Hache Man
"Seven Days Without Gambling Makes One Weak"
Re: NFL Fantasy Football News/Articles - ESPN Insider 3New Articles Added 9/22/06)
Re: NFL Fantasy Football News/Articles - ESPN Insider 3New Articles Added 9/22/06)
Sep. 24, 2006, 11:03 PM
<SCRIPT language=javascript src="http://ai059.insightexpressai.com/adServer/adServer.aspx?bannerID=7560"></SCRIPT>
Engel: Week 3 wrapup
<!-- end pagetitle --><!-- begin bylinebox -->
<!-- firstName = Scott --><!-- lastName = Engel -->
By Scott Engel
ESPN Fantasy Games
<!-- begin presby2 -->
<!-- end presby2 -->
<!-- end bylinebox -->
<!-- begin text11 div -->
<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD style="PADDING-TOP: 10px" vAlign=top><!-- begin leftcol --><!-- template inline -->
Here's a quick-hitting recap of key performances and news from the second week of the NFL season, complete with in-depth fantasy analysis.
Reality for Rex Grossman owners: The bottom line for Rex Grossman and the Bears is that they are now 3-0, and the quarterback threw a key touchdown pass right after the two-minute warning to win the game. But for fantasy owners, there should now be a clear difference between what Grossman can do for the Bears, and what he can do for fantasy teams. A healthy Grossman can certainly lead the Bears to many wins, but he is not going to post great numbers too often. Even coming off his four-TD performance in the second game, it's clear Grossman is no fantasy superstar. He's a good reserve who is worth starting when the matchup is right. In the first two games, Grossman faced defenses which have been very vulnerable in the secondary so far this season, and Chicago's first two opponents clearly did not game plan with Grossman as a major threat in mind. The Vikings came out much more wary of Grossman Sunday, and pressured him often. Grossman threw a pair of interceptions and also made other some questionable throws at times that could have been picked off. Based on one game last week, Grossman was indeed not the next coming of Brett Favre as advertised by some Bears backers. But for fantasy purposes, he isn't terrible, either, and keep him on your roster as a top backup for a better, more established fantasy starter.
Steve Smith returns: If you didn't start Steve Smith this week because you were still worried about his hamstring, don't beat yourself up over it. Just be glad Smith played much better than expected, and now you can be confident starting him going forward, instead of worrying about his status as you may have done for the past three weeks. Smith made an instant impact in his return to Carolina's lineup, catching seven balls for 112 yards when it was thought he might not even play, and if he did, there were major concerns that his effectiveness and production would be limited. But Smith showed that taking off the first two weeks and getting more rest was a great idea for him, even though it may have hurt some fantasy teams in the process. It might be hard to trade Smith right now, because some other fantasy owners will still worry about the recurrence of his hamstring problems. You likely won't be able to sell high on him and might not get proper value in return. So be happy he played well this week, and look forward to using him more for fine production in the near future. If Smith explodes next week against New Orleans, he'll have two fine performances to show, and you'll have the luxury of dealing him away if his health still concerns you, or keeping him for more excellent totals. But you can worry about that next week. Smile and get ready to plug him in for your fourth fantasy game.
Very impressive Portis: Steve Smith wasn't the only prominent fantasy player who eased some health concerns on Sunday. Clinton Portis flashed his best form in his first start of the season, totaling 164 yards from scrimmage and scoring twice as the Redskins stomped the defenseless Texans. Portis' top highlights included a 74-yard catch-and-run early in the game to set up Washington's first score, and a pretty 30-yard TD run near the end of the first half on a draw play. Yes, you do have to consider the opponent, as Houston does have an awful defense. But Portis at least temporarily shed any major doubts about his shoulder problem, and he should at least be a solid starter against better opponents in the near future. How Portis fares next week against Jacksonville could go a long way towards telling how he might perform for the rest of the season if he has no further setbacks. The obvious handcuff, if you can add or deal for him, is Ladell Betts, who rushed for 124 yards and was given the opportunity to take in Washington's first score, a nine-yard run. Betts is a great reserve who padded his numbers well in a blowout.
