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Re: NFL Fantasy Football News/Articles - ESPN Insider (5 New Articles Added 9/11/06)
Re: NFL Fantasy Football News/Articles - ESPN Insider (5 New Articles Added 9/11/06)
Sep. 12, 2006, 3:09 PM
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FFL: Waiver Wire Work Week 2
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By Scott Engel
ESPN Fantasy Games
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Each week, we help you improve your fantasy roster by recommending the best players to add and drop. Here are some players you should consider who are probably available on your league's free-agent list, and others you should cut loose if you need to make extra room on your roster.
TOP ADDS
Chad Pennington, QB, Jets (Owned in 5.7 percent of ESPN.com leagues): This one might seem obvious to more savvy fantasy players, but some may have doubts whether Pennington can continue to play as well as he did in the season opener. While there certainly will be not many 300-yard outings ahead against better opponents, Pennington will at least give you respectable production if you're desperate to replace Trent Green or if you are stuck with Brett Favre or Aaron Brooks. Pennington is throwing with good accuracy and making quick, crisp reads. If he starts to put more consistent velocity on the ball, he should be a safe, but unspectacular fantasy option in the near future.
Philip Rivers, QB, Chargers (36.8 percent owned): His Monday night performance should convince you he is a decent desperation option, and many fantasy owners are searching for at least respectable choices at quarterback. Rivers is already a good game manager, and he is making quick, smart decisions. He has displayed good accuracy so far, and even if his numbers won't jump off the stat sheet at you, he can give you decent totals. He's certainly worth considering in the second week against Tennessee, after the Titans made Pennington look very good. Playing in the AFC West means Rivers could have some good outings in high-scoring affairs. He'll be useful when the matchup is right.
Jerious Norwood, RB, Falcons (37.7 percent owned): If you're looking for a very promising flex player or a terrific backup, Norwood isn't going to be available for much longer in many leagues. If you can still add him, consider yourself lucky, and put him on your roster immediately. Norwood carried 10 times for 66 yards in his pro debut and can explode through the defensive front seven any time he touches the ball. If you don't get him now, you may never have him. Norwood doesn't get regular carries, but he makes the most of just about every opportunity.
Reggie Williams, WR, Jaguars (3.0 percent owned): Williams must prove himself now with Jimmy Smith retired, or his career could be headed in the wrong direction for good. While he only finished with 47 receiving yards against Dallas, Williams caught six balls, including a 6-yard TD reception. Williams made the tough grabs that used to turn into drops in the past. He could finally step forward as a dependable target for Byron Leftwich, so take the gamble that he'll finally improve.
Michael Jenkins, WR, Falcons (4.6 percent owned): Here's another previously enigmatic young wide receiver who could be ready to raise his game. The preseason buzz in Atlanta centered around Roddy White, and then the Falcons also acquired Ashley Lelie. Jenkins, however, was Michael Vick's best receiver against Carolina, finishing with three catches for 77 yards, including a 34-yard TD reception. If Vick continues to throw the ball well, Jenkins could emerge as his preferred wide receiver.
Jerricho Cotchery, WR, Jets (0.2 percent owned): He quietly stepped forward as a solid possession receiver in the preseason, and Cotchery caught six passes for 65 yards and a TD in the opener. Cotchery isn't going to be explosive, but he will make a lot of important receptions, especially when the Jets look much worse than they did in the first week and have to play catch-up. Cotchery is a fine add for depth and should certainly get strong consideration in leagues of 12 or more teams.
PRIME CUTS
Aaron Brooks, QB, Raiders (90.2 percent owned): He looked awful in the opener, eventually getting benched, and there could be many more bad performances ahead with a shaky offensive line and a receiving corps that looks like a mess. Brooks held onto the ball too long on Monday and he had a lot of trouble finding open receivers, plus his decision-making skills have always been in question. Don't waste time waiting for him to turn things around.
Jon Kitna, QB, Lions (58.3 percent owned): It's going to be a long season for a guy who was an overachiever at times in the past. He doesn't have the type of offensive support he had when he played well for Cincinnati, and Mike Martz can't perform miracles when he doesn't have a dependable running game or a reliable receiving crew. Kitna can play well statistically at times if he has a good skill position cast, but other than Roy Williams, who will continue to draw extra defensive attention, Kitna doesn't have much help and seems destined to struggle all year long. You can likely add a better second QB in many leagues.
Ron Dayne, RB, Texans (65.6 percent owned): Too many fantasy owners keep waiting for him to somehow rise up and put a completely disappointing career so far behind him. There still is hollow hope that he will at least become a respectable fantasy player or goal-line RB at some point. But it's time some of us stopped thinking he still can be a surprise. He may not even be a factor in Houston, where Wali Lundy and Vernand Morency aren't looking like very promising options, either. The Texans might not find a dependable RB all year long, and with only five TD runs in the last three years, there's no real reason to believe Dayne will suddenly become a reliable short-yardage ball carrier. Don't waste any more time or roster space on a guy who will never emerge as the sleeper some thought he would be.
Brandon Lloyd, WR, Redskins (94.6 percent owned): I liked him as a possible sleeper during the summer, but Lloyd did nothing to impress during the preseason, and was shut out on Monday night. The Washington passing game clearly won't scare a lot of defenses, and Lloyd isn't a top option for Mark Brunell. Lloyd does have a tendency to make the pretty catch, and he should have a few decent outings, but he likely won't help you win too many fantasy games.
Jerry Porter, WR, Raiders (85.2 percent owned): Porter fell to fourth on the depth chart at WR recently in Oakland, then he was deactivated on Monday. Porter had been a bust as a starter in the past, and now he is sitting in favor of Alvis Whitted. Don't hang on to him waiting for a sudden improvement or a trade. Even if he is dealt, he'll have to acclimate himself to a new team and he does nothing to inspire much confidence as a starter anywhere else in the future. Joe Jurevicius, WR, Browns (79.2 percent owned): He is expected to miss at least four to six weeks because of broken ribs, and you shouldn't expect much when he returns. Jurevicius was a better fit in Seattle last year, where he was one of a few key pass-catchers in a balanced passing game. He'll be much less effective as a featured target in a much less effective Cleveland passing game if he gets back into the starting lineup when he comes back. Don't hold on to him waiting for late-season production. Cut him now.
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Re: NFL Fantasy Football News/Articles - ESPN Insider (5 New Articles Added 9/11/06)
Sep. 12, 2006, 3:09 PM
<SCRIPT language=javascript src="http://ai059.insightexpressai.com/adServer/adServer.aspx?bannerID=7560"></SCRIPT>
FFL: Waiver Wire Work Week 2
<!-- end pagetitle --><!-- begin bylinebox -->
<!-- firstName = Scott --><!-- lastName = Engel -->
By Scott Engel
ESPN Fantasy Games
<!-- begin presby2 -->
<!-- end presby2 -->
<!-- end bylinebox -->
<!-- begin text11 div -->
<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD style="PADDING-TOP: 10px" vAlign=top><!-- begin leftcol --><!-- template inline -->
Each week, we help you improve your fantasy roster by recommending the best players to add and drop. Here are some players you should consider who are probably available on your league's free-agent list, and others you should cut loose if you need to make extra room on your roster.
TOP ADDS
Chad Pennington, QB, Jets (Owned in 5.7 percent of ESPN.com leagues): This one might seem obvious to more savvy fantasy players, but some may have doubts whether Pennington can continue to play as well as he did in the season opener. While there certainly will be not many 300-yard outings ahead against better opponents, Pennington will at least give you respectable production if you're desperate to replace Trent Green or if you are stuck with Brett Favre or Aaron Brooks. Pennington is throwing with good accuracy and making quick, crisp reads. If he starts to put more consistent velocity on the ball, he should be a safe, but unspectacular fantasy option in the near future.
Philip Rivers, QB, Chargers (36.8 percent owned): His Monday night performance should convince you he is a decent desperation option, and many fantasy owners are searching for at least respectable choices at quarterback. Rivers is already a good game manager, and he is making quick, smart decisions. He has displayed good accuracy so far, and even if his numbers won't jump off the stat sheet at you, he can give you decent totals. He's certainly worth considering in the second week against Tennessee, after the Titans made Pennington look very good. Playing in the AFC West means Rivers could have some good outings in high-scoring affairs. He'll be useful when the matchup is right.
Jerious Norwood, RB, Falcons (37.7 percent owned): If you're looking for a very promising flex player or a terrific backup, Norwood isn't going to be available for much longer in many leagues. If you can still add him, consider yourself lucky, and put him on your roster immediately. Norwood carried 10 times for 66 yards in his pro debut and can explode through the defensive front seven any time he touches the ball. If you don't get him now, you may never have him. Norwood doesn't get regular carries, but he makes the most of just about every opportunity.
Reggie Williams, WR, Jaguars (3.0 percent owned): Williams must prove himself now with Jimmy Smith retired, or his career could be headed in the wrong direction for good. While he only finished with 47 receiving yards against Dallas, Williams caught six balls, including a 6-yard TD reception. Williams made the tough grabs that used to turn into drops in the past. He could finally step forward as a dependable target for Byron Leftwich, so take the gamble that he'll finally improve.
Michael Jenkins, WR, Falcons (4.6 percent owned): Here's another previously enigmatic young wide receiver who could be ready to raise his game. The preseason buzz in Atlanta centered around Roddy White, and then the Falcons also acquired Ashley Lelie. Jenkins, however, was Michael Vick's best receiver against Carolina, finishing with three catches for 77 yards, including a 34-yard TD reception. If Vick continues to throw the ball well, Jenkins could emerge as his preferred wide receiver.
Jerricho Cotchery, WR, Jets (0.2 percent owned): He quietly stepped forward as a solid possession receiver in the preseason, and Cotchery caught six passes for 65 yards and a TD in the opener. Cotchery isn't going to be explosive, but he will make a lot of important receptions, especially when the Jets look much worse than they did in the first week and have to play catch-up. Cotchery is a fine add for depth and should certainly get strong consideration in leagues of 12 or more teams.
PRIME CUTS
Aaron Brooks, QB, Raiders (90.2 percent owned): He looked awful in the opener, eventually getting benched, and there could be many more bad performances ahead with a shaky offensive line and a receiving corps that looks like a mess. Brooks held onto the ball too long on Monday and he had a lot of trouble finding open receivers, plus his decision-making skills have always been in question. Don't waste time waiting for him to turn things around.
Jon Kitna, QB, Lions (58.3 percent owned): It's going to be a long season for a guy who was an overachiever at times in the past. He doesn't have the type of offensive support he had when he played well for Cincinnati, and Mike Martz can't perform miracles when he doesn't have a dependable running game or a reliable receiving crew. Kitna can play well statistically at times if he has a good skill position cast, but other than Roy Williams, who will continue to draw extra defensive attention, Kitna doesn't have much help and seems destined to struggle all year long. You can likely add a better second QB in many leagues.
Ron Dayne, RB, Texans (65.6 percent owned): Too many fantasy owners keep waiting for him to somehow rise up and put a completely disappointing career so far behind him. There still is hollow hope that he will at least become a respectable fantasy player or goal-line RB at some point. But it's time some of us stopped thinking he still can be a surprise. He may not even be a factor in Houston, where Wali Lundy and Vernand Morency aren't looking like very promising options, either. The Texans might not find a dependable RB all year long, and with only five TD runs in the last three years, there's no real reason to believe Dayne will suddenly become a reliable short-yardage ball carrier. Don't waste any more time or roster space on a guy who will never emerge as the sleeper some thought he would be.
Brandon Lloyd, WR, Redskins (94.6 percent owned): I liked him as a possible sleeper during the summer, but Lloyd did nothing to impress during the preseason, and was shut out on Monday night. The Washington passing game clearly won't scare a lot of defenses, and Lloyd isn't a top option for Mark Brunell. Lloyd does have a tendency to make the pretty catch, and he should have a few decent outings, but he likely won't help you win too many fantasy games.
Jerry Porter, WR, Raiders (85.2 percent owned): Porter fell to fourth on the depth chart at WR recently in Oakland, then he was deactivated on Monday. Porter had been a bust as a starter in the past, and now he is sitting in favor of Alvis Whitted. Don't hang on to him waiting for a sudden improvement or a trade. Even if he is dealt, he'll have to acclimate himself to a new team and he does nothing to inspire much confidence as a starter anywhere else in the future. Joe Jurevicius, WR, Browns (79.2 percent owned): He is expected to miss at least four to six weeks because of broken ribs, and you shouldn't expect much when he returns. Jurevicius was a better fit in Seattle last year, where he was one of a few key pass-catchers in a balanced passing game. He'll be much less effective as a featured target in a much less effective Cleveland passing game if he gets back into the starting lineup when he comes back. Don't hold on to him waiting for late-season production. Cut him now.
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