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

Hache Man · Oct 28, 2006

Re: NFL Fantasy Football News/Articles - ESPN Insider 3 New Articles Added 10/26/06)

Re: NFL Fantasy Football News/Articles - ESPN Insider 3 New Articles Added 10/26/06)

October 28, 2006

<SCRIPT language=javascript src="http://ai059.insightexpressai.com/adServer/adServer.aspx?bannerID=7560"></SCRIPT> Stopgap Seven: Week 8

By Tristan H. Cockcroft
ESPN.com





<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width=762 border=0><TBODY><TR><TD vAlign=top width=552>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.)
Cedric Benson, RB, Bears (SF): He's once again being hyped, and is expected to get more work in the offense this week. This could be one of those games in which the team gets 40 total carries, which would be plenty for Benson to rack up sneaky numbers.
Jerricho Cotchery, WR, Jets (@CLE): He has been up-and-down all season, but is still an integral part of New York's underrated pass attack. Laveranues Coles' calf could limit him this week, in which case Cotchery should capitalize with extra throws sent his way.
Charlie Frye, QB, Browns (NYJ): The Jets' defense, at least statistically, appears softer against the run, but with Chad Pennington capable of racking up points for New York, Frye's going to need to throw often to keep pace. He shouldn't have many problems.
Bryant Johnson, WR, Cardinals (@GB): Since Matt Leinart took over as Arizona's quarterback, Johnson has 11 receptions for 186 yards and a score. He's getting plenty of work with Larry Fitzgerald out, and now he battles the Packers' bottom-ranked secondary.
Wali Lundy, RB, Texans (@TEN): The starting job in Houston is once again all his, and facing the Titans' bottom-ranked rush defense, he has to realize this is his chance to excel and lock down the role permanently. Expect him to be more than up to the task.
Muhsin Muhammad, WR, Bears (SF): He hasn't been nearly as accomplished a fantasy factor since his career year in Carolina in 2004, but he's still capable of offering useful numbers facing weaker defenses. It's a fine matchup for him to nab several catches.
Saints defense (BAL): The Saints don't strike many as a reliable defense, but this is a fine matchup. New Orleans ranks eighth in the league in points per game allowed at home (16.0), while Baltimore's offense is 20th in points per game scored on the road (15.0). <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 8 ? Byron Leftwich, QB, Jaguars (@PHI): His ankle is limiting him and there's a good chance we'll actually see some of David Garrard this week. Leftwich is a less-than-100 percent quarterback facing the league's leading defense in sacks (25), which means nothing but bad news. ? Jake Plummer, QB, Broncos (IND): If the Colts mount an early lead and Plummer can't keep up, Jay Cutler could actually see some time in this game. Indianapolis' defense ranks No. 3 against the pass. ? LaMont Jordan, RB, Raiders (PIT): His cranky back is destined to bother him whether he plays or not, and there's no way you should be using a nicked-up back against the Steelers' ninth-ranked rush defense. ? Maurice Morris, RB, Seahawks (@KC): The matchup looks fine on paper, but with the untested Seneca Wallace starting at quarterback, things could be awfully shaky for the entire Seattle offense in a road game at Kansas City. ? Antonio Bryant, WR, 49ers (@CHI): It's not so much his potential or his matchup specifically that makes him unappealing. What does is the fact that the Chicago defense should put QB Alex Smith under constant pressure, making it awfully tough for him to locate Bryant often enough to make a big impact. ? Falcons defense (@CIN): The Falcons usually do a good job putting pressure on opposing quarterbacks, but if Week 7 was any indication, the team's not in peak form right now. The Steelers tore up this defense through the air, whether it was Ben Roethlisberger or Charlie Batch, and this Bengals offense is a bit deeper than Pittsburgh's.

THE BOTTOM LINE

Michael Vick, QB, Falcons
18-for-30 passing, 232 yards, 4 TDs, 2 interceptions
Could there be a more frustrating fantasy option than Vick? He's so terribly inconsistent as a passer, with his Week 7 performance representing a career high in passing touchdowns (4), but in the three games before that, he averaged 148.0 passing yards and failed to complete a TD pass. Last week, no one seemed to believe in Vick as a fantasy option against the Steelers, and he excelled. This week, fantasy owners could be back on the bandwagon, but will he reward their faith or continue to confound those who still believe in him as a potential top-10 quarterback? A matchup at Cincinnati, against the 13th-ranked Bengals pass defense, one that has more interceptions (9) than touchdowns allowed (7), might seem a bit threatening on paper, but I'd argue Vick's worth the gamble for this one. Cincinnati's defense is a bit banged up, and it's not particularly good at reining in tight ends, ranking second-worst in the league in fantasy points allowed to tight ends. (In total, the Bengals have surrendered 31 receptions for 272 yards and four touchdowns to tight ends in six games.) Vick shouldn't have any problem locating Alge Crumpler once again, and when that connection is going well, he's a good play in fantasy.
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Hache Man · Oct 28, 2006

Re: NFL Fantasy Football News/Articles - ESPN Insider 3 New Articles Added 10/26/06)

Re: NFL Fantasy Football News/Articles - ESPN Insider 3 New Articles Added 10/26/06)

October 28, 2006

<SCRIPT language=javascript src="http://ai059.insightexpressai.com/adServer/adServer.aspx?bannerID=7560"></SCRIPT> Stopgap Seven: Week 8

By Tristan H. Cockcroft
ESPN.com





<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width=762 border=0><TBODY><TR><TD vAlign=top width=552>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.)
Cedric Benson, RB, Bears (SF): He's once again being hyped, and is expected to get more work in the offense this week. This could be one of those games in which the team gets 40 total carries, which would be plenty for Benson to rack up sneaky numbers.
Jerricho Cotchery, WR, Jets (@CLE): He has been up-and-down all season, but is still an integral part of New York's underrated pass attack. Laveranues Coles' calf could limit him this week, in which case Cotchery should capitalize with extra throws sent his way.
Charlie Frye, QB, Browns (NYJ): The Jets' defense, at least statistically, appears softer against the run, but with Chad Pennington capable of racking up points for New York, Frye's going to need to throw often to keep pace. He shouldn't have many problems.
Bryant Johnson, WR, Cardinals (@GB): Since Matt Leinart took over as Arizona's quarterback, Johnson has 11 receptions for 186 yards and a score. He's getting plenty of work with Larry Fitzgerald out, and now he battles the Packers' bottom-ranked secondary.
Wali Lundy, RB, Texans (@TEN): The starting job in Houston is once again all his, and facing the Titans' bottom-ranked rush defense, he has to realize this is his chance to excel and lock down the role permanently. Expect him to be more than up to the task.
Muhsin Muhammad, WR, Bears (SF): He hasn't been nearly as accomplished a fantasy factor since his career year in Carolina in 2004, but he's still capable of offering useful numbers facing weaker defenses. It's a fine matchup for him to nab several catches.
Saints defense (BAL): The Saints don't strike many as a reliable defense, but this is a fine matchup. New Orleans ranks eighth in the league in points per game allowed at home (16.0), while Baltimore's offense is 20th in points per game scored on the road (15.0). <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 8 ? Byron Leftwich, QB, Jaguars (@PHI): His ankle is limiting him and there's a good chance we'll actually see some of David Garrard this week. Leftwich is a less-than-100 percent quarterback facing the league's leading defense in sacks (25), which means nothing but bad news. ? Jake Plummer, QB, Broncos (IND): If the Colts mount an early lead and Plummer can't keep up, Jay Cutler could actually see some time in this game. Indianapolis' defense ranks No. 3 against the pass. ? LaMont Jordan, RB, Raiders (PIT): His cranky back is destined to bother him whether he plays or not, and there's no way you should be using a nicked-up back against the Steelers' ninth-ranked rush defense. ? Maurice Morris, RB, Seahawks (@KC): The matchup looks fine on paper, but with the untested Seneca Wallace starting at quarterback, things could be awfully shaky for the entire Seattle offense in a road game at Kansas City. ? Antonio Bryant, WR, 49ers (@CHI): It's not so much his potential or his matchup specifically that makes him unappealing. What does is the fact that the Chicago defense should put QB Alex Smith under constant pressure, making it awfully tough for him to locate Bryant often enough to make a big impact. ? Falcons defense (@CIN): The Falcons usually do a good job putting pressure on opposing quarterbacks, but if Week 7 was any indication, the team's not in peak form right now. The Steelers tore up this defense through the air, whether it was Ben Roethlisberger or Charlie Batch, and this Bengals offense is a bit deeper than Pittsburgh's.

THE BOTTOM LINE

Michael Vick, QB, Falcons
18-for-30 passing, 232 yards, 4 TDs, 2 interceptions
Could there be a more frustrating fantasy option than Vick? He's so terribly inconsistent as a passer, with his Week 7 performance representing a career high in passing touchdowns (4), but in the three games before that, he averaged 148.0 passing yards and failed to complete a TD pass. Last week, no one seemed to believe in Vick as a fantasy option against the Steelers, and he excelled. This week, fantasy owners could be back on the bandwagon, but will he reward their faith or continue to confound those who still believe in him as a potential top-10 quarterback? A matchup at Cincinnati, against the 13th-ranked Bengals pass defense, one that has more interceptions (9) than touchdowns allowed (7), might seem a bit threatening on paper, but I'd argue Vick's worth the gamble for this one. Cincinnati's defense is a bit banged up, and it's not particularly good at reining in tight ends, ranking second-worst in the league in fantasy points allowed to tight ends. (In total, the Bengals have surrendered 31 receptions for 272 yards and four touchdowns to tight ends in six games.) Vick shouldn't have any problem locating Alge Crumpler once again, and when that connection is going well, he's a good play in fantasy.
</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

Hache Man · Oct 28, 2006

Re: NFL Fantasy Football News/Articles - ESPN Insider 3 New Articles Added 10/26/06)

Re: NFL Fantasy Football News/Articles - ESPN Insider 3 New Articles Added 10/26/06)

Oct. 28, 2006, 4:01 PM
Week 8: 10 things to watch

By Tristan H. Cockcroft
ESPN.com





<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD style="PADDING-TOP: 10px" vAlign=top>
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.
The Bears coming out of hibernation. For those of you who watched Chicago's Week 6 Monday Night game, you saw a team that for 43 minutes couldn't get anything done on either side of the ball, then for the final 17 minutes dominated only on defense. Say whatever you will about the defense's performance, but the offense, for 60 minutes, was miserable. Quarterback Rex Grossman completed only 14 of 37 passes (37.8 percent) for 148 yards, no touchdowns and four interceptions, running back Thomas Jones ran 11 times for 39 yards (3.5 average) and the offense recorded only three points. Both Grossman and Jones are better than that, and with the bye week to think about it, they should be better facing another extremely favorable matchup against the 49ers, the league's bottom-ranked defense in points allowed (32.3 per game). Still, while it's easy to say that on paper, this is a no-brainer of a matchup, players like Grossman and Jones have to perform, not make the kinds of mistakes or bring the type of sloppy play they did in Week 6. I'd go ahead and activate them, as well as guys like Bernard Berrian, Muhsin Muhammad and Desmond Clark, figuring the Bears are destined to rebound, but if they don't, it's going to raise a huge number of questions about the team's offensive cogs looking forward.
Tony Romo's first career NFL start. Is it really fair to criticize Cowboys coach Bill Parcells for giving quarterback Drew Bledsoe a quick hook in Week 7? It was a division game in which Bledsoe looked awful -- as he has for much of the season -- and the Cowboys are starting to approach their make-or-break point. As a result, Romo gets the start this week in Carolina, a decision obviously designed to breathe new life into the team. Fantasy owners should steer far clear of Romo in his first couple of games under center, but how he performs is absolutely important to track. If you watched the Monday Night game, you saw how Romo can get his talented receivers the ball, even if he does look inexperienced and therefore mistake prone. He needs to keep doing that -- the getting his receivers the ball part -- but then again, I'd also say a guy like Terrell Owens needs to do a better job avoiding drops to ensure the offense continues to go smoothly. Watch that Dallas-Carolina game, because it'll reveal an awful lot about the future of the Cowboys' offense.
Ben Roethlisberger's health. It's a real shame that Roethlisberger suffered another concussion in the Week 7 game, because at the time, he was in the midst of an impressive hot streak, with five touchdowns compared to no interceptions in his past two games. It sounds like he could be able to play on Sunday in Oakland, and while everyone points to the Raiders' No. 1 ranking against the pass as well as Roethlisberger's questionable health as a reason to avoid him, I think this is a bit of an intriguing matchup if he gets the start. Whether you plan to use him or not, and I wouldn't be afraid to if I lacked a top-notch quarterback, keep an eye on how he bounces back from this latest setback. Remember, a lot of athletes have a much tougher time rebounding from second concussions than you think; it's awfully risky for teams to keep trotting these types out there to take the big hits.
The great Jay Cutler debate. Bledsoe lost his starting job in Week 7, and I'd say if there's a long-time starter who could get the hook in Week 8, the Broncos' Jake Plummer is as good a bet as any. When you think about it, the only reason he's still starting is that the team is winning, but if the Denver offense gets exposed at any point as not potent enough to keep pace with the better teams in the league, you know he's going to be the scapegoat. Indianapolis is an offense that could be the one that exposes Plummer as inadequate to lead these Broncos to postseason glory; after all, the Colts are going to be one of the Broncos' biggest contenders for the AFC championship come January. And for that reason, if there's any week I'd say the calls for Cutler could become a serious threat, this is the one.
Seattle's second-team offense. The Seahawks haven't been particularly lucky in the injury department this season, losing running back and defending MVP Shaun Alexander to a broken foot in Week 3 and now quarterback Matt Hasselbeck to a sprained knee in Week 7. You know how everyone points out how those Super Bowl runner-up teams seem to always miss the playoffs the following season? Well, one of the primary reasons for that trend is that a lot of those teams seem to battle comparable health issues, and when you lose two key players like this, it's tough, even for a team as deep as Seattle, to stay competitive. Seneca Wallace gets the start in Week 8, though he looked shaky in relief of Hasselbeck last Sunday, and whether he can keep getting the ball to Darrell Jackson and Deion Branch will ultimately determine whether the Seahawks provide much of anything to a fantasy owner until Alexander returns to 100 percent health. I'd keep every Seattle player not named Darrell Jackson reserved in Week 8 if possible, then keep tabs on how the team's second-string offense (it effectively is that now) performs against the Chiefs.
Power outage in San Diego? The Chargers are another team suffering through player absences, though in San Diego's case, they're not all health-related. LB Shawne Merriman is facing a four-game suspension for violating the league's steroids policy, though he'll get to play the next two weeks while he appeals the ruling, while LB Shaun Phillips is out for at least the next two weeks with a calf injury. Fortunately for San Diego, it seems the two will at least get to scatter their absences, Phillips the next two weeks and Merriman the four games after that, but make no mistake, these are the kinds of things that could have quite an adverse effect on the team's performance. Kansas City racked up 134 yards and two scores on the ground in Week 7, though San Diego won't face a player of Larry Johnson's caliber every week. In Week 8, it's St. Louis and Steven Jackson battling the banged-up Chargers, which really isn't all that much better a matchup. Don't look at San Diego's defense as a must-play right now, and while it's still talented enough to consider if you lack a quality alternative, this is a real show-me game for the team.
Lord Byron's balky ankle. Those of you who caught Byron Leftwich's Week 7 performance against the Texans are well aware how shaky and erratic he looked as a passer, and it's hard to imagine he was actually playing the game at full health. Even coach Jack Del Rio admits to that now, and on Wednesday, Leftwich and backup David Garrard split reps in practice, a real worry for Leftwich owners because Garrard's the kind of player with the potential to overtake a less-than-healthy player and lock down the starting job for himself. Whoever starts isn't going to warrant fantasy consideration in Week 8 at Philadelphia, but it's a good game to get a read on whichever quarterback plays. Once Matt Jones returns to health, things should get a lot better for the Jacksonville passing game.
(Friday Note: David Garrard has been named the Jaguars' starter for Sunday, giving him his first chance to show what he can do at the helm of the team's passing game. He's every bit as worthwhile to watch as Leftwich might have been, but steer clear of your members of the Jaguars passing game facing the shaky matchup.)
Time for takeoff. The Jets' Leon Washington has looked like the team's most effective runner in his limited action this season, with two 100-yard rushing efforts in his past three games, and two scores in Week 7 alone. Even though Kevan Barlow is still lurking to steal the goal-line carries, Washington is a player getting enough touches to be a useful matchups type, and there aren't many better than a Week 8 game against the Browns. This is a perfect chance for Washington to keep up the hot streak, making him a useful No. 2 RB option, and I'd pay special attention to how he's used in the red zone. If he can sneak in another score in such a situation, it might cement his status as the go-to guy all the time.
Losing his Edge? It's doubtful that Edgerrin James had any idea that life in Arizona would be anywhere near as difficult as this, but coming off a Week 6 performance in which he set an NFL record for most carries for a player who averaged under two yards per carry, and a Week 7 effort in which he managed a season-low 14 touches, his status as a useful fantasy option each week is really reaching its breaking point. A matchup at Green Bay, against the league's bottom-ranked defense, could cure what ails him, but it's still not going to change the fact that his porous offensive line creates few running lanes for him. Fortunately, Arizona's coaching staff knows it has to get James, such a key to the offense, the ball more than 14 times a week, especially with Dennis Green's job potentially on the line on Sunday. James will be the focus in this one, so this game should tell us a lot. Michael Vick at his peak. Surprisingly, Vick is coming off a career high in passing touchdowns (4) in Week 7 ... Come to think of it, that's really not all that surprising since he has been so much more effective as a runner in recent memory. Now the question is, was Vick's performance against the Steelers a sign of growth, or was it merely an aberration? I'd lean more towards the latter, but with Vick, it's really anyone's guess. He's so terribly inconsistent, which is why a game like his Week 8 assignment at Cincinnati is so important to track. Will he go right back to being a non-factor as a passer? Or will be repeat his solid effort and establish himself as a much more trustworthy weekly play? We shall see...
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Hache Man · Oct 28, 2006

Re: NFL Fantasy Football News/Articles - ESPN Insider 3 New Articles Added 10/26/06)

Re: NFL Fantasy Football News/Articles - ESPN Insider 3 New Articles Added 10/26/06)

Oct. 28, 2006, 4:01 PM
Week 8: 10 things to watch

By Tristan H. Cockcroft
ESPN.com





<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD style="PADDING-TOP: 10px" vAlign=top>
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.
The Bears coming out of hibernation. For those of you who watched Chicago's Week 6 Monday Night game, you saw a team that for 43 minutes couldn't get anything done on either side of the ball, then for the final 17 minutes dominated only on defense. Say whatever you will about the defense's performance, but the offense, for 60 minutes, was miserable. Quarterback Rex Grossman completed only 14 of 37 passes (37.8 percent) for 148 yards, no touchdowns and four interceptions, running back Thomas Jones ran 11 times for 39 yards (3.5 average) and the offense recorded only three points. Both Grossman and Jones are better than that, and with the bye week to think about it, they should be better facing another extremely favorable matchup against the 49ers, the league's bottom-ranked defense in points allowed (32.3 per game). Still, while it's easy to say that on paper, this is a no-brainer of a matchup, players like Grossman and Jones have to perform, not make the kinds of mistakes or bring the type of sloppy play they did in Week 6. I'd go ahead and activate them, as well as guys like Bernard Berrian, Muhsin Muhammad and Desmond Clark, figuring the Bears are destined to rebound, but if they don't, it's going to raise a huge number of questions about the team's offensive cogs looking forward.
Tony Romo's first career NFL start. Is it really fair to criticize Cowboys coach Bill Parcells for giving quarterback Drew Bledsoe a quick hook in Week 7? It was a division game in which Bledsoe looked awful -- as he has for much of the season -- and the Cowboys are starting to approach their make-or-break point. As a result, Romo gets the start this week in Carolina, a decision obviously designed to breathe new life into the team. Fantasy owners should steer far clear of Romo in his first couple of games under center, but how he performs is absolutely important to track. If you watched the Monday Night game, you saw how Romo can get his talented receivers the ball, even if he does look inexperienced and therefore mistake prone. He needs to keep doing that -- the getting his receivers the ball part -- but then again, I'd also say a guy like Terrell Owens needs to do a better job avoiding drops to ensure the offense continues to go smoothly. Watch that Dallas-Carolina game, because it'll reveal an awful lot about the future of the Cowboys' offense.
Ben Roethlisberger's health. It's a real shame that Roethlisberger suffered another concussion in the Week 7 game, because at the time, he was in the midst of an impressive hot streak, with five touchdowns compared to no interceptions in his past two games. It sounds like he could be able to play on Sunday in Oakland, and while everyone points to the Raiders' No. 1 ranking against the pass as well as Roethlisberger's questionable health as a reason to avoid him, I think this is a bit of an intriguing matchup if he gets the start. Whether you plan to use him or not, and I wouldn't be afraid to if I lacked a top-notch quarterback, keep an eye on how he bounces back from this latest setback. Remember, a lot of athletes have a much tougher time rebounding from second concussions than you think; it's awfully risky for teams to keep trotting these types out there to take the big hits.
The great Jay Cutler debate. Bledsoe lost his starting job in Week 7, and I'd say if there's a long-time starter who could get the hook in Week 8, the Broncos' Jake Plummer is as good a bet as any. When you think about it, the only reason he's still starting is that the team is winning, but if the Denver offense gets exposed at any point as not potent enough to keep pace with the better teams in the league, you know he's going to be the scapegoat. Indianapolis is an offense that could be the one that exposes Plummer as inadequate to lead these Broncos to postseason glory; after all, the Colts are going to be one of the Broncos' biggest contenders for the AFC championship come January. And for that reason, if there's any week I'd say the calls for Cutler could become a serious threat, this is the one.
Seattle's second-team offense. The Seahawks haven't been particularly lucky in the injury department this season, losing running back and defending MVP Shaun Alexander to a broken foot in Week 3 and now quarterback Matt Hasselbeck to a sprained knee in Week 7. You know how everyone points out how those Super Bowl runner-up teams seem to always miss the playoffs the following season? Well, one of the primary reasons for that trend is that a lot of those teams seem to battle comparable health issues, and when you lose two key players like this, it's tough, even for a team as deep as Seattle, to stay competitive. Seneca Wallace gets the start in Week 8, though he looked shaky in relief of Hasselbeck last Sunday, and whether he can keep getting the ball to Darrell Jackson and Deion Branch will ultimately determine whether the Seahawks provide much of anything to a fantasy owner until Alexander returns to 100 percent health. I'd keep every Seattle player not named Darrell Jackson reserved in Week 8 if possible, then keep tabs on how the team's second-string offense (it effectively is that now) performs against the Chiefs.
Power outage in San Diego? The Chargers are another team suffering through player absences, though in San Diego's case, they're not all health-related. LB Shawne Merriman is facing a four-game suspension for violating the league's steroids policy, though he'll get to play the next two weeks while he appeals the ruling, while LB Shaun Phillips is out for at least the next two weeks with a calf injury. Fortunately for San Diego, it seems the two will at least get to scatter their absences, Phillips the next two weeks and Merriman the four games after that, but make no mistake, these are the kinds of things that could have quite an adverse effect on the team's performance. Kansas City racked up 134 yards and two scores on the ground in Week 7, though San Diego won't face a player of Larry Johnson's caliber every week. In Week 8, it's St. Louis and Steven Jackson battling the banged-up Chargers, which really isn't all that much better a matchup. Don't look at San Diego's defense as a must-play right now, and while it's still talented enough to consider if you lack a quality alternative, this is a real show-me game for the team.
Lord Byron's balky ankle. Those of you who caught Byron Leftwich's Week 7 performance against the Texans are well aware how shaky and erratic he looked as a passer, and it's hard to imagine he was actually playing the game at full health. Even coach Jack Del Rio admits to that now, and on Wednesday, Leftwich and backup David Garrard split reps in practice, a real worry for Leftwich owners because Garrard's the kind of player with the potential to overtake a less-than-healthy player and lock down the starting job for himself. Whoever starts isn't going to warrant fantasy consideration in Week 8 at Philadelphia, but it's a good game to get a read on whichever quarterback plays. Once Matt Jones returns to health, things should get a lot better for the Jacksonville passing game.
(Friday Note: David Garrard has been named the Jaguars' starter for Sunday, giving him his first chance to show what he can do at the helm of the team's passing game. He's every bit as worthwhile to watch as Leftwich might have been, but steer clear of your members of the Jaguars passing game facing the shaky matchup.)
Time for takeoff. The Jets' Leon Washington has looked like the team's most effective runner in his limited action this season, with two 100-yard rushing efforts in his past three games, and two scores in Week 7 alone. Even though Kevan Barlow is still lurking to steal the goal-line carries, Washington is a player getting enough touches to be a useful matchups type, and there aren't many better than a Week 8 game against the Browns. This is a perfect chance for Washington to keep up the hot streak, making him a useful No. 2 RB option, and I'd pay special attention to how he's used in the red zone. If he can sneak in another score in such a situation, it might cement his status as the go-to guy all the time.
Losing his Edge? It's doubtful that Edgerrin James had any idea that life in Arizona would be anywhere near as difficult as this, but coming off a Week 6 performance in which he set an NFL record for most carries for a player who averaged under two yards per carry, and a Week 7 effort in which he managed a season-low 14 touches, his status as a useful fantasy option each week is really reaching its breaking point. A matchup at Green Bay, against the league's bottom-ranked defense, could cure what ails him, but it's still not going to change the fact that his porous offensive line creates few running lanes for him. Fortunately, Arizona's coaching staff knows it has to get James, such a key to the offense, the ball more than 14 times a week, especially with Dennis Green's job potentially on the line on Sunday. James will be the focus in this one, so this game should tell us a lot. Michael Vick at his peak. Surprisingly, Vick is coming off a career high in passing touchdowns (4) in Week 7 ... Come to think of it, that's really not all that surprising since he has been so much more effective as a runner in recent memory. Now the question is, was Vick's performance against the Steelers a sign of growth, or was it merely an aberration? I'd lean more towards the latter, but with Vick, it's really anyone's guess. He's so terribly inconsistent, which is why a game like his Week 8 assignment at Cincinnati is so important to track. Will he go right back to being a non-factor as a passer? Or will be repeat his solid effort and establish himself as a much more trustworthy weekly play? We shall see...
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Hache Man · Oct 28, 2006

Re: NFL Fantasy Football News/Articles - ESPN Insider 3 New Articles Added 10/26/06)

Re: NFL Fantasy Football News/Articles - ESPN Insider 3 New Articles Added 10/26/06)

Oct. 28, 2006, 9:10 AM
Cockcroft: Week 8 Statbook

By Tristan H. Cockcroft
ESPN.com





<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD style="PADDING-TOP: 10px" vAlign=top>
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: Bills, Dolphins, Lions, Redskins.
<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>Tiki Barber, RB, Giants (TB): He has topped 100 yards rushing in three straight games, totaling 76 carries for 422 yards (5.6 per carry, 140.7 ypg) in those contests. And while he has yet to score a TD this season, he has averaged 144.8 scrimmage ypg. </TD></TR><TR style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #dedede"><TD>Broncos defense (IND): The Broncos have won 13 consecutive regular-season home games, averaging 11.0 points allowed in those contests. They also lead the NFL in fewest points allowed (7.3) and rank 4th in total defense (272.0 ypg). </TD></TR><TR style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: white"><TD>Reggie Brown, WR, Eagles (JAC): He has a receiving TD in each of his past three games, totaling 14 receptions for 277 yards (19.8 per catch, 92.3 ypg) in those contests. He also has a TD catch in five of the seven games this season, averaging 69.9 receiving ypg. </TD></TR><TR style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #dedede"><TD>Travis Henry, RB, Titans (HOU): He has 51 carries for 301 yards (5.9 per carry, 150.5 ypg) and one TD in his last two games, both of which were 100-yard rushing efforts. He has 72 carries for 361 yards (5.0 per carry. 120.3 ypg) in his three starts this season. </TD></TR><TR style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: white"><TD>Darrell Jackson, WR, Seahawks (@KC): He has five TDs in his past five games, totaling 28 receptions for 476 yards (17.0 per catch, 95.2 ypg) in those contests. He also has 3+ catches in each of his past 17 G (playoffs incl.), and 5+ receptions in 15 of those games. </TD></TR><TR style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #dedede"><TD>Andre Johnson, WR, Texans (@TEN): He has 8+ receptions in each of his past 4 games, totaling 37 receptions for 434 yards and two TDs in those contests. He also has eight 100-yard efforts in his past 12 games, averaging 6.8 catches and 85.0 yards during that span. </TD></TR><TR style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: white"><TD>Donovan McNabb, QB, Eagles (JAC): He has 2+ passing TDs in each of his seven games this season, averaging 307.3 passing yards with 16 TDs and five interceptions for the season. He also has 12 carries for 124 yards (10.3 average) and three TDs in his past four games. </TD></TR><TR style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #dedede"><TD>Philip Rivers, QB, Chargers (STL): He has two passing TDs in each of his past three games, totaling 842 yards, six TDs and two interceptions in those contests. Rivers also has a passing TD in each of his six games this season, and he's eighth in the league in passer rating (96.3). </TD></TR><TR style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: white"><TD>Ben Roethlisberger, QB, Steelers (@OAK): He has 2+ passing TDs in each of his past two games, completing a total of 32 of 41 pass attempts (78.0 percent) for 476 yards, five TDs and zero interceptions in those contests. He has 200+ passing yards in four straight games. </TD></TR><TR style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #dedede"><TD>Leon Washington, RB, Jets (@CLE): He has 100-yard rushing efforts in two of his past three games, totaling 54 carries for 288 yards (5.3 per carry, 96.0 ypg) and two TDs in those contests. He has also averaged 4.9 yards per carry in his last five games. </TD></TR><TR style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: white"><TD>TRISTAN'S TAKE: I have a feeling Barber, having announced his intentions to retire at season's end, is going to offer maximum effort each week for the remainder of the season. (I know, I know, who are we to think any player offers "less than maximum" effort in any game, but anyone who has ever played a sport has to know how it's possible for a player to step things up from peak level when he really wants.) In a game like the "Barber Bowl," Tiki should be particularly motivated for a great performance. ... An interesting note regarding the Colts-Broncos game: There are only three stadiums in which Colts QB Peyton Manning has played and not thrown a TD pass, and Denver's Invesco Field is one of them. In his two career starts there -- one was the Week 17 game in 2004 in which he barely played -- he has passed for 235 yards, no scores and one interception. It's something to keep in mind if that Colts offense is scaring you from using the Broncos' defense this week. ... This is a fine matchup for Henry, but I'd think about selling high on him afterward (if possible and if the offer's right). He'll get the Jaguars, Ravens and Eagles the three games after this one. ... Seahawks QB Seneca Wallace makes all of his team's receivers riskier fantasy plays, but he did target Jackson eight times after coming on in relief of the injured Matt Hasselbeck. That's encouraging enough to keep Jackson active in all formats. ... Roethlisberger's health -- he's recovering from a concussion -- should be closely monitored in advance of Sunday's game. It's a decent matchup for him, and with him finally seeming to get things straightened out, he'd be a useful option if cleared to play. </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>Reuben Droughns, RB, Browns (NYJ): He has 80 carries for 257 yards (3.2 per carry, 51.4 ypg) and one TD on the season. He also has 197 carries for 621 yards (3.2 per carry, 56.5 ypg) and one TD in his past 11 games, only once topping 100 rushing yards. </TD></TR><TR style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #dedede"><TD>Bubba Franks, TE, Packers (ARI): He has only 12 receptions for 123 yards and zero TDs in six games this season, being targeted only 26 times in those contests. Also, in his past 11 games dating back to last season, he has 20 receptions for 188 yards and zero TDs. </TD></TR><TR style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: white"><TD>Edgerrin James, RB, Cardinals (@GB): He has failed to average 4.0 yards per carry in any of his seven games this season, averaging 2.7 yards per carry and 61.7 ypg for the season. He also has 49 carries for only 89 yards (1.8 average) in his past two games. </TD></TR><TR style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #dedede"><TD>Brad Johnson, QB, Vikings (NE): He has averaged 216.5 passing yards with four TDs and four interceptions in six games this season, never topping 12 fantasy points in a single game so far. He also has three interceptions and three fumbles in his past three games. </TD></TR><TR style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: white"><TD>Keenan McCardell, WR, Chargers (STL): Though he's getting more throws sent his way of late, he still has failed to catch a TD pass in his past eight games. During that span, he has only 32 receptions for 338 yards (10.6 per catch, 42.3 ypg) and zero TDs. </TD></TR><TR style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #dedede"><TD>Steve McNair, QB, Ravens (@NO): He has averaged 109.0 passing yards with two TDs and six interceptions in his past three games, totaling 10 fantasy points in those contests. He has also averaged 168.7 passing yards with seven TDs and nine interceptions in his past 10 games. </TD></TR><TR style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: white"><TD>Maurice Morris, RB, Seahawks (@KC): In his three games since taking over the starting job from Shaun Alexander, he has 51 carries for 158 yards (3.1 per carry, 52.7 ypg) and zero TDs. He has also averaged 3.0 yards per carry in his past 11 regular-season games. </TD></TR><TR style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #dedede"><TD>Jake Plummer, QB, Broncos (IND): He has averaged 139.0 passing yards with two TDs, three interceptions and a fumble in his past three games. He has also averaged 195.4 passing yards with 12 TDs and 14 interceptions in his past 16 games (playoffs incl.). </TD></TR><TR style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: white"><TD>Dominic Rhodes, RB, Colts (@DEN): Though he has three TDs in six games this season, he has only 92 carries for 299 yards (3.2 per carry, 49.8 ypg) in those contests. He has also averaged only 3.1 yards per carry and 30.4 scrimmage yards in his past 20 games. </TD></TR><TR style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #dedede"><TD>Troy Williamson, WR, Vikings (MIN): He has only nine receptions for 95 yards and zero TDs in his past four games, despite being targeted 24 times in those contests. He's also mired in a 16 game TD drought, during which time he has 34 receptions for 480 yards. </TD></TR><TR style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: white"><TD>TRISTAN'S TAKE: Both Droughns and James have favorable matchups this week, but their cold spells are disconcerting enough that neither should be considered more than a No. 2 option for Week 8. James should receive a heftier workload than his 13 carries from Week 7, but don't forget he has yet to manage a 100-yard game all season. ... Coming off a concussion, McNair is too risky to be considered in most fantasy leagues facing a tougher matchup than you'd expect in New Orleans. The Saints are a perfect 3-0 at the Superdome, have outscored their opponents, 74-48, there, and have held teams to only 185.7 passing ypg there. ... Plummer could easily be the next quarterback to get an early hook from his game, assuming the inconsistent Indianapolis defense frustrates him as much as most every other team has done to this point. Until he turns his season around, he should assume a cozy seat on your bench for the foreseeable future. </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>Drew Bennett, WR, Titans (HOU): He has 5+ receptions in four of his past five games vs. the Texans, totaling 22 receptions for 311 yards and three TDs in those contests. He also has 18 receptions for 209 yards (11.6 per catch, 69.7 ypg) and two TDs in his last three home games. </TD></TR><TR style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #dedede"><TD>Marc Bulger, QB, Rams (@SD): He set career highs in both passing yards (453) and passing TDs (4) in his only career game vs. the Chargers (11/10/02). He has also averaged 271.0 passing yards with 23 TDs and 13 interceptions in 13 career games vs. AFC foes. </TD></TR><TR style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: white"><TD>Jake Delhomme, QB, Panthers (DAL): He has averaged 246.5 passing yards with six TDs and three interceptions in four career games vs. the Cowboys (playoffs incl.). He has also averaged 217.4 passing yards with 27 TDs and 16 interceptions in his past 19 home games. </TD></TR><TR style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #dedede"><TD>Ahman Green, RB, Packers (ARI): He has 238 scrimmage yards and one TD in his past two games vs. the Cardinals. He has also notched each of his last four 100-yard efforts in home games, averaging 108.4 scrimmage yards and 4.8 rushing yards per carry in those contests. </TD></TR><TR style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: white"><TD>Rex Grossman, QB, Bears (SF): He's a perfect 3-0 in home games this season, completing 52 of 85 passes (61.2 percent) for 703 yards, eight TDs and zero interceptions in those contests. He has also topped a 100.0 passer rating in each of those games. </TD></TR><TR style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #dedede"><TD>Steven Jackson, RB, Rams (@SD): He has 100+ rushing yards in each of his past three games vs. AFC foes, totaling 72 carries for 410 yards (5.7 per carry, 136.7 ypg) and one TD in those contests. He also has five total TDs in his past nine road games. </TD></TR><TR style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: white"><TD>Muhsin Muhammad, WR, Bears (SF): He has two career three-TD games, and both came vs. the 49ers (12/18/99 and 11/14/04). He also has four 100-yard receiving efforts in 11 career games vs. the 49ers, totaling 65 receptions for 837 yards and nine TDs in those contests. </TD></TR><TR style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #dedede"><TD>Terrell Owens, WR, Cowboys (@CAR): He has nine TDs in 12 career games vs. the Panthers, totaling 58 receptions for 928 yards (16.0 per catch, 77.3 ypg) in those contests. In his past five games vs. the Panthers, he has 30 catches for 533 yards and four TDs. </TD></TR><TR style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: white"><TD>Carson Palmer, QB, Bengals (ATL): He has averaged 243.4 passing yards with 17 TDs and six interceptions in eight career games vs. NFC foes, with a 7-1 record in those contests. He also has 2+ passing TDs in five of his past six games against NFC teams. </TD></TR><TR style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #dedede"><TD>Fred Taylor, RB, Jaguars (@PHI): He has 120+ rushing yards in four of his past five games on the road vs. NFC foes, and has 100+ yards in seven of his past 13 games vs. NFC. In those 13 games, he has averaged 110.1 rushing yards and 127.7 scrimmage yards with four TDs. </TD></TR><TR style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: white"><TD>TRISTAN'S TAKE: Leave their Week 7 performance aside, because the Texans' defense was facing a Jaguars QB, Byron Leftwich, who was hardly himself last week. The bottom line is that the Texans' secondary can make any team's passing game look good, which is why Bennett, and perhaps even Titans QB Vince Young, might be in line for solid efforts. ... This is an important game for the Bears' offense, coming off a shaky performance in Arizona the week before their bye. Grossman is a talented enough quarterback to capitalize on a favorable matchup, so go ahead and get all your Chicago players back into your active lineup. ... Bulger's and Jackson's numbers should help reinforce their status as must-starts even against the San Diego defense. Remember, the Chargers did struggle against the Chiefs in Week 7, perhaps a result of all their off-the-field distractions on the defensive side of the ball. </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): Jaguars at Eagles (60 percent), Buccaneers at Giants (60) and Jets at Browns (40). Each game could see mild wind. </TD></TR><TR style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #dedede"><TD>Cold temperatures (40 degrees or lower): Cardinals at Packers could be in the mid-to-upper 30s; 49ers at Bears could be in the low 40s. </TD></TR><TR style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: white"><TD>Hot temperatures (80 degrees or higher): None. </TD></TR><TR style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #dedede"><TD>Weatherproof games (safest playing conditions): Ravens at Saints (Superdome), Patriots at Vikings (Metrodome). </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>John Carney, Saints (BAL): 61 G, 86.4 FGpct, 99.2 XPTpct, 8.07 ppg. </TD></TR><TR style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #dedede"><TD>Stephen Gostkowski, Patriots (@MIN): 1st career G indoors. </TD></TR><TR style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: white"><TD>Ryan Longwell, Vikings (NE): 27 G, 86.7 FGpct, 98.4 XPTpct, 8.11 ppg. </TD></TR><TR style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #dedede"><TD>Matt Stover, Ravens (@NO): 14 G, 75.0 FGpct, 100.0 XPTpct, 4.71 ppg.</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

Hache Man · Oct 28, 2006

Re: NFL Fantasy Football News/Articles - ESPN Insider 3 New Articles Added 10/26/06)

Re: NFL Fantasy Football News/Articles - ESPN Insider 3 New Articles Added 10/26/06)

Oct. 28, 2006, 9:10 AM
Cockcroft: Week 8 Statbook

By Tristan H. Cockcroft
ESPN.com





<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD style="PADDING-TOP: 10px" vAlign=top>
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: Bills, Dolphins, Lions, Redskins.
<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>Tiki Barber, RB, Giants (TB): He has topped 100 yards rushing in three straight games, totaling 76 carries for 422 yards (5.6 per carry, 140.7 ypg) in those contests. And while he has yet to score a TD this season, he has averaged 144.8 scrimmage ypg. </TD></TR><TR style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #dedede"><TD>Broncos defense (IND): The Broncos have won 13 consecutive regular-season home games, averaging 11.0 points allowed in those contests. They also lead the NFL in fewest points allowed (7.3) and rank 4th in total defense (272.0 ypg). </TD></TR><TR style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: white"><TD>Reggie Brown, WR, Eagles (JAC): He has a receiving TD in each of his past three games, totaling 14 receptions for 277 yards (19.8 per catch, 92.3 ypg) in those contests. He also has a TD catch in five of the seven games this season, averaging 69.9 receiving ypg. </TD></TR><TR style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #dedede"><TD>Travis Henry, RB, Titans (HOU): He has 51 carries for 301 yards (5.9 per carry, 150.5 ypg) and one TD in his last two games, both of which were 100-yard rushing efforts. He has 72 carries for 361 yards (5.0 per carry. 120.3 ypg) in his three starts this season. </TD></TR><TR style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: white"><TD>Darrell Jackson, WR, Seahawks (@KC): He has five TDs in his past five games, totaling 28 receptions for 476 yards (17.0 per catch, 95.2 ypg) in those contests. He also has 3+ catches in each of his past 17 G (playoffs incl.), and 5+ receptions in 15 of those games. </TD></TR><TR style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #dedede"><TD>Andre Johnson, WR, Texans (@TEN): He has 8+ receptions in each of his past 4 games, totaling 37 receptions for 434 yards and two TDs in those contests. He also has eight 100-yard efforts in his past 12 games, averaging 6.8 catches and 85.0 yards during that span. </TD></TR><TR style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: white"><TD>Donovan McNabb, QB, Eagles (JAC): He has 2+ passing TDs in each of his seven games this season, averaging 307.3 passing yards with 16 TDs and five interceptions for the season. He also has 12 carries for 124 yards (10.3 average) and three TDs in his past four games. </TD></TR><TR style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #dedede"><TD>Philip Rivers, QB, Chargers (STL): He has two passing TDs in each of his past three games, totaling 842 yards, six TDs and two interceptions in those contests. Rivers also has a passing TD in each of his six games this season, and he's eighth in the league in passer rating (96.3). </TD></TR><TR style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: white"><TD>Ben Roethlisberger, QB, Steelers (@OAK): He has 2+ passing TDs in each of his past two games, completing a total of 32 of 41 pass attempts (78.0 percent) for 476 yards, five TDs and zero interceptions in those contests. He has 200+ passing yards in four straight games. </TD></TR><TR style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #dedede"><TD>Leon Washington, RB, Jets (@CLE): He has 100-yard rushing efforts in two of his past three games, totaling 54 carries for 288 yards (5.3 per carry, 96.0 ypg) and two TDs in those contests. He has also averaged 4.9 yards per carry in his last five games. </TD></TR><TR style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: white"><TD>TRISTAN'S TAKE: I have a feeling Barber, having announced his intentions to retire at season's end, is going to offer maximum effort each week for the remainder of the season. (I know, I know, who are we to think any player offers "less than maximum" effort in any game, but anyone who has ever played a sport has to know how it's possible for a player to step things up from peak level when he really wants.) In a game like the "Barber Bowl," Tiki should be particularly motivated for a great performance. ... An interesting note regarding the Colts-Broncos game: There are only three stadiums in which Colts QB Peyton Manning has played and not thrown a TD pass, and Denver's Invesco Field is one of them. In his two career starts there -- one was the Week 17 game in 2004 in which he barely played -- he has passed for 235 yards, no scores and one interception. It's something to keep in mind if that Colts offense is scaring you from using the Broncos' defense this week. ... This is a fine matchup for Henry, but I'd think about selling high on him afterward (if possible and if the offer's right). He'll get the Jaguars, Ravens and Eagles the three games after this one. ... Seahawks QB Seneca Wallace makes all of his team's receivers riskier fantasy plays, but he did target Jackson eight times after coming on in relief of the injured Matt Hasselbeck. That's encouraging enough to keep Jackson active in all formats. ... Roethlisberger's health -- he's recovering from a concussion -- should be closely monitored in advance of Sunday's game. It's a decent matchup for him, and with him finally seeming to get things straightened out, he'd be a useful option if cleared to play. </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>Reuben Droughns, RB, Browns (NYJ): He has 80 carries for 257 yards (3.2 per carry, 51.4 ypg) and one TD on the season. He also has 197 carries for 621 yards (3.2 per carry, 56.5 ypg) and one TD in his past 11 games, only once topping 100 rushing yards. </TD></TR><TR style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #dedede"><TD>Bubba Franks, TE, Packers (ARI): He has only 12 receptions for 123 yards and zero TDs in six games this season, being targeted only 26 times in those contests. Also, in his past 11 games dating back to last season, he has 20 receptions for 188 yards and zero TDs. </TD></TR><TR style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: white"><TD>Edgerrin James, RB, Cardinals (@GB): He has failed to average 4.0 yards per carry in any of his seven games this season, averaging 2.7 yards per carry and 61.7 ypg for the season. He also has 49 carries for only 89 yards (1.8 average) in his past two games. </TD></TR><TR style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #dedede"><TD>Brad Johnson, QB, Vikings (NE): He has averaged 216.5 passing yards with four TDs and four interceptions in six games this season, never topping 12 fantasy points in a single game so far. He also has three interceptions and three fumbles in his past three games. </TD></TR><TR style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: white"><TD>Keenan McCardell, WR, Chargers (STL): Though he's getting more throws sent his way of late, he still has failed to catch a TD pass in his past eight games. During that span, he has only 32 receptions for 338 yards (10.6 per catch, 42.3 ypg) and zero TDs. </TD></TR><TR style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #dedede"><TD>Steve McNair, QB, Ravens (@NO): He has averaged 109.0 passing yards with two TDs and six interceptions in his past three games, totaling 10 fantasy points in those contests. He has also averaged 168.7 passing yards with seven TDs and nine interceptions in his past 10 games. </TD></TR><TR style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: white"><TD>Maurice Morris, RB, Seahawks (@KC): In his three games since taking over the starting job from Shaun Alexander, he has 51 carries for 158 yards (3.1 per carry, 52.7 ypg) and zero TDs. He has also averaged 3.0 yards per carry in his past 11 regular-season games. </TD></TR><TR style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #dedede"><TD>Jake Plummer, QB, Broncos (IND): He has averaged 139.0 passing yards with two TDs, three interceptions and a fumble in his past three games. He has also averaged 195.4 passing yards with 12 TDs and 14 interceptions in his past 16 games (playoffs incl.). </TD></TR><TR style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: white"><TD>Dominic Rhodes, RB, Colts (@DEN): Though he has three TDs in six games this season, he has only 92 carries for 299 yards (3.2 per carry, 49.8 ypg) in those contests. He has also averaged only 3.1 yards per carry and 30.4 scrimmage yards in his past 20 games. </TD></TR><TR style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #dedede"><TD>Troy Williamson, WR, Vikings (MIN): He has only nine receptions for 95 yards and zero TDs in his past four games, despite being targeted 24 times in those contests. He's also mired in a 16 game TD drought, during which time he has 34 receptions for 480 yards. </TD></TR><TR style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: white"><TD>TRISTAN'S TAKE: Both Droughns and James have favorable matchups this week, but their cold spells are disconcerting enough that neither should be considered more than a No. 2 option for Week 8. James should receive a heftier workload than his 13 carries from Week 7, but don't forget he has yet to manage a 100-yard game all season. ... Coming off a concussion, McNair is too risky to be considered in most fantasy leagues facing a tougher matchup than you'd expect in New Orleans. The Saints are a perfect 3-0 at the Superdome, have outscored their opponents, 74-48, there, and have held teams to only 185.7 passing ypg there. ... Plummer could easily be the next quarterback to get an early hook from his game, assuming the inconsistent Indianapolis defense frustrates him as much as most every other team has done to this point. Until he turns his season around, he should assume a cozy seat on your bench for the foreseeable future. </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>Drew Bennett, WR, Titans (HOU): He has 5+ receptions in four of his past five games vs. the Texans, totaling 22 receptions for 311 yards and three TDs in those contests. He also has 18 receptions for 209 yards (11.6 per catch, 69.7 ypg) and two TDs in his last three home games. </TD></TR><TR style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #dedede"><TD>Marc Bulger, QB, Rams (@SD): He set career highs in both passing yards (453) and passing TDs (4) in his only career game vs. the Chargers (11/10/02). He has also averaged 271.0 passing yards with 23 TDs and 13 interceptions in 13 career games vs. AFC foes. </TD></TR><TR style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: white"><TD>Jake Delhomme, QB, Panthers (DAL): He has averaged 246.5 passing yards with six TDs and three interceptions in four career games vs. the Cowboys (playoffs incl.). He has also averaged 217.4 passing yards with 27 TDs and 16 interceptions in his past 19 home games. </TD></TR><TR style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #dedede"><TD>Ahman Green, RB, Packers (ARI): He has 238 scrimmage yards and one TD in his past two games vs. the Cardinals. He has also notched each of his last four 100-yard efforts in home games, averaging 108.4 scrimmage yards and 4.8 rushing yards per carry in those contests. </TD></TR><TR style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: white"><TD>Rex Grossman, QB, Bears (SF): He's a perfect 3-0 in home games this season, completing 52 of 85 passes (61.2 percent) for 703 yards, eight TDs and zero interceptions in those contests. He has also topped a 100.0 passer rating in each of those games. </TD></TR><TR style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #dedede"><TD>Steven Jackson, RB, Rams (@SD): He has 100+ rushing yards in each of his past three games vs. AFC foes, totaling 72 carries for 410 yards (5.7 per carry, 136.7 ypg) and one TD in those contests. He also has five total TDs in his past nine road games. </TD></TR><TR style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: white"><TD>Muhsin Muhammad, WR, Bears (SF): He has two career three-TD games, and both came vs. the 49ers (12/18/99 and 11/14/04). He also has four 100-yard receiving efforts in 11 career games vs. the 49ers, totaling 65 receptions for 837 yards and nine TDs in those contests. </TD></TR><TR style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #dedede"><TD>Terrell Owens, WR, Cowboys (@CAR): He has nine TDs in 12 career games vs. the Panthers, totaling 58 receptions for 928 yards (16.0 per catch, 77.3 ypg) in those contests. In his past five games vs. the Panthers, he has 30 catches for 533 yards and four TDs. </TD></TR><TR style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: white"><TD>Carson Palmer, QB, Bengals (ATL): He has averaged 243.4 passing yards with 17 TDs and six interceptions in eight career games vs. NFC foes, with a 7-1 record in those contests. He also has 2+ passing TDs in five of his past six games against NFC teams. </TD></TR><TR style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #dedede"><TD>Fred Taylor, RB, Jaguars (@PHI): He has 120+ rushing yards in four of his past five games on the road vs. NFC foes, and has 100+ yards in seven of his past 13 games vs. NFC. In those 13 games, he has averaged 110.1 rushing yards and 127.7 scrimmage yards with four TDs. </TD></TR><TR style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: white"><TD>TRISTAN'S TAKE: Leave their Week 7 performance aside, because the Texans' defense was facing a Jaguars QB, Byron Leftwich, who was hardly himself last week. The bottom line is that the Texans' secondary can make any team's passing game look good, which is why Bennett, and perhaps even Titans QB Vince Young, might be in line for solid efforts. ... This is an important game for the Bears' offense, coming off a shaky performance in Arizona the week before their bye. Grossman is a talented enough quarterback to capitalize on a favorable matchup, so go ahead and get all your Chicago players back into your active lineup. ... Bulger's and Jackson's numbers should help reinforce their status as must-starts even against the San Diego defense. Remember, the Chargers did struggle against the Chiefs in Week 7, perhaps a result of all their off-the-field distractions on the defensive side of the ball. </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): Jaguars at Eagles (60 percent), Buccaneers at Giants (60) and Jets at Browns (40). Each game could see mild wind. </TD></TR><TR style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #dedede"><TD>Cold temperatures (40 degrees or lower): Cardinals at Packers could be in the mid-to-upper 30s; 49ers at Bears could be in the low 40s. </TD></TR><TR style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: white"><TD>Hot temperatures (80 degrees or higher): None. </TD></TR><TR style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #dedede"><TD>Weatherproof games (safest playing conditions): Ravens at Saints (Superdome), Patriots at Vikings (Metrodome). </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>John Carney, Saints (BAL): 61 G, 86.4 FGpct, 99.2 XPTpct, 8.07 ppg. </TD></TR><TR style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #dedede"><TD>Stephen Gostkowski, Patriots (@MIN): 1st career G indoors. </TD></TR><TR style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: white"><TD>Ryan Longwell, Vikings (NE): 27 G, 86.7 FGpct, 98.4 XPTpct, 8.11 ppg. </TD></TR><TR style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #dedede"><TD>Matt Stover, Ravens (@NO): 14 G, 75.0 FGpct, 100.0 XPTpct, 4.71 ppg.</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

Hache Man · Oct 28, 2006

Re: NFL Fantasy Football News/Articles - ESPN Insider 3 New Articles Added 10/26/06)

Re: NFL Fantasy Football News/Articles - ESPN Insider 3 New Articles Added 10/26/06)

Oct. 28, 2006, 6:06 PM
Week 8: Fantasy Matchups

By Scott Engel
ESPN.com





<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD style="PADDING-TOP: 10px" vAlign=top>
Every week, we preview all 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.
Arizona at Green Bay: The Cardinals will bring out some new looks on offense and might try to firmly establish what has been a disappointing running game so far. Edgerrin James should get a lot of touches and will get some shots at scoring, and he should finish with decent fantasy totals. Matt Leinart should be efficient, but don't expect great numbers as the Packers double up on Anquan Boldin and push Bryant Johnson around with physical coverages. Johnson still might score, but he could see a limited number of catches. With Greg Jennings hurting, Green Bay should rely on its running game, and Ahman Green should score at least once as he gets a heavy workload. Brett Favre will be a risk to throw more than one interception as he tries force the ball to Donald Driver, who still will have a productive day even as he gets targeted often.
Start and Smile: Ahman Green, Donald Driver
Watch and Worry: Greg Jennings (ankle) could be limited even if he plays.
Atlanta at Cincinnati: A banged-up Cincinnati offensive line could get a reprieve here against an Atlanta defensive line that is dealing with its own injury problems and will be without DE John Abraham again. Carson Palmer should have time to throw in this one, and he will look to T.J. Houshmandzadeh often. CB DeAngelo Hall will battle often with Chad Johnson, and Houshmandzadeh could benefit from Johnson facing Atlanta's top cover man. Rudi Johnson should find the end zone as the Bengals move the ball well. Cincinnati's front seven will give up much yardage to Warrick Dunn, who should easily roll past the 100-yard mark. Michael Vick should buy much time to throw, and although TE Alge Crumpler should score, don't expect another huge outing as the Bengals pay extra attention to him and try to make the other receivers beat them.
Start and Smile: Carson Palmer, Rudi Johnson, T.J. Houshmandzadeh, Warrick Dunn
Watch and Worry: Michael Jenkins and Ashley Lelie won't produce much even if Crumpler gets the most attention from the Cincinnati pass defense.
Baltimore at New Orleans: The Ravens will try to establish Jamal Lewis early in an effort to control time of possession and take some pressure off Steve McNair. The Ravens could exhibit a conservative approach in the passing game, and that means limited production for WRs Derrick Mason and Mark Clayton. McNair should still look to TE Todd Heap on important passing downs. Deuce McAllister will have to fight hard for yardage against a physical defense but should still find the end zone. Reggie Bush will be corralled often as a receiver and won't do much after the catch. Drew Brees should take what the defense gives him, and he'll throw underneath often. Joe Horn won't get loose for any big plays, but Marques Colston should be busy as a possession target.
Start and Smile: Todd Heap, Marques Colston
Watch and Worry: Steve McNair, Derrick Mason, Mark Clayton, Reggie Bush, Joe Horn
Dallas at Carolina: The Cowboys might come out looking to take the focus off Tony Romo, and that could mean an early dependence on the running game. Julius Jones, however, could struggle to produce good results. Romo might face some adverse passing situations, which could produce more than one TD pass but also is likely to lead to more than one interception. Terrell Owens will be targeted often by Romo and should score at least once. Former Cowboy Keyshawn Johnson should be primed to face his old team, and could catch a lot of passes, but don't expect a score. Jake Delhomme still will be targeting Steve Smith for the scores, and the pair could hook up more than once for TDs. DeShaun Foster could produce limited yardage but will get some chances to score in the red zone.
Start and Smile: Terrell Owens, Jake Delhomme
Watch and Worry: Julius Jones
Houston at Tennessee: Both teams should be able to run the ball effectively here, but it's Travis Henry who will shine the most. Even against the Texans, the Titans will ride with the rejuvenated Henry while maintaining a conservative approach with rookie QB Vince Young. Don't expect big numbers from Young, and Drew Bennett will post only adequate fantasy numbers. The Texans will run the ball well enough with Wali Lundy after opening up the passing game early. David Carr should come out throwing, and Andre Johnson should have one of his best days of the season. Eric Moulds also should be targeted by Carr in the red zone.
Start and Smile: David Carr, Andre Johnson, Travis Henry
Watch and Worry: Vince Young, Drew Bennett
Indianapolis at Denver: A great passing game meets a tough defense in this one, and Peyton Manning will be busy without much run support. Dominic Rhodes will be stuffed early and often, and Joseph Addai won't find much open running room. Manning should throw at least two TD passes as he simply will have no choice other than to air it out. The Broncos will continue to look conservative offensively, and Tatum Bell could have a big day as Denver uses him to control time of possession as much as possible. When Jake Plummer does go to the air, he should find Javon Walker for what now seems to be a rare passing TD.
Start and Smile: Tatum Bell, Javon Walker
Watch and Worry: Dominic Rhodes, Joseph Addai
Jacksonville at Philadelphia: With DT Marcus Stroud (ankle) not expected to play, the Jaguars are more vulnerable as they won't get much pressure on Donovan McNabb, who often seems unstoppable no matter what defense he faces. It will be another disappointing week for the Jacksonville defense as McNabb hooks up often with Reggie Brown and Brian Westbrook rolls up more big yardage numbers. The Jaguars will lean on the running game as David Garrard simply tries to manage the game well, and you should see Maurice Jones-Drew score at least once, possibly on a reception he breaks for a big gain.
Start and Smile: Reggie Brown, Maurice Jones-Drew
Watch and Worry: Garrard won't open up the passing game very much, and it's best to see how Donte' Stallworth plays in his first game back before activating him. Play it safe and sit Stallworth this week.
N.Y. Jets at Cleveland: Look for Chad Pennington to attack the Cleveland secondary early, and the New York QB should be good for more than one TD pass, as he spreads the ball around among different receivers. A good passing game should open up some wide running room for RB Leon Washington, and he should score at least once. The Browns will counter with a pretty good running game, and Reuben Droughns should accumulate some respectable fantasy numbers with a lot of carries. Charlie Frye will be good for more than one TD pass, and while Braylon Edwards is the one who will stack up good yardage numbers, Joe Jurevicius is the one who will get the red zone looks.
Start and Smile: Chad Pennington, Leon Washington, Kellen Winslow
Watch and Worry: Even in this seemingly friendly matchup, Kevan Barlow isn't a reliable option, especially with the emergence of Washington.
Pittsburgh at Oakland: Expect a big day from Willie Parker as he rips off large chunks of yardage early in the game and gets a lot of work as he and Najeh Davenport protect the lead and work the clock in the second half. The Oakland secondary might limit the production of Nate Washington and Santonio Holmes, but no defense will have it easy with Hines Ward now that he is apparently healthy again. The Raiders will have to shelve the running game early, and Andrew Walter will make more than one turnover even if he can find Randy Moss for a score.
Start and Smile: Willie Parker, Hines Ward
Watch and Worry: LaMont Jordan, Justin Fargas, Nate Washington, Santonio Holmes
St. Louis at San Diego: Steven Jackson will have to work very hard for his yardage in this one even if he does manage to find the end zone. The Rams will lean on their crisp passing game, and you'll see Marc Bulger hooking up with Torry Holt often. LaDainian Tomlinson will continue to roll, and a fine running game will allow Philip Rivers time to throw and he should use play-action fakes effectively. Look for the San Diego QB to throw more than one TD pass, and if you're desperate for receiving help this week, consider Keenan McCardell, who could catch one of Rivers' scoring tosses.
Start and Smile: Marc Bulger, Isaac Bruce, Philip Rivers
Watch and Worry: The San Diego defense could surrender a lot of points and passing yardage.
San Francisco at Chicago: Bears QB Rex Grossman will come out fired-up and ready to put a bad performance against Arizona further behind him, and if he doesn't get rattled by the blitz, Grossman should hook up with Bernard Berrian often, and for at least one score. Cedric Benson could see an increased workload and might score on a late TD run, but Thomas Jones will still be the No. 1 RB and could roll up some quality yardage totals. The Bears will look to take Frank Gore out of the game early, and Alex Smith will wilt under heavy pressure on a regular basis.
Start and Smile: Rex Grossman, Thomas Jones
Watch and Worry: Alex Smith, Frank Gore, Antonio Bryant
Seattle at Kansas City: With the QB situation uncertain, the Chiefs will rely heavily on Larry Johnson, who eventually should wear down the Seattle defense on his way to a 100-yard rushing day and at least one score. CB Marcus Trufant will lock up Eddie Kennison in what could be a relatively low-scoring affair. The Seahawks won't be able to establish much of a running game with Maurice Morris, and Seneca Wallace will be forced into many adverse passing situations and could make more than one turnover. But he also will lean heavily on Darrell Jackson, who should finish with good numbers while the production of Deion Branch suffers for a week as he adjusts to yet another new QB.
Start and Smile: Darrell Jackson
Watch and Worry: Eddie Kennison, Maurice Morris, Deion Branch
Tampa Bay at N.Y. Giants: New York CB Sam Madison (hamstring) is hurting, so Bruce Gradkowski might take short drops to avoid pressure and throw often to Joey Galloway, who can take a short pass at any time and turn it into a long gainer against the Giants' secondary. Gradkowski, though, still could be in for a long day as the Giants contain Carnell Williams and force the Tampa Bay QB to throw too often. Eli Manning should strike early for more than one score, and Tiki Barber will pad his usually outstanding yardage numbers as the Giants work the clock for much of the second half. New York will move the ball well, and Brandon Jacobs should score on a short TD run.
Start and Smile: Joey Galloway, Eli Manning, Plaxico Burress
Watch and Worry: Bruce Gradkowski, Carnell Williams New England at Minnesota: The Patriots will find their two-pronged running attack neutralized by a strong Minnesota defensive line. Corey Dillon won't get opportunities to score near the goal line, and Laurence Maroney will disappoint in his return to the site of his college glory days. Tom Brady will have to spread the ball around to keep the Patriots' offense moving, and he'll operate an efficient short passing game. Benjamin Watson could finally deliver a truly impressive performance. Chester Taylor will be brought down to earth after a big week, and the Patriots will force Brad Johnson to throw, meaning he could struggle to move the offense with an injury-depleted receiving crew.
Start and Smile: Ben Watson
Watch and Worry: Corey Dillon, Laurence Maroney
</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

Hache Man · Oct 28, 2006

Re: NFL Fantasy Football News/Articles - ESPN Insider 3 New Articles Added 10/26/06)

Re: NFL Fantasy Football News/Articles - ESPN Insider 3 New Articles Added 10/26/06)

Oct. 28, 2006, 6:06 PM
Week 8: Fantasy Matchups

By Scott Engel
ESPN.com





<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD style="PADDING-TOP: 10px" vAlign=top>
Every week, we preview all 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.
Arizona at Green Bay: The Cardinals will bring out some new looks on offense and might try to firmly establish what has been a disappointing running game so far. Edgerrin James should get a lot of touches and will get some shots at scoring, and he should finish with decent fantasy totals. Matt Leinart should be efficient, but don't expect great numbers as the Packers double up on Anquan Boldin and push Bryant Johnson around with physical coverages. Johnson still might score, but he could see a limited number of catches. With Greg Jennings hurting, Green Bay should rely on its running game, and Ahman Green should score at least once as he gets a heavy workload. Brett Favre will be a risk to throw more than one interception as he tries force the ball to Donald Driver, who still will have a productive day even as he gets targeted often.
Start and Smile: Ahman Green, Donald Driver
Watch and Worry: Greg Jennings (ankle) could be limited even if he plays.
Atlanta at Cincinnati: A banged-up Cincinnati offensive line could get a reprieve here against an Atlanta defensive line that is dealing with its own injury problems and will be without DE John Abraham again. Carson Palmer should have time to throw in this one, and he will look to T.J. Houshmandzadeh often. CB DeAngelo Hall will battle often with Chad Johnson, and Houshmandzadeh could benefit from Johnson facing Atlanta's top cover man. Rudi Johnson should find the end zone as the Bengals move the ball well. Cincinnati's front seven will give up much yardage to Warrick Dunn, who should easily roll past the 100-yard mark. Michael Vick should buy much time to throw, and although TE Alge Crumpler should score, don't expect another huge outing as the Bengals pay extra attention to him and try to make the other receivers beat them.
Start and Smile: Carson Palmer, Rudi Johnson, T.J. Houshmandzadeh, Warrick Dunn
Watch and Worry: Michael Jenkins and Ashley Lelie won't produce much even if Crumpler gets the most attention from the Cincinnati pass defense.
Baltimore at New Orleans: The Ravens will try to establish Jamal Lewis early in an effort to control time of possession and take some pressure off Steve McNair. The Ravens could exhibit a conservative approach in the passing game, and that means limited production for WRs Derrick Mason and Mark Clayton. McNair should still look to TE Todd Heap on important passing downs. Deuce McAllister will have to fight hard for yardage against a physical defense but should still find the end zone. Reggie Bush will be corralled often as a receiver and won't do much after the catch. Drew Brees should take what the defense gives him, and he'll throw underneath often. Joe Horn won't get loose for any big plays, but Marques Colston should be busy as a possession target.
Start and Smile: Todd Heap, Marques Colston
Watch and Worry: Steve McNair, Derrick Mason, Mark Clayton, Reggie Bush, Joe Horn
Dallas at Carolina: The Cowboys might come out looking to take the focus off Tony Romo, and that could mean an early dependence on the running game. Julius Jones, however, could struggle to produce good results. Romo might face some adverse passing situations, which could produce more than one TD pass but also is likely to lead to more than one interception. Terrell Owens will be targeted often by Romo and should score at least once. Former Cowboy Keyshawn Johnson should be primed to face his old team, and could catch a lot of passes, but don't expect a score. Jake Delhomme still will be targeting Steve Smith for the scores, and the pair could hook up more than once for TDs. DeShaun Foster could produce limited yardage but will get some chances to score in the red zone.
Start and Smile: Terrell Owens, Jake Delhomme
Watch and Worry: Julius Jones
Houston at Tennessee: Both teams should be able to run the ball effectively here, but it's Travis Henry who will shine the most. Even against the Texans, the Titans will ride with the rejuvenated Henry while maintaining a conservative approach with rookie QB Vince Young. Don't expect big numbers from Young, and Drew Bennett will post only adequate fantasy numbers. The Texans will run the ball well enough with Wali Lundy after opening up the passing game early. David Carr should come out throwing, and Andre Johnson should have one of his best days of the season. Eric Moulds also should be targeted by Carr in the red zone.
Start and Smile: David Carr, Andre Johnson, Travis Henry
Watch and Worry: Vince Young, Drew Bennett
Indianapolis at Denver: A great passing game meets a tough defense in this one, and Peyton Manning will be busy without much run support. Dominic Rhodes will be stuffed early and often, and Joseph Addai won't find much open running room. Manning should throw at least two TD passes as he simply will have no choice other than to air it out. The Broncos will continue to look conservative offensively, and Tatum Bell could have a big day as Denver uses him to control time of possession as much as possible. When Jake Plummer does go to the air, he should find Javon Walker for what now seems to be a rare passing TD.
Start and Smile: Tatum Bell, Javon Walker
Watch and Worry: Dominic Rhodes, Joseph Addai
Jacksonville at Philadelphia: With DT Marcus Stroud (ankle) not expected to play, the Jaguars are more vulnerable as they won't get much pressure on Donovan McNabb, who often seems unstoppable no matter what defense he faces. It will be another disappointing week for the Jacksonville defense as McNabb hooks up often with Reggie Brown and Brian Westbrook rolls up more big yardage numbers. The Jaguars will lean on the running game as David Garrard simply tries to manage the game well, and you should see Maurice Jones-Drew score at least once, possibly on a reception he breaks for a big gain.
Start and Smile: Reggie Brown, Maurice Jones-Drew
Watch and Worry: Garrard won't open up the passing game very much, and it's best to see how Donte' Stallworth plays in his first game back before activating him. Play it safe and sit Stallworth this week.
N.Y. Jets at Cleveland: Look for Chad Pennington to attack the Cleveland secondary early, and the New York QB should be good for more than one TD pass, as he spreads the ball around among different receivers. A good passing game should open up some wide running room for RB Leon Washington, and he should score at least once. The Browns will counter with a pretty good running game, and Reuben Droughns should accumulate some respectable fantasy numbers with a lot of carries. Charlie Frye will be good for more than one TD pass, and while Braylon Edwards is the one who will stack up good yardage numbers, Joe Jurevicius is the one who will get the red zone looks.
Start and Smile: Chad Pennington, Leon Washington, Kellen Winslow
Watch and Worry: Even in this seemingly friendly matchup, Kevan Barlow isn't a reliable option, especially with the emergence of Washington.
Pittsburgh at Oakland: Expect a big day from Willie Parker as he rips off large chunks of yardage early in the game and gets a lot of work as he and Najeh Davenport protect the lead and work the clock in the second half. The Oakland secondary might limit the production of Nate Washington and Santonio Holmes, but no defense will have it easy with Hines Ward now that he is apparently healthy again. The Raiders will have to shelve the running game early, and Andrew Walter will make more than one turnover even if he can find Randy Moss for a score.
Start and Smile: Willie Parker, Hines Ward
Watch and Worry: LaMont Jordan, Justin Fargas, Nate Washington, Santonio Holmes
St. Louis at San Diego: Steven Jackson will have to work very hard for his yardage in this one even if he does manage to find the end zone. The Rams will lean on their crisp passing game, and you'll see Marc Bulger hooking up with Torry Holt often. LaDainian Tomlinson will continue to roll, and a fine running game will allow Philip Rivers time to throw and he should use play-action fakes effectively. Look for the San Diego QB to throw more than one TD pass, and if you're desperate for receiving help this week, consider Keenan McCardell, who could catch one of Rivers' scoring tosses.
Start and Smile: Marc Bulger, Isaac Bruce, Philip Rivers
Watch and Worry: The San Diego defense could surrender a lot of points and passing yardage.
San Francisco at Chicago: Bears QB Rex Grossman will come out fired-up and ready to put a bad performance against Arizona further behind him, and if he doesn't get rattled by the blitz, Grossman should hook up with Bernard Berrian often, and for at least one score. Cedric Benson could see an increased workload and might score on a late TD run, but Thomas Jones will still be the No. 1 RB and could roll up some quality yardage totals. The Bears will look to take Frank Gore out of the game early, and Alex Smith will wilt under heavy pressure on a regular basis.
Start and Smile: Rex Grossman, Thomas Jones
Watch and Worry: Alex Smith, Frank Gore, Antonio Bryant
Seattle at Kansas City: With the QB situation uncertain, the Chiefs will rely heavily on Larry Johnson, who eventually should wear down the Seattle defense on his way to a 100-yard rushing day and at least one score. CB Marcus Trufant will lock up Eddie Kennison in what could be a relatively low-scoring affair. The Seahawks won't be able to establish much of a running game with Maurice Morris, and Seneca Wallace will be forced into many adverse passing situations and could make more than one turnover. But he also will lean heavily on Darrell Jackson, who should finish with good numbers while the production of Deion Branch suffers for a week as he adjusts to yet another new QB.
Start and Smile: Darrell Jackson
Watch and Worry: Eddie Kennison, Maurice Morris, Deion Branch
Tampa Bay at N.Y. Giants: New York CB Sam Madison (hamstring) is hurting, so Bruce Gradkowski might take short drops to avoid pressure and throw often to Joey Galloway, who can take a short pass at any time and turn it into a long gainer against the Giants' secondary. Gradkowski, though, still could be in for a long day as the Giants contain Carnell Williams and force the Tampa Bay QB to throw too often. Eli Manning should strike early for more than one score, and Tiki Barber will pad his usually outstanding yardage numbers as the Giants work the clock for much of the second half. New York will move the ball well, and Brandon Jacobs should score on a short TD run.
Start and Smile: Joey Galloway, Eli Manning, Plaxico Burress
Watch and Worry: Bruce Gradkowski, Carnell Williams New England at Minnesota: The Patriots will find their two-pronged running attack neutralized by a strong Minnesota defensive line. Corey Dillon won't get opportunities to score near the goal line, and Laurence Maroney will disappoint in his return to the site of his college glory days. Tom Brady will have to spread the ball around to keep the Patriots' offense moving, and he'll operate an efficient short passing game. Benjamin Watson could finally deliver a truly impressive performance. Chester Taylor will be brought down to earth after a big week, and the Patriots will force Brad Johnson to throw, meaning he could struggle to move the offense with an injury-depleted receiving crew.
Start and Smile: Ben Watson
Watch and Worry: Corey Dillon, Laurence Maroney
</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

Hache Man · Oct 28, 2006

Re: NFL Fantasy Football News/Articles - ESPN Insider 3 New Articles Added 10/26/06)

Re: NFL Fantasy Football News/Articles - ESPN Insider 3 New Articles Added 10/26/06)

Oct. 28, 2006, 9:11 AM
FFL: Week 8 Lineup Rankings

By Scott Engel
ESPN.com





<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD style="PADDING-TOP: 10px" vAlign=top>Quarterbacks
1. Donovan McNabb vs. JAC
2. Eli Manning vs. TB
3. Peyton Manning at DEN
4. Marc Bulger at SD
5. Brett Favre vs. ARI
6. Rex Grossman vs. SF
7. Philip Rivers vs. STL
8. Chad Pennington at CLE
9. Jake Delhomme vs. DAL
10. Carson Palmer vs. ATL
<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. Drew Brees vs. BAL
12. Michael Vick at CIN
13. Tom Brady at MIN
14. Charlie Batch at OAK
15. David Carr at TEN
16. Matt Leinart at GB
17. Damon Huard vs. SEA
18. Byron Leftwich at PHI
19. Charlie Frye vs. NYJ
20. Jake Plummer vs. IND
21. Steve McNair at NO
22. Bruce Gradkowski at NYG
23. Brad Johnson vs. NE
24. Vince Young vs. HOU
25. Alex Smith at CHI
26. Seneca Wallace at KC
27. Tony Romo at CAR
28. Andrew Walter vs. PIT

Running Backs
1. LaDainian Tomlinson vs. STL
2. Larry Johnson vs. SEA
3. Brian Westbrook vs. JAC
4. Willie Parker at OAK
5. Tatum Bell vs. IND
6. Tiki Barber vs. TB
7. Warrick Dunn at CIN
8. Travis Henry vs. HOU
9. Steven Jackson vs. SD
10. Rudi Johnson vs. ATL
11. Ahman Green vs. ARI
12. Thomas Jones vs. SF
13. DeShaun Foster vs. DAL
14. Chester Taylor vs. NE
15. Carnell Williams vs. NYG
16. Deuce McAllister vs. BAL
17. Edgerrin James vs. GB
18. Frank Gore at CHI
19. Leon Washington at CLE
20. Corey Dillon at MIN
21. Julius Jones at CAR
22. Wali Lundy at TEN
23. Maurice Jones-Drew at PHI
24. Reuben Droughns vs. NYJ
25. Laurence Maroney at MIN
26. Reggie Bush vs. BAL
27. Fred Taylor at PHI
28. Jamal Lewis at NO
29. Maurice Morris at KC
30. Dominic Rhodes at DEN
31. LaMont Jordan vs. PIT
32. Joseph Addai at DEN
33. Brandon Jacobs at TB
34. Cedric Benson vs. SF
35. Marion Barber III at CAR
36. Justin Fargas vs. PIT
37. Jerious Norwood at CIN
38. Nick Goings vs. DAL
39. Najeh Davenport at OAK
40. Samkon Gado at TEN

Wide Receivers
1. Steve Smith vs. DAL
2. Torry Holt at SD
3. Bernard Berrian vs. SF
4. Anquan Boldin at GB
5. Andre Johnson at TEN
6. Donald Driver vs. ARI
7. Hines Ward at OAK
8. Reggie Brown vs. JAC
9. T.J. Houshmandzadeh vs. ATL
10. Marvin Harrison at DEN
11. Laveranues Coles at CLE
12. Plaxico Burress vs. TB
13. Chad Johnson vs. ATL
14. Reggie Wayne at DEN
15. Terrell Owens at CAR
16. Darrell Jackson at KC
17. Marques Colston vs. BAL
18. Randy Moss vs. PIT
19. Javon Walker vs. IND
20. Deion Branch at KC
21. Joey Galloway at NYG
22. Amani Toomer vs. TB
23. Joe Horn vs. BAL
24. Bryant Johnson at GB
25. Keyshawn Johnson vs. DAL
26. Braylon Edwards vs. NYJ
27. Eric Parker vs. STL
28. Donte' Stallworth vs. JAC
29. Terry Glenn at CAR
30. Reggie Williams at PHI
31. Muhsin Muhammad vs. SF
32. Drew Bennett vs. HOU
33. Doug Gabriel at MIN
34. Nate Washington at OAK
35. Isaac Bruce at SD
36. Eddie Kennison vs. SEA
37. Derrick Mason at NO
38. Mark Clayton at NO
39. Antonio Bryant at CHI
40. Jerricho Cotchery at CLE
41. Joe Jurevicius vs. NYJ
42. Santonio Holmes at OAK
43. Rod Smith vs. IND
44. Keenan McCardell vs. STL
45. Michael Jenkins at CIN
46. Rashied Davis vs. SF
47. Chad Jackson at MIN
48. Michael Clayton at NYG
49. Hank Baskett vs. JAC
50. Eric Moulds at TEN
51. Troy Williamson vs. NE
52. Bobby Wade vs. HOU
53. Samie Parker vs. SEA
54. Marcus Robinson vs. NE
55. Ashley Lelie at CIN
56. Ruvell Martin vs. ARI
57. Malcolm Floyd vs. STL
58. Travis Taylor vs. NE
59. Ernest Wilford at PHI
60. Ronald Curry vs. PIT

Tight Ends
1. Antonio Gates vs. STL
2. Jeremy Shockey vs. TB
3. Todd Heap at NO
4. Tony Gonzalez vs. SEA
5. Alge Crumpler at CIN
6. Kellen Winslow vs. NYJ
7. Heath Miller at OAK
8. Desmond Clark vs. SF
9. L.J. Smith vs. JAC
10. Jason Witten at CAR
11. Benjamin Watson at MIN
12. Dallas Clark at DEN
13. Owen Daniels at TEN
14. Bo Scaife vs. HOU
15. Ben Troupe vs. HOU
16. Alex Smith at NYG
17. Jermaine Wiggins vs. NE
18. Jerramy Stevens at KC
19. Chris Baker at CLE
20. Courtney Anderson vs. PIT
21. Joe Klopfenstein at SD
22. Bubba Franks vs. ARI
23. Eric Johnson at CHI
24. Reggie Kelly vs. ATL
25. Ernie Conwell vs. BAL

Defense/Special Teams
1. Chicago vs. SF
2. Pittsburgh at OAK
3. Baltimore at NO
4. New Orleans vs. BAL
5. N.Y. Giants vs. TB
6. Indianapolis at DEN
7. Philadelphia vs. JAC
8. Cincinnati vs. ATL
9. San Diego vs. STL
10. Minnesota vs. NE
11. New England vs. MIN
12. Jacksonville at PHI
13. Denver vs. IND
14. Carolina vs. DAL
15. Atlanta at CIN
16. Tampa Bay at NYG
17. Kansas City vs. SEA
18. Seattle at KC
19. N.Y. Jets at CLE
20. Green Bay vs. ARI
21. Dallas at CAR
22. Houston at TEN
23. Arizona vs. GB
24. Tennessee vs. HOU
25. Cleveland vs. NYJ
26. St. Louis at SD
27. San Francisco vs. CHI
28. Oakland vs. PIT
</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

Hache Man · Oct 28, 2006

Re: NFL Fantasy Football News/Articles - ESPN Insider 3 New Articles Added 10/26/06)

Re: NFL Fantasy Football News/Articles - ESPN Insider 3 New Articles Added 10/26/06)

Oct. 28, 2006, 9:11 AM
FFL: Week 8 Lineup Rankings

By Scott Engel
ESPN.com





<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD style="PADDING-TOP: 10px" vAlign=top>Quarterbacks
1. Donovan McNabb vs. JAC
2. Eli Manning vs. TB
3. Peyton Manning at DEN
4. Marc Bulger at SD
5. Brett Favre vs. ARI
6. Rex Grossman vs. SF
7. Philip Rivers vs. STL
8. Chad Pennington at CLE
9. Jake Delhomme vs. DAL
10. Carson Palmer vs. ATL
<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. Drew Brees vs. BAL
12. Michael Vick at CIN
13. Tom Brady at MIN
14. Charlie Batch at OAK
15. David Carr at TEN
16. Matt Leinart at GB
17. Damon Huard vs. SEA
18. Byron Leftwich at PHI
19. Charlie Frye vs. NYJ
20. Jake Plummer vs. IND
21. Steve McNair at NO
22. Bruce Gradkowski at NYG
23. Brad Johnson vs. NE
24. Vince Young vs. HOU
25. Alex Smith at CHI
26. Seneca Wallace at KC
27. Tony Romo at CAR
28. Andrew Walter vs. PIT

Running Backs
1. LaDainian Tomlinson vs. STL
2. Larry Johnson vs. SEA
3. Brian Westbrook vs. JAC
4. Willie Parker at OAK
5. Tatum Bell vs. IND
6. Tiki Barber vs. TB
7. Warrick Dunn at CIN
8. Travis Henry vs. HOU
9. Steven Jackson vs. SD
10. Rudi Johnson vs. ATL
11. Ahman Green vs. ARI
12. Thomas Jones vs. SF
13. DeShaun Foster vs. DAL
14. Chester Taylor vs. NE
15. Carnell Williams vs. NYG
16. Deuce McAllister vs. BAL
17. Edgerrin James vs. GB
18. Frank Gore at CHI
19. Leon Washington at CLE
20. Corey Dillon at MIN
21. Julius Jones at CAR
22. Wali Lundy at TEN
23. Maurice Jones-Drew at PHI
24. Reuben Droughns vs. NYJ
25. Laurence Maroney at MIN
26. Reggie Bush vs. BAL
27. Fred Taylor at PHI
28. Jamal Lewis at NO
29. Maurice Morris at KC
30. Dominic Rhodes at DEN
31. LaMont Jordan vs. PIT
32. Joseph Addai at DEN
33. Brandon Jacobs at TB
34. Cedric Benson vs. SF
35. Marion Barber III at CAR
36. Justin Fargas vs. PIT
37. Jerious Norwood at CIN
38. Nick Goings vs. DAL
39. Najeh Davenport at OAK
40. Samkon Gado at TEN

Wide Receivers
1. Steve Smith vs. DAL
2. Torry Holt at SD
3. Bernard Berrian vs. SF
4. Anquan Boldin at GB
5. Andre Johnson at TEN
6. Donald Driver vs. ARI
7. Hines Ward at OAK
8. Reggie Brown vs. JAC
9. T.J. Houshmandzadeh vs. ATL
10. Marvin Harrison at DEN
11. Laveranues Coles at CLE
12. Plaxico Burress vs. TB
13. Chad Johnson vs. ATL
14. Reggie Wayne at DEN
15. Terrell Owens at CAR
16. Darrell Jackson at KC
17. Marques Colston vs. BAL
18. Randy Moss vs. PIT
19. Javon Walker vs. IND
20. Deion Branch at KC
21. Joey Galloway at NYG
22. Amani Toomer vs. TB
23. Joe Horn vs. BAL
24. Bryant Johnson at GB
25. Keyshawn Johnson vs. DAL
26. Braylon Edwards vs. NYJ
27. Eric Parker vs. STL
28. Donte' Stallworth vs. JAC
29. Terry Glenn at CAR
30. Reggie Williams at PHI
31. Muhsin Muhammad vs. SF
32. Drew Bennett vs. HOU
33. Doug Gabriel at MIN
34. Nate Washington at OAK
35. Isaac Bruce at SD
36. Eddie Kennison vs. SEA
37. Derrick Mason at NO
38. Mark Clayton at NO
39. Antonio Bryant at CHI
40. Jerricho Cotchery at CLE
41. Joe Jurevicius vs. NYJ
42. Santonio Holmes at OAK
43. Rod Smith vs. IND
44. Keenan McCardell vs. STL
45. Michael Jenkins at CIN
46. Rashied Davis vs. SF
47. Chad Jackson at MIN
48. Michael Clayton at NYG
49. Hank Baskett vs. JAC
50. Eric Moulds at TEN
51. Troy Williamson vs. NE
52. Bobby Wade vs. HOU
53. Samie Parker vs. SEA
54. Marcus Robinson vs. NE
55. Ashley Lelie at CIN
56. Ruvell Martin vs. ARI
57. Malcolm Floyd vs. STL
58. Travis Taylor vs. NE
59. Ernest Wilford at PHI
60. Ronald Curry vs. PIT

Tight Ends
1. Antonio Gates vs. STL
2. Jeremy Shockey vs. TB
3. Todd Heap at NO
4. Tony Gonzalez vs. SEA
5. Alge Crumpler at CIN
6. Kellen Winslow vs. NYJ
7. Heath Miller at OAK
8. Desmond Clark vs. SF
9. L.J. Smith vs. JAC
10. Jason Witten at CAR
11. Benjamin Watson at MIN
12. Dallas Clark at DEN
13. Owen Daniels at TEN
14. Bo Scaife vs. HOU
15. Ben Troupe vs. HOU
16. Alex Smith at NYG
17. Jermaine Wiggins vs. NE
18. Jerramy Stevens at KC
19. Chris Baker at CLE
20. Courtney Anderson vs. PIT
21. Joe Klopfenstein at SD
22. Bubba Franks vs. ARI
23. Eric Johnson at CHI
24. Reggie Kelly vs. ATL
25. Ernie Conwell vs. BAL

Defense/Special Teams
1. Chicago vs. SF
2. Pittsburgh at OAK
3. Baltimore at NO
4. New Orleans vs. BAL
5. N.Y. Giants vs. TB
6. Indianapolis at DEN
7. Philadelphia vs. JAC
8. Cincinnati vs. ATL
9. San Diego vs. STL
10. Minnesota vs. NE
11. New England vs. MIN
12. Jacksonville at PHI
13. Denver vs. IND
14. Carolina vs. DAL
15. Atlanta at CIN
16. Tampa Bay at NYG
17. Kansas City vs. SEA
18. Seattle at KC
19. N.Y. Jets at CLE
20. Green Bay vs. ARI
21. Dallas at CAR
22. Houston at TEN
23. Arizona vs. GB
24. Tennessee vs. HOU
25. Cleveland vs. NYJ
26. St. Louis at SD
27. San Francisco vs. CHI
28. Oakland vs. PIT
</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

Hache Man · Oct 28, 2006

Re: NFL Fantasy Football News/Articles - ESPN Insider 3 New Articles Added 10/26/06)

Re: NFL Fantasy Football News/Articles - ESPN Insider 3 New Articles Added 10/26/06)

Oct. 28, 2006, 9:11 AM
Week 8: Waiver Wire Work

By Scott Engel
ESPN.com





<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD style="PADDING-TOP: 10px" vAlign=top>
Each week, we help improve your fantasy outlook 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
Tony Romo, QB, Cowboys (Owned in 1.5 percent of ESPN leagues): While there has been nothing official announced about a QB change in Dallas, there are already reports that Romo is expected to be installed as the Cowboys' new starting quarterback. It makes a lot of sense for Dallas to make the change, so don't be surprised if and when it happens. Romo is more mobile and can operate more efficiently behind a questionable offensive line, and poor decisions by Drew Bledsoe might have earned him his seat on the bench. Even if Bledsoe somehow keeps the job, he'll be on a short leash. Romo could eventually be a quality fantasy starter once he starts to get more work with the first-team offense.
Seneca Wallace, QB, Seahawks (0.1 percent owned): He didn't look good overall in relief of Matt Hasselbeck Sunday, and Wallace is small and can get passes batted down or tipped at the line of scrimmage. But he is very athletic, and has looked good in the preseason before, and now will have time to get comfortable as a starter. Wallace throws well on the run and has the potential to throw accurate deep balls. He does have a high-quality receiving crew as well. Wallace won't post outstanding numbers, but he is a good add if you are hurting for help at QB or have to start two players at the position.
Justin Fargas, RB, Raiders (1.5 percent owned): When LaMont Jordan's back tightened up on him before Sunday's game against Arizona, Fargas was suddenly pushed into a prime role. Fargas wasn't anything better than mediocre and had no scores. But he could continue to get a lot of work if Jordan has trouble staying healthy, and Fargas was already in line to get more touches, as Art Shell seemed to be impressed with his potential. He could be just a change-of-pace RB when Jordan is available, but he'll continue to get more work if needed. Fargas isn't a strong runner and Zack Crockett could be used more in short-yardage situations when Jordan is out, but Fargas does have the speed to break a long run at any time, and you simply can't leave a possible starting RB on the free agent list when he is available.
Chad Jackson, WR, Patriots (5.6 percent owned): He has seemingly put some early-season injury issues behind him, and now is becoming a more integral part of the New England passing game. The Patriots have intended to make Jackson become more involved in the offense recently, and he served notice that he could become one of Tom Brady's favored targets with a 35-yard TD reception against the Bills Sunday. Jackson is a great combination of size and speed, and he plays with a QB that can get him the ball often even while he learns on the job. Jackson may lack experience, but Brady will get him the ball whenever he gets open. Brady makes good use of any receiver who has some talent, and Jackson will catch his eye and get the ball whenever he can create some space for himself.
Santonio Holmes, WR, Steelers (7.0 percent owned): He makes rookie mistakes, runs sloppy routes, and has been slow to get used to the pro game. But the Steelers won't wait for him to mature more, and want to get him involved in the offense now. They are designing plays to get Holmes the ball, and they will continue to throw to him, especially when he can get deep. Holmes isn't going to catch every ball thrown his way, and he'll likely continue to struggle on shorter routes. But he can certainly get deep, and he's going to get the ball every time he beats a defensive back by a few steps. Pittsburgh isn't going to ignore him as he learns, and he'll be targeted often, with some quality results every so often.
PRIME CUTS
Drew Bledsoe, QB, Cowboys (94.9 percent owned): It's just a matter of time before he officially is pinned to the bench. It might only be days before that happens. Even if he starts again at some point this season, you can't depend on him for consistent production, even with his good-looking receiving crew.
Jake Plummer, QB, Broncos (79.2 percent owned): The Broncos are winning games, so a switch to rookie QB Jay Cutler might not happen in the near future. But the Broncos have been conservative on offense, and Plummer simply isn't getting the job done statistically. Plummer has thrown only four TD passes this year, and none in three games.
Jerious Norwood, RB, Falcons (30.8 percent owned): For those of you still holding onto him in yearly leagues, let go. While Norwood can occasionally break loose for the big run, he's not getting enough touches to be a consistent fantasy contributor, even as a flex option.
Jerricho Cotchery, WR, N.Y. Jets (67.5 percent owned): He looked like a big sleeper early on, but now opponents respect him and give him more defensive attention. Cotchery hasn't been able to break loose for any big plays recently, and his numbers will continue to be mediocre as he operates as a strict possession receiver. Cotchery has not scored in the past three games and he has only one 100-yard game this year. Keenan McCardell, WR, Chargers (66.4 percent owned): He is no longer a major part of the offense. McCardell has no TD catches yet, and he has failed to total 70 receiving yards in a game. Stop waiting for him to come around.
</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