Little big man: Third on our list of tough guys who overcame health issues to shine in the third week is Brian Westbrook. Listed at only 5-8, 203 pounds, Westbrook has been a source of fantasy concern for several weeks, especially the past two. Yet for the second consecutive game, Westbrook not only played through his knee issues, he played much better than expected. In many cases, it's best to avoid using a player with injury issues, even it appears he might start. I always recommend going with the healthy player over the guy with injury problems. Well, it's clear when Westbrook plays, even if he is not 100 percent, he's a must-start player. He totaled 164 yards and scored three times on just 12 touches at San Francisco. No one in the NFL makes the most of every touch of the ball like Westbrook. His classic speed and explosiveness were on display Sunday (especially on a 71-yard TD run) despite all the worries about his knee. We learned a lesson today. Until Brian Westbrook is listed as out for sure, you don't bench him.
Another big little guy: Jacksonville RB Maurice Jones-Drew is listed at only 5-7, 212 pounds, yet he had a breakthrough game in a loss at Indianapolis Sunday. Jones-Drew averaged nearly eight yards per carry and finished with 135 yards from scrimmage. He also scored on a seven-yard TD reception. Fred Taylor can possibly be kept healthy for longer periods with Jones-Drew giving him some breathers. The rookie presents a unique change of pace to Taylor, with speed, the ability to elude defenders when he gets the ball in space, and his willingness to take some big hits. Jones-Drew will likely never be a full-time ball carrier, even if Taylor gets hurt at some point. But he can be a fine flex player who can often make the most of very opportunity to touch the ball, much like Westbrook. Jones-Drew might never be a top fantasy RB like Westbrook, but he can be another small RB who can survive, and sometimes flourish because of his unique skills.
Daunte doesn't look good: Yes, he led the Dolphins to their first win of the season. But Daunte Culpepper demonstrated that fantasy players can't depend on him, until further notice. Culpepper was sacked five times, threw no TD passes and suffered from the same problems he did in the first two games. He didn't get enough protection, his receivers didn't get open consistently, and Culpepper continued to throw some ugly-looking passes. The Dolphins barely edged the inept Titans at home. Culpepper did score on a five-yard run, but he threw for only 168 yards and finished with just five rushing yards on seven carries. Because Culpepper struggled against a team that looked so bad defensively in the first two games, it's clear he shouldn't be used as a fantasy starter again until he suddenly busts out with a much better performance, if that ever happens. Don't cut Culpepper, but don't consider starting him until your other QB has a bye week.
Palmer back on top: When you can post fine numbers against the very best defenses, you're a bona fide fantasy superstar who should never be benched. Carson Palmer was that type of QB before his knee injury in last year's playoffs, and he has fully returned to that form. Palmer lost a fumble, was intercepted twice and sacked six times, yet he overcame adversity to throw four touchdown passes and led the Bengals to an emotional win at Pittsburgh. Palmer was highly admirable in victory, and while the turnovers did hurt his overall fantasy production a bit, it's clear that Palmer has secured his lofty place again among the very elite QBs in fantasy football. Only Peyton Manning might be more dependable for regularly excellent production, and if Palmer keeps playing well, he could arguably rival Manning again as the best QB in fantasy football.
Bad, bad Ben: Willie Parker bounced back from his forgettable second week performance in a shutout loss to the Jaguars, but his quarterback Ben Roethlisberger kept his awful play going against the Bengals. Roethlisberger looked even worse at times on Sunday than he did last Monday night, as it was more than just his health dragging him down against Cincinnati. While his throws looked better at times and he occasionally looked more confident rolling out of the pocket, Roethlisberger's decisions, especially under pressure, were downright difficult to watch. Roethlisberger completed only 18 of 39 attempts, and was intercepted three times. Hines Ward caught only two passes for 17 yards, and none of his receiving partners challenged Cincinnati very much. A questionable pass-catching corps, combined with Roethlisberger's recent health issues and befuddling game management, make him a must-sit player until he shows signs of improving.
Erratic Eli?: It appeared Eli Manning was headed for the worst game of his young career at halftime of Sunday's game at Seattle. He had no TD passes, three interceptions, and his team trailed by 32 points. But in the fourth quarter, Manning not only regained a minor measure of respect by throwing for three TD passes, he also saved the fortunes of many fantasy teams in his obviously futile effort to make the final score look less ugly. When Manning has to play from behind, he certainly can be statistically prolific. When the Giants win, Manning will often be at the front of the charge. There's no question New York was embarrassed on Sunday, even if the final score didn't look as bad as the Giants played for much of the game. But Manning, who did finish with 275 passing yards, showed he can deliver pretty good numbers, win or lose. He'll make the big throws when the Giants win, and he'll pad his numbers nicely when they play catch-up. Sizzling Seahawks: Matt Hasselbeck quieted most concerns about his sluggish start by throwing five TD passes against the Giants. Hasselbeck did throw an ill-timed pass under pressure that was intercepted and returned for a fourth-quarter score, but for the most part, he got great pass protection and made terrific reads and accurate throws downfield during the game's most important quarters, the first two. The addition of Deion Branch certainly made the Seattle passing game more dangerous and balanced than ever. Branch caught only two passes for 23 yards, but the Giants simply couldn't account for all of Seattle's receiving weapons, as three different wide receivers caught scoring passes. Darrell Jackson remained Hasselbeck's preferred target, as he caught two TD passes. The amazing receiving depth in Seattle makes Hasselbeck hard to bench in any situation going forward, even against Chicago next week. Shaun Alexander was a disappointment again, with just 47 rushing yards on 20 carries, but the passing game did set him up for a two-yard scoring run. He did get a lot of rest in the second half, as he entered the game with concerns about a sore foot. Seattle's offensive line dominated New York's formidable front four for much of the day, though, and won't be intimidated by the Bears. Expect at least respectable fantasy totals from Alexander next week.
</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
Re: NFL Fantasy Football News/Articles - ESPN Insider 3New Articles Added 9/22/06)
Sep. 24, 2006, 11:03 PM
<SCRIPT language=javascript src="http://ai059.insightexpressai.com/adServer/adServer.aspx?bannerID=7560"></SCRIPT>
Engel: Week 3 wrapup
<!-- end pagetitle --><!-- begin bylinebox -->
<!-- firstName = Scott --><!-- lastName = Engel -->
By Scott Engel
ESPN Fantasy Games
<!-- begin presby2 -->
<!-- end presby2 -->
<!-- end bylinebox -->
<!-- begin text11 div -->
<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD style="PADDING-TOP: 10px" vAlign=top><!-- begin leftcol --><!-- template inline -->
Here's a quick-hitting recap of key performances and news from the second week of the NFL season, complete with in-depth fantasy analysis.
Reality for Rex Grossman owners: The bottom line for Rex Grossman and the Bears is that they are now 3-0, and the quarterback threw a key touchdown pass right after the two-minute warning to win the game. But for fantasy owners, there should now be a clear difference between what Grossman can do for the Bears, and what he can do for fantasy teams. A healthy Grossman can certainly lead the Bears to many wins, but he is not going to post great numbers too often. Even coming off his four-TD performance in the second game, it's clear Grossman is no fantasy superstar. He's a good reserve who is worth starting when the matchup is right. In the first two games, Grossman faced defenses which have been very vulnerable in the secondary so far this season, and Chicago's first two opponents clearly did not game plan with Grossman as a major threat in mind. The Vikings came out much more wary of Grossman Sunday, and pressured him often. Grossman threw a pair of interceptions and also made other some questionable throws at times that could have been picked off. Based on one game last week, Grossman was indeed not the next coming of Brett Favre as advertised by some Bears backers. But for fantasy purposes, he isn't terrible, either, and keep him on your roster as a top backup for a better, more established fantasy starter.
Steve Smith returns: If you didn't start Steve Smith this week because you were still worried about his hamstring, don't beat yourself up over it. Just be glad Smith played much better than expected, and now you can be confident starting him going forward, instead of worrying about his status as you may have done for the past three weeks. Smith made an instant impact in his return to Carolina's lineup, catching seven balls for 112 yards when it was thought he might not even play, and if he did, there were major concerns that his effectiveness and production would be limited. But Smith showed that taking off the first two weeks and getting more rest was a great idea for him, even though it may have hurt some fantasy teams in the process. It might be hard to trade Smith right now, because some other fantasy owners will still worry about the recurrence of his hamstring problems. You likely won't be able to sell high on him and might not get proper value in return. So be happy he played well this week, and look forward to using him more for fine production in the near future. If Smith explodes next week against New Orleans, he'll have two fine performances to show, and you'll have the luxury of dealing him away if his health still concerns you, or keeping him for more excellent totals. But you can worry about that next week. Smile and get ready to plug him in for your fourth fantasy game.
Very impressive Portis: Steve Smith wasn't the only prominent fantasy player who eased some health concerns on Sunday. Clinton Portis flashed his best form in his first start of the season, totaling 164 yards from scrimmage and scoring twice as the Redskins stomped the defenseless Texans. Portis' top highlights included a 74-yard catch-and-run early in the game to set up Washington's first score, and a pretty 30-yard TD run near the end of the first half on a draw play. Yes, you do have to consider the opponent, as Houston does have an awful defense. But Portis at least temporarily shