In the meantime, Vernand Morency, who seems to have the endorsement of the Houston braintrust, made a solid case to be the interim starter. He rushed for 99 yards and two TDs against St. Louis. Wali Lundy totaled 66 yards from scrimmage, but Morency appears to be the favorite to start when Davis is out. The Texans are giving Morency every opportunity to prove himself this preseason. Both Morency and Lundy make good later-round picks right now. Morency might get the chance to start first, but don't rule out Lundy eventually surpassing him on the depth chart. Lundy has looked very good early in the preseason and Morency will have to deliver some more good outings to keep the No. 2 RB job.
? Palmer ready to return?: Carson Palmer now says he expect to play in next Monday's preseason game. While Marvin Lewis has yet to officially confirm that, it is apparent Palmer is becoming more confident in taking the field and testing his knee. As long as he doesn't have any more swelling prior to Monday, he could make his preseason debut. This is encouraging news for Palmer's owners. Meanwhile, Anthony Wright has played adequately in Palmer's place. He threw a TD to Chad Johnson, who finished with five catches for 73 yards on Friday. Johnson has already shown us that he won't suffer a major drop in production if Palmer misses any regular season time. He has worked well with Wright so far in exhibition play.
? Fred Taylor not secure: Jack Del Rio has not yet named a starter at RB and there is still a reported open competition between Fred Taylor and Greg Jones. Neither one has distinguished himself over the other in a major way yet in exhibition play. Taylor has rushed for 27 yards, and Jones 26. But with Taylor's injury history, smart fantasy owners know Jones could eventually start even if he doesn't win the job outright. Both RBs should be picked in the fifth or sixth round of fantasy leagues.
? Mike Bell looking better: After fumbling in his exhibition debut, rookie RB Mike Bell worked on his running style in the days leading up to Denver's second preseason game. Bell had focused on keeping his shoulder pads lower, and the adjustments seemed to boost his confidence against Tennessee. Bell rushed for 73 yards on 10 carries and scored twice. He appears to have tightened his grip on the starting RB job for now, and Bell shouldn't be picked later than the end of the fourth round in most fantasy leagues. There is also now talk that Ron Dayne, who has been battling a toe injury, isn't assured of making the team.
? More adversity for Larry Johnson?: The Chiefs are still dealing with the retirements of tackles Willie Roaf and John Welbourn. Now there are injury issues at guard to contend with. Right guard Will Shields now has a high ankle sprain. Left guard Brain Waters has just returned from a foot injury. Shields is still expected to be ready for the regular season and Waters is back at practice. There's no reason to panic yet, but monitor the situations. I have yet to drop Johnson from his spot atop my player rankings, but he is no lock to stay there ahead of Shaun Alexander and LaDainian Tomlinson.
? Dillon not done: While rookie Laurence Maroney has a lot of upside, Corey Dillon isn't about to surrender his starting job. Dillon rushed for 26 yards on 10 carries and scored on Saturday. While the final numbers aren't impressive, it's apparent Dillon will get most of the carries when he is healthy. He certainly will remain a top option near the goal line. Maroney has looked good, but his only real opportunity to shine might come as a result of a Dillon injury.
? Pick this Packer: Rookie Greg Jennings has looked very good this preseason, and has impressed onlookers with his ability to catch the ball in stride and gain extra yards after the reception. Jennings finished with 115 receiving yards, including an 85-yard TD reception, against Atlanta. He could easily overtake Robert Ferguson in the starting lineup at some point, and Jennings is looking like a terrific late-round fantasy draft choice. Tomorrow: Watch for an exclusive fantasy report on Saturday's Vikings-Steelers preseason game.
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Re: 2NFL - ESPN Insider Writeups, etc. (5 New Articles Added 8/22/06)
Aug. 22, 2006, 4:08 PM
<SCRIPT language=javascript src="http://ai059.insightexpressai.com/adServer/adServer.aspx?bannerID=7560"></SCRIPT>
FFL: Weekend Wrap
<!-- 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 -->
Here's an in-depth look at some of the top stories from the past weekend, including player news, injuries and exhibition game performances.
? Jets acquire Kevan Barlow: Before this trade, Barlow was considered a past disappointment with limited fantasy appeal. Frank Gore has obvious upside, but fantasy leaguers still weren't sure about his possible output with Barlow still in the San Francisco RB picture. The trade instantly boosts the value of both players.
A change of scenery is good for Barlow, who hasn't officially been named the new Jets starter, but it's clear he is in line to be the No. 1 guy in New York. In the past, Barlow has been enigmatic and only occasionally looked like he is worthy of being a fantasy starter. But he could be motivated by a chance to start over and he still has the chance to post decent overall numbers with the Jets if he avoids injuries. Barlow is coming off knee surgery in January, and he has already dealt with shoulder and thigh problems this preseason. New York has an offensive line that could potentially be solid if everyone stays healthy and the younger players come along quickly. The Jets will need Barlow to take pressure off the QB as well.
Chad Pennington's shoulder remains a question mark, as does the Jets' QB situation. So Barlow's owners will have to hope the New York passing game can at least be respectable, and there is also the reality that the Jets could play from behind often, neutralizing the running game. Barlow still has the skills to perform well occasionally and he should be dependable near the goal line when needed. Look for Barlow to be inconsistent overall, and he is more attractive as a "flex" player or top backup to your best two starters. Don't expect more than a maximum of 950 rushing yards or six TDs. Barlow still has a lot to prove, must stay healthy, and is surrounded by questionable talent at the other skill positions. All signs now point to Curtis Martin being a wasted fantasy draft choice.
Gore now becomes a very good fourth-round pick as long as he doesn't have any further shoulder issues. He's a sparkplug with good speed who should now become a focal point of the offense, as offensive coordinator Norv Turner has always made the running game a major part of his offensive attack. If Gore stays healthy, he could be good for 1,100-plus rushing yards and six or more TDs. His owners just have to hope QB Alex Smith can keep defenses honest. Maurice Hicks is good late-round insurance for Gore, who has dealt with injury problems in the past.
? QB controversy in Dallas?: The buzz is getting louder that Tony Romo, who looked sharp in Dallas' second preseason game, could threaten the playing time of Drew Blesdoe at some point. While Bledsoe remains the starter for now, and Bill Parcells has openly dismissed any talk of a QB "race", Bledsoe might not have much room for error early in the regular season. If Romo continues to impress, he could take over for Bledsoe at some point during the 2006 schedule. How Romo would fare during the regular season remains to be seen, but fantasy owners should drop Bledsoe a few spots on their cheat sheets for now, knowing there is a chance he could lose his job at some point. Don't worry about Terrell Owens in light of this talk. Once Romo gets the ball in the hands of Owens, T.O. can do much of the rest and he's still worthy of a second-round selection. Parcells won't give Romo the chance to play if he doesn't trust him to get the ball to his best target.
? Jamal Lewis out two weeks: Just when it appeared his preseason was getting off to a good start, Baltimore's top RB had a setback. Lewis is expected to miss two weeks because of a hip problem. He has recurring soreness in the hip and quadriceps areas, and will now rest and rehab for the regular season. Lewis had rushed for 65 yards on 15 carries in the first two Baltimore exhibition games, but he still has pain and said he isn't playing at 100 percent. While Lewis should still be ready for the regular season, fantasy owners should proceed with caution and avoid him until the fourth round. Lewis had been on the physically-unable-to-perform list earlier in the summer because of the problem. While Lewis has been happy about his new contract and wants to prove he can still be a top RB, his body is not guaranteed to cooperate. Mike Anderson, who is trying to overcome a foot problem, is the obvious handcuff pick in the middle rounds.
? The Houston RB picture: It is still uncertain when Domanick Davis will return from a knee injury, or if he will be ready for the beginning of the regular season. In the meantime, Vernand Morency, who seems to have the endorsement of the Houston braintrust, made a solid case to be the interim starter. He rushed for 99 yards and two TDs against St. Louis. Wali Lundy totaled 66 yards from scrimmage, but Morency appears to be the favorite to start when Davis is out. The Texans are giving Morency every opportunity to prove himself this preseason. Both Morency and Lundy make good later-round picks right now. Morency might get the chance to start first, but don't rule out Lundy eventually surpassing him on the depth chart. Lundy has looked very good early in the preseason and Morency will have to deliver some more good outings to keep the No. 2 RB job.
? Palmer ready to return?: Carson Palmer now says he expect to play in next Monday's preseason game. While Marvin Lewis has yet to officially confirm that, it is apparent Palmer is becoming more confident in taking the field and testing his knee. As long as he doesn't have any more swelling prior to Monday, he could make his preseason debut. This is encouraging news for Palmer's owners. Meanwhile, Anthony Wright has played adequately in Palmer's place. He threw a TD to Chad Johnson, who finished with five catches for 73 yards on Friday. Johnson has already shown us that he won't suffer a major drop in production if Palmer misses any regular season time. He has worked well with Wright so far in exhibition play.
? Fred Taylor not secure: Jack Del Rio has not yet named a starter at RB and there is still a reported open competition between Fred Taylor and Greg Jones. Neither one has distinguished himself over the other in a major way yet in exhibition play. Taylor has rushed for 27 yards, and Jones 26. But with Taylor's injury history, smart fantasy owners know Jones could eventually start even if he doesn't win the job outright. Both RBs should be picked in the fifth or sixth round of fantasy leagues.
? Mike Bell looking better: After fumbling in his exhibition debut, rookie RB Mike Bell worked on his running style in the days leading up to Denver's second preseason game. Bell had focused on keeping his shoulder pads lower, and the adjustments seemed to boost his confidence against Tennessee. Bell rushed for 73 yards on 10 carries and scored twice. He appears to have tightened his grip on the starting RB job for now, and Bell shouldn't be picked later than the end of the fourth round in most fantasy leagues. There is also now talk that Ron Dayne, who has been battling a toe injury, isn't assured of making the team.
? More adversity for Larry Johnson?: The Chiefs are still dealing with the retirements of tackles Willie Roaf and John Welbourn. Now there are injury issues at guard to contend with. Right guard Will Shields now has a high ankle sprain. Left guard Brain Waters has just returned from a foot injury. Shields is still expected to be ready for the regular season and Waters is back at practice. There's no reason to panic yet, but monitor the situations. I have yet to drop Johnson from his spot atop my player rankings, but he is no lock to stay there ahead of Shaun Alexander and LaDainian Tomlinson.
? Dillon not done: While rookie Laurence Maroney has a lot of upside, Corey Dillon isn't about to surrender his starting job. Dillon rushed for 26 yards on 10 carries and scored on Saturday. While the final numbers aren't impressive, it's apparent Dillon will get most of the carries when he is healthy. He certainly will remain a top option near the goal line. Maroney has looked good, but his only real opportunity to shine might come as a result of a Dillon injury.
? Pick this Packer: Rookie Greg Jennings has looked very good this preseason, and has impressed onlookers with his ability to catch the ball in stride and gain extra yards after the reception. Jennings finished with 115 receiving yards, including an 85-yard TD reception, against Atlanta. He could easily overtake Robert Ferguson in the starting lineup at some point, and Jennings is looking like a terrific late-round fantasy draft choice. Tomorrow: Watch for an exclusive fantasy report on Saturday's Vikings-Steelers preseason game.
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