Hache Man · Oct 28, 2006

Re: NFL Fantasy Football News/Articles - ESPN Insider 3 New Articles Added 10/26/06)

Re: NFL Fantasy Football News/Articles - ESPN Insider 3 New Articles Added 10/26/06)

Oct. 28, 2006, 9:11 AM
Week 8: Waiver Wire Work

By Scott Engel
ESPN.com





<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD style="PADDING-TOP: 10px" vAlign=top>
Each week, we help improve your fantasy outlook 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
Tony Romo, QB, Cowboys (Owned in 1.5 percent of ESPN leagues): While there has been nothing official announced about a QB change in Dallas, there are already reports that Romo is expected to be installed as the Cowboys' new starting quarterback. It makes a lot of sense for Dallas to make the change, so don't be surprised if and when it happens. Romo is more mobile and can operate more efficiently behind a questionable offensive line, and poor decisions by Drew Bledsoe might have earned him his seat on the bench. Even if Bledsoe somehow keeps the job, he'll be on a short leash. Romo could eventually be a quality fantasy starter once he starts to get more work with the first-team offense.
Seneca Wallace, QB, Seahawks (0.1 percent owned): He didn't look good overall in relief of Matt Hasselbeck Sunday, and Wallace is small and can get passes batted down or tipped at the line of scrimmage. But he is very athletic, and has looked good in the preseason before, and now will have time to get comfortable as a starter. Wallace throws well on the run and has the potential to throw accurate deep balls. He does have a high-quality receiving crew as well. Wallace won't post outstanding numbers, but he is a good add if you are hurting for help at QB or have to start two players at the position.
Justin Fargas, RB, Raiders (1.5 percent owned): When LaMont Jordan's back tightened up on him before Sunday's game against Arizona, Fargas was suddenly pushed into a prime role. Fargas wasn't anything better than mediocre and had no scores. But he could continue to get a lot of work if Jordan has trouble staying healthy, and Fargas was already in line to get more touches, as Art Shell seemed to be impressed with his potential. He could be just a change-of-pace RB when Jordan is available, but he'll continue to get more work if needed. Fargas isn't a strong runner and Zack Crockett could be used more in short-yardage situations when Jordan is out, but Fargas does have the speed to break a long run at any time, and you simply can't leave a possible starting RB on the free agent list when he is available.
Chad Jackson, WR, Patriots (5.6 percent owned): He has seemingly put some early-season injury issues behind him, and now is becoming a more integral part of the New England passing game. The Patriots have intended to make Jackson become more involved in the offense recently, and he served notice that he could become one of Tom Brady's favored targets with a 35-yard TD reception against the Bills Sunday. Jackson is a great combination of size and speed, and he plays with a QB that can get him the ball often even while he learns on the job. Jackson may lack experience, but Brady will get him the ball whenever he gets open. Brady makes good use of any receiver who has some talent, and Jackson will catch his eye and get the ball whenever he can create some space for himself.
Santonio Holmes, WR, Steelers (7.0 percent owned): He makes rookie mistakes, runs sloppy routes, and has been slow to get used to the pro game. But the Steelers won't wait for him to mature more, and want to get him involved in the offense now. They are designing plays to get Holmes the ball, and they will continue to throw to him, especially when he can get deep. Holmes isn't going to catch every ball thrown his way, and he'll likely continue to struggle on shorter routes. But he can certainly get deep, and he's going to get the ball every time he beats a defensive back by a few steps. Pittsburgh isn't going to ignore him as he learns, and he'll be targeted often, with some quality results every so often.
PRIME CUTS
Drew Bledsoe, QB, Cowboys (94.9 percent owned): It's just a matter of time before he officially is pinned to the bench. It might only be days before that happens. Even if he starts again at some point this season, you can't depend on him for consistent production, even with his good-looking receiving crew.
Jake Plummer, QB, Broncos (79.2 percent owned): The Broncos are winning games, so a switch to rookie QB Jay Cutler might not happen in the near future. But the Broncos have been conservative on offense, and Plummer simply isn't getting the job done statistically. Plummer has thrown only four TD passes this year, and none in three games.
Jerious Norwood, RB, Falcons (30.8 percent owned): For those of you still holding onto him in yearly leagues, let go. While Norwood can occasionally break loose for the big run, he's not getting enough touches to be a consistent fantasy contributor, even as a flex option.
Jerricho Cotchery, WR, N.Y. Jets (67.5 percent owned): He looked like a big sleeper early on, but now opponents respect him and give him more defensive attention. Cotchery hasn't been able to break loose for any big plays recently, and his numbers will continue to be mediocre as he operates as a strict possession receiver. Cotchery has not scored in the past three games and he has only one 100-yard game this year. Keenan McCardell, WR, Chargers (66.4 percent owned): He is no longer a major part of the offense. McCardell has no TD catches yet, and he has failed to total 70 receiving yards in a game. Stop waiting for him to come around.
</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

Hache Man · Oct 30, 2006

Re: NFL Fantasy Football News/Articles - ESPN Insider 9 New Articles Added 10/28/06)

Re: NFL Fantasy Football News/Articles - ESPN Insider 9 New Articles Added 10/28/06)

Oct. 30, 2006
Engel: Week 8 wrapup

By Scott Engel
ESPN.com





<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD style="PADDING-TOP: 10px" vAlign=top>
Here's a quick-hitting recap of key performances and news from the eighth week of the NFL season, complete with in-depth fantasy analysis.
Michael Vick, fantasy star? After his amazing performance against the Steelers, Vick served notice that it was no fluke, and he might have finally shed the stigma of being a statistical underachiever. Vick looked terrific again against Cincinnati, throwing for 291 yards and three TDs. Vick got great pass protection and spread the ball around well, as he did throw one TD pass to favorite target Alge Crumpler, but also tossed scoring passes to Michael Jenkins and FB Justin Griffith. Many opponents have come into games recently not expecting Vick to beat them by throwing downfield with so much success, and have been focused on containing the Atlanta running game while trying to prevent Vick from throwing on the move. Now that Vick is showing he demands more respect as a pure passer, defenses will have to try to stop him with different methods. Right now, however, there seems to be no sure way of stopping Vick, so keep him in your lineup while he stays hot.
Seneca steps in: Seneca Wallace became the latest backup quarterback to prove that passers who come off the bench shouldn't be immediately judged as inferior. After a full week of practice with the Seahawks' first-team offense, Wallace played well overall, despite throwing two interceptions. Wallace did throw for 198 yards and three TDs, and proved he can certainly be a quality fantasy starter if needed. Wallace is small, but he has a very strong arm, is very comfortable in the Seattle offense, and isn't intimidated easily. He came into a hostile environment at Arrowhead Stadium, stood firm in the pocket when he had to, and also threw well on the move. The production of his wide receivers did suffer, though, as he spread the ball around, and Darrell Jackson's 49-yard TD catch came when CB Ty Law fell down. Still, Wallace certainly wasn't a flop, and he is a decent stopgap starter if you need one. He also helped the Seahawks rediscover Jerramy Stevens, who made a key third-down reception and hauled in his first TD pass of the year.
Against the wind: As feared, heavy wind gusts hurt the passing games of the Giants and Buccaneers at the Meadowlands. It was more of a fantasy factor from New York's perspective, as most owners likely chose to sit Bruce Gradkowski on the road against a tough, physical front seven, regardless of the conditions. Gradkowski was ineffective as expected, throwing for just 139 yards and no TDs. But the performance of Eli Manning was certainly disappointing, as he threw for 154 yards and just one TD on a seven-yard pass that became a work of art by Plaxico Burress. Many of Manning's deeper throws were incompletions, as he overthrew his intended targets when they got open downfield. Credit Burress for helping out with great catches on the TD and in a few other instances, as he made fine adjustments all day to wind-blown balls. He finished with seven receptions for 86 yards. Manning threw underneath often and while the elements clearly hurt his numbers, expect him to post much better totals against Houston next week if the weather doesn't affect him in a similar manner.
Jamal Lewis shows up: Before Brian Billick took over the playcalling, Lewis was complaining he wasn't getting enough work. With Billick calling the shots in an impressive win over the Saints, Lewis looked like a reliable workhorse again. He carried 31 times for 109 yards, becoming a major focal point of an efficient Baltimore offense. Is this the real Lewis, and can we expect him to be dependable for the rest of the year now? Well, it will take much more than just one good outing for Lewis to fully regain the confidence of most fantasy owners. But it was an encouraging performance, as Lewis clearly benefited from the opportunity to work himself into a positive rhythm by carrying often. Billick still has a lot of confidence in Lewis, which is great for Lewis' fantasy owners. Lewis faces the usually vulnerable Cincinnati run defense next week, so he could deliver another solid outing,
Matt Leinart continues to sputter: You can't simply just look at a matchup and assume that a given player will have an outstanding game. Sure, we all know the Packers have a shaky pass defense, but that doesn't mean it will always be exploited. Leinart has struggled on the road, and delivered another disappointing performance away from home when many of us thought he could perform better against the Packers. The rookie has thrown only one TD pass in the past two games, both on the road, and he has been intercepted three times. Leinart hasn't done well against man-to-man coverages and his play isn't being helped by the absence of Larry Fitzgerald. Bryant Johnson and Troy Walters have been unsuitable replacements and Anquan Boldin has been the clear focus of opposing defenses in the passing game. Hopefully, a bye week and the return of Fitzgerald in Week 10 at home against Dallas can help Leinart's outlook, but he should be headed back to your bench for the next two weeks because of the bye and the need to prove himself again. Recently, Leinart has lost his luster and doesn't look like a quality starter against any opponent.
The Chicago RB picture: We kept hearing all week how Cedric Benson was going to get more work, and wondered if that would lower the appeal of Thomas Jones. Yet Jones proved he is still definitely the Bears' No. 1 RB, as he carried 23 times for 111 yards and scored on a picturesque seven-yard run in which he reversed his field and then found the end zone. Benson carried only eight times for 26 times, but scored on a one-yard run and gave the signal he will continue to be a factor in many of Chicago's short-yardage situations. Ultimately, the Bears had hoped the two RBs would complement one another well, and that seems to be the case now. Look for them to continue to co-exist well, with Jones being the better play for more touches and still some chances to score, while Benson should steal some, but not all of the goal-line carries.
Philly fizzles: The Eagles' top-ranked offense was somewhat shockingly shut down by a Jacksonville team that had trouble containing the Texans the week before. The Jaguars, missing top players like LB Mike Peterson and DT Marcus Stroud, still came in determined to erase the specter of their loss to Houston while meeting the challenge of facing the Philadelphia offense head-on. The secondary contained the usually prolific Eagles wide receivers and the Jaguars refused to let up any big plays, as Donovan McNabb often couldn't find any open targets downfield on several important occasions. When he did get a chance to hit Brown deep at one point, McNabb overthrew him. A bye week should give the Eagles another week to regroup and allow more rest for top stars like Brian Westbrook and Donte' Stallworth, who have battled injuries. McNabb threw for only 168 yards and no scores, and while the wind was a factor, it wasn't close to the conditions in New Jersey. Expect the Eagles' offense to bounce back quickly after the bye week.
What happened to Travis Henry? It seemed like a matchup made for easy fantasy success. The rejuvenated Henry against the seemingly defenseless Texans. But the results weren't anywhere near what most of us expected, as Henry was held to 29 rushing yards on 15 carries. Houston came in focused to stop the Tennessee running game, and got the job done. While they didn't win the game, the Texans showed us that the Titans need to develop more offensive balance before we can trust Henry on a regular basis. Vince Young threw a TD pass and ran for another, but better opponents will continue to key on Henry often and put games in the hands of Young, who won't always perform well when Henry is contained and he has to throw often. Henry has suddenly gone from reborn RB to shaky fantasy option again. LenDale White rushed for 35 yards on seven carries and could soon seriously threaten Henry's playing time.
Jets fly low: For much of the season, the Jets' offense has been efficient, and looked good entering a matchup with the Browns. But rookie Leon Washington, who had been a hot option for this week, posted disappointing numbers. He was held to 51 rushing yards and lost a fumble. Washington was held down by a physical Cleveland front seven. Meanwhile, Chad Pennington threw for 108 yards with no TDs and was intercepted twice. On many of his timing passes, his touch was often inaccurate, and he also faced frequent pass pressure. A finely-tuned New York offense was thrown of its rhythm and pacing. The Jets have a bye in Week 9, but things won't get any easier when they face the Patriots on the road in Week 10. Ben looks bad again: It's becoming very apparent that unless Ben Roethlisberger is fully healthy, we can't count on him to deliver decent fantasy numbers. Coming off a concussion, Roethlisberger's decision-making and timing looked almost as questionable as it did when he first stepped on the field for the first time during the regular season. Roethlisberger threw only one TD pass and was intercepted four times by Oakland's unheralded pass defense. Roethlisberger was looking better before he suffered the concussion last week, but now it looks like fantasy players should bench him until he proves himself all over again.
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Hache Man · Oct 30, 2006

Re: NFL Fantasy Football News/Articles - ESPN Insider 9 New Articles Added 10/28/06)

Re: NFL Fantasy Football News/Articles - ESPN Insider 9 New Articles Added 10/28/06)

Oct. 30, 2006
Engel: Week 8 wrapup

By Scott Engel
ESPN.com





<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD style="PADDING-TOP: 10px" vAlign=top>
Here's a quick-hitting recap of key performances and news from the eighth week of the NFL season, complete with in-depth fantasy analysis.
Michael Vick, fantasy star? After his amazing performance against the Steelers, Vick served notice that it was no fluke, and he might have finally shed the stigma of being a statistical underachiever. Vick looked terrific again against Cincinnati, throwing for 291 yards and three TDs. Vick got great pass protection and spread the ball around well, as he did throw one TD pass to favorite target Alge Crumpler, but also tossed scoring passes to Michael Jenkins and FB Justin Griffith. Many opponents have come into games recently not expecting Vick to beat them by throwing downfield with so much success, and have been focused on containing the Atlanta running game while trying to prevent Vick from throwing on the move. Now that Vick is showing he demands more respect as a pure passer, defenses will have to try to stop him with different methods. Right now, however, there seems to be no sure way of stopping Vick, so keep him in your lineup while he stays hot.
Seneca steps in: Seneca Wallace became the latest backup quarterback to prove that passers who come off the bench shouldn't be immediately judged as inferior. After a full week of practice with the Seahawks' first-team offense, Wallace played well overall, despite throwing two interceptions. Wallace did throw for 198 yards and three TDs, and proved he can certainly be a quality fantasy starter if needed. Wallace is small, but he has a very strong arm, is very comfortable in the Seattle offense, and isn't intimidated easily. He came into a hostile environment at Arrowhead Stadium, stood firm in the pocket when he had to, and also threw well on the move. The production of his wide receivers did suffer, though, as he spread the ball around, and Darrell Jackson's 49-yard TD catch came when CB Ty Law fell down. Still, Wallace certainly wasn't a flop, and he is a decent stopgap starter if you need one. He also helped the Seahawks rediscover Jerramy Stevens, who made a key third-down reception and hauled in his first TD pass of the year.
Against the wind: As feared, heavy wind gusts hurt the passing games of the Giants and Buccaneers at the Meadowlands. It was more of a fantasy factor from New York's perspective, as most owners likely chose to sit Bruce Gradkowski on the road against a tough, physical front seven, regardless of the conditions. Gradkowski was ineffective as expected, throwing for just 139 yards and no TDs. But the performance of Eli Manning was certainly disappointing, as he threw for 154 yards and just one TD on a seven-yard pass that became a work of art by Plaxico Burress. Many of Manning's deeper throws were incompletions, as he overthrew his intended targets when they got open downfield. Credit Burress for helping out with great catches on the TD and in a few other instances, as he made fine adjustments all day to wind-blown balls. He finished with seven receptions for 86 yards. Manning threw underneath often and while the elements clearly hurt his numbers, expect him to post much better totals against Houston next week if the weather doesn't affect him in a similar manner.
Jamal Lewis shows up: Before Brian Billick took over the playcalling, Lewis was complaining he wasn't getting enough work. With Billick calling the shots in an impressive win over the Saints, Lewis looked like a reliable workhorse again. He carried 31 times for 109 yards, becoming a major focal point of an efficient Baltimore offense. Is this the real Lewis, and can we expect him to be dependable for the rest of the year now? Well, it will take much more than just one good outing for Lewis to fully regain the confidence of most fantasy owners. But it was an encouraging performance, as Lewis clearly benefited from the opportunity to work himself into a positive rhythm by carrying often. Billick still has a lot of confidence in Lewis, which is great for Lewis' fantasy owners. Lewis faces the usually vulnerable Cincinnati run defense next week, so he could deliver another solid outing,
Matt Leinart continues to sputter: You can't simply just look at a matchup and assume that a given player will have an outstanding game. Sure, we all know the Packers have a shaky pass defense, but that doesn't mean it will always be exploited. Leinart has struggled on the road, and delivered another disappointing performance away from home when many of us thought he could perform better against the Packers. The rookie has thrown only one TD pass in the past two games, both on the road, and he has been intercepted three times. Leinart hasn't done well against man-to-man coverages and his play isn't being helped by the absence of Larry Fitzgerald. Bryant Johnson and Troy Walters have been unsuitable replacements and Anquan Boldin has been the clear focus of opposing defenses in the passing game. Hopefully, a bye week and the return of Fitzgerald in Week 10 at home against Dallas can help Leinart's outlook, but he should be headed back to your bench for the next two weeks because of the bye and the need to prove himself again. Recently, Leinart has lost his luster and doesn't look like a quality starter against any opponent.
The Chicago RB picture: We kept hearing all week how Cedric Benson was going to get more work, and wondered if that would lower the appeal of Thomas Jones. Yet Jones proved he is still definitely the Bears' No. 1 RB, as he carried 23 times for 111 yards and scored on a picturesque seven-yard run in which he reversed his field and then found the end zone. Benson carried only eight times for 26 times, but scored on a one-yard run and gave the signal he will continue to be a factor in many of Chicago's short-yardage situations. Ultimately, the Bears had hoped the two RBs would complement one another well, and that seems to be the case now. Look for them to continue to co-exist well, with Jones being the better play for more touches and still some chances to score, while Benson should steal some, but not all of the goal-line carries.
Philly fizzles: The Eagles' top-ranked offense was somewhat shockingly shut down by a Jacksonville team that had trouble containing the Texans the week before. The Jaguars, missing top players like LB Mike Peterson and DT Marcus Stroud, still came in determined to erase the specter of their loss to Houston while meeting the challenge of facing the Philadelphia offense head-on. The secondary contained the usually prolific Eagles wide receivers and the Jaguars refused to let up any big plays, as Donovan McNabb often couldn't find any open targets downfield on several important occasions. When he did get a chance to hit Brown deep at one point, McNabb overthrew him. A bye week should give the Eagles another week to regroup and allow more rest for top stars like Brian Westbrook and Donte' Stallworth, who have battled injuries. McNabb threw for only 168 yards and no scores, and while the wind was a factor, it wasn't close to the conditions in New Jersey. Expect the Eagles' offense to bounce back quickly after the bye week.
What happened to Travis Henry? It seemed like a matchup made for easy fantasy success. The rejuvenated Henry against the seemingly defenseless Texans. But the results weren't anywhere near what most of us expected, as Henry was held to 29 rushing yards on 15 carries. Houston came in focused to stop the Tennessee running game, and got the job done. While they didn't win the game, the Texans showed us that the Titans need to develop more offensive balance before we can trust Henry on a regular basis. Vince Young threw a TD pass and ran for another, but better opponents will continue to key on Henry often and put games in the hands of Young, who won't always perform well when Henry is contained and he has to throw often. Henry has suddenly gone from reborn RB to shaky fantasy option again. LenDale White rushed for 35 yards on seven carries and could soon seriously threaten Henry's playing time.
Jets fly low: For much of the season, the Jets' offense has been efficient, and looked good entering a matchup with the Browns. But rookie Leon Washington, who had been a hot option for this week, posted disappointing numbers. He was held to 51 rushing yards and lost a fumble. Washington was held down by a physical Cleveland front seven. Meanwhile, Chad Pennington threw for 108 yards with no TDs and was intercepted twice. On many of his timing passes, his touch was often inaccurate, and he also faced frequent pass pressure. A finely-tuned New York offense was thrown of its rhythm and pacing. The Jets have a bye in Week 9, but things won't get any easier when they face the Patriots on the road in Week 10. Ben looks bad again: It's becoming very apparent that unless Ben Roethlisberger is fully healthy, we can't count on him to deliver decent fantasy numbers. Coming off a concussion, Roethlisberger's decision-making and timing looked almost as questionable as it did when he first stepped on the field for the first time during the regular season. Roethlisberger threw only one TD pass and was intercepted four times by Oakland's unheralded pass defense. Roethlisberger was looking better before he suffered the concussion last week, but now it looks like fantasy players should bench him until he proves himself all over again.
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Hache Man · Oct 30, 2006

Re: NFL Fantasy Football News/Articles - ESPN Insider 9 New Articles Added 10/28/06)

Re: NFL Fantasy Football News/Articles - ESPN Insider 9 New Articles Added 10/28/06)

Monday, October 30, 2006

By Tristan H. Cockcroft
ESPN.com





<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width=762 border=0><TBODY><TR><TD vAlign=top width=552>Drew Bledsoe, better make sure that seat of yours on the bench is comfortable. On Sunday night, Tony Romo, the unknown, undrafted, untested quarterback making his first career NFL start, made Cowboys coach Bill Parcells look good for his decision to make a switch at the position midway through the Week 7 contest. Now it's Romo's job to lose, and judging from Sunday's performance, he's nowhere near ready to hand it over.
Sure, for fantasy, the numbers weren't that extraordinary. Romo completed 24 of 36 passes for 270 yards, one touchdown and one interception, good for 15 fantasy points. Still, 15 isn't a bad number for a bye-week or injury sub, and it did rank him 11th among quarterbacks, tied with the Giants' Eli Manning and ahead of the Chargers' Philip Rivers (14) and Jets' Chad Pennington (11), guys you'd never have sat this week.
But what's important to gather from Romo's performance was his poise facing a challenging assignment at Carolina. While he did make that one costly interception, one which resulted in a Panthers touchdown on the very next play to put Carolina up 14-0, Romo didn't crack under the pressure of playing from behind, rallying his team to 35 unanswered points in the final three quarters. He also completed passes to six different receivers, helping Terrell Owens notch his first 100-yard receiving game of the season and tight end Jason Witten nab his first touchdown and a season-high six receptions.
By no means does this mark Romo as a safe, reliable fantasy pick. At best, he's worth a pickup to stash on reserve for depth, perhaps slotting in based on the matchup in a desperate circumstance. He has a strong arm, but while gaining experience is bound to make the occasional mistake, and don't forget, he has some tough defenses ahead to face.
What it does do is keep the value of guys like Owens, Terry Glenn and Witten stable, and it ensures that there should be enough running lanes open most weeks for Julius Jones and Marion Barber III to succeed. Glenn's value as the No. 2 receiver seems likely to be a little less in the Romo era, though, while Witten's gets a noticeable boost, as demonstrated on Sunday. Don't fret about your Dallas offensive players, because it seems Romo should be at least as effective at the helm as Bledsoe was to begin the season. <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
Maybe it's a little early to be thinking about the fantasy postseason, but with most leagues' trade deadlines rapidly approaching -- in ESPN leagues, it's Nov. 22 -- I think it's time to start thinking about the teams that might go into "shut-down mode" with their starters after clinching early playoff spots. With the Bears' and Colts' victories in Week 8, both teams are now 7-0 and potentially on their way to three-game leads in their divisions pending Monday Night's outcome, and each team has a two-game lead on any other team in its conference. It's something to think about if you're mulling trades for Chicago or Indianapolis players, because there's a greater chance their studs might miss a little time in Weeks 16-17 than the typical team. It shouldn't be a deal-breaker, but keep it in mind. ... Like Tatum Bell's performance in Week 3, Colts RB Joseph Addai's 17-carry, 93-yard performance in Week 8 should cement his status as the starter and go-to guy for the rest of the season. He has averaged 5.3 yards per carry in four games in October and remains on pace for only 199 carries for the season, meaning his legs should still be pretty fresh. I don't see Addai in the long term -- I'm talking seasons, not weeks -- ever being a contender for No. 1 overall RB contender, but I also see sleeper potential as a top-10 player at his position from Week 9 forward. ... When considering your weekly matchups, don't forget to take into account where the game is being played. A home game is often a noticeable advantage to certain teams, yet a lot of people seem to overlook it. Case in point: The Giants have now surrendered six points and 338 yards combined in their past two home contests. Their next two games, incidentally, are at home, against the Texans and Bears. Boy, how that Week 10 game against Chicago could be an interesting one.

THE BOTTOM LINE

Tatum Bell, RB, Broncos
13 carries, 27 rushing yards, 0 TDs
Just when it seemed clear which Bell in Denver was going to be the most reliable fantasy option the remainder of the season, and perhaps a top-10 player overall with some luck, Tatum Bell went ahead and offered up a stinker like this. In four previous games as the go-to guy, he totaled 93 carries for 413 yards (4.4 per carry, 103.3 per game) and two scores, each time topping 83 yards on the ground. Two of the games (Week 3 at the Patriots, Week 5 against the Ravens) even came against top-10 rush defenses, and considering Tatum entered Week 8 averaging 5.1 yards per carry for his NFL career, it's no wonder everyone was suddenly on his bandwagon. But despite going up against an Indianapolis rush defense ranked 31st, he managed the worst yards-per-carry average (2.1) of his NFL career (in games where he had any touches, of course), and afterward, it was revealed that much of the reason Mike Bell was in there running wild for 131 yards and two scores on 13 carries after halftime is because Tatum admitted his turf toe injury was limiting him. So on came Mike, in a breakout performance for him, and now the battle of the Bells is on once again in Denver. Turf toe injuries do have a tendency to linger, meaning Tatum's status as the elite fantasy back is indeed in jeopardy, and if you're one of the dozens who cut Mike thinking his time was done, it's time to snatch him back up. He's clearly capable of excelling behind that vaunted Denver offensive line for as long as he's needed to spell Tatum.
</TD><TD width=15><SPACER height="1" type="block" width="15"></TD><TD class=rightcell vAlign=top width=195>TOP LINES
<TABLE class=tablehead cellSpacing=1 cellPadding=3><TBODY><TR><TD class=stathead align=middle bgColor=#555555 colSpan=6>Week 8</TD></TR><TR><TD bgColor=#ffffff>

</TD><TD colSpan=5>Michael Vick, QB, Falcons: Has 523 passing yards, 7 TDs in his past two G; now he faces the Lions' poor pass D</TD></TR><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>291</NOBR></TD><TD><NOBR>3</NOBR></TD><TD><NOBR>0</NOBR></TD><TD><NOBR>55</NOBR></TD><TD><NOBR>28</NOBR></TD></TR><TR><TD bgColor=#ffffff colSpan=5 height=3></TD></TR><TR><TD bgColor=#ffffff>

</TD><TD colSpan=5>Larry Johnson, RB, Chiefs: It's his 1st career 4-TD G; he has 658 scrimmage yards, 10 TDs in his past five G</TD></TR><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>39</NOBR></TD><TD><NOBR>155</NOBR></TD><TD><NOBR>26</NOBR></TD><TD><NOBR>4</NOBR></TD><TD><NOBR>41</NOBR></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><TABLE class=tablehead cellSpacing=1 cellPadding=3><TBODY><TR><TD bgColor=#ffffff>

</TD><TD colSpan=5>Reggie Wayne, WR, Colts: He has scored in three straight G and now has back-to-back 100-yard efforts</TD></TR><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>10</NOBR></TD><TD><NOBR>138</NOBR></TD><TD><NOBR>11</NOBR></TD><TD><NOBR>3</NOBR></TD><TD><NOBR>33</NOBR></TD></TR><TR><TD bgColor=#ffffff colSpan=5 height=3></TD></TR><TR><TD bgColor=#ffffff>

</TD><TD colSpan=5>Desmond Clark, TE, Bears: On pace for 59 catches, 894 yards and seven TDs, all of which would set career highs</TD></TR><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>86</NOBR></TD><TD><NOBR>8</NOBR></TD><TD><NOBR>2</NOBR></TD><TD><NOBR>20</NOBR></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>



Surfin' the Scoreboard

Lineup Shuffling
? Texans coach Gary Kubiak said after the Week 8 game at the Titans that QB David Carr would remain his starter, despite his three turnovers that led to QB Sage Rosenfels coming on in relief. Carr would be facing a poor matchup at the Giants in Week 9, however, and shouldn't be trusted in fantasy leagues the way he has been playing.

Trainer's Room
? Saints RB Reggie Bush left the Week 8 game against the Ravens in the fourth quarter with an ankle injury, though X-rays taken afterward were negative. He was limping on the sidelines after leaving the game, and should be able to play in Week 9 at the Buccaneers, though with his so-so performance so far, it might be best to reserve him. Any missed time by Bush would help boost RB Deuce McAllister's fantasy stock.
? Chiefs coach Herm Edwards confirmed after the Week 8 game against the Seahawks that QB Trent Green (concussion) would reclaim his starting job once healthy. Green appears on track to return either in Week 10 or 11, so if you're a QB Damon Huard owner, be prepared to see him return to his old backup role soon.
? Packers RB Vernand Morency left the Week 8 game against the Cardinals in the fourth quarter with a lower back injury. His status for Week 9 at the Bulls is unknown, but if he's sidelined, it'll help make RB Ahman Green a stronger weekly consideration. RB Noah Herron would presumably step up as the No. 2 option if Morency misses time. ? Friday Box | Thursday Box | Karabell's Blog




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Hache Man · Oct 30, 2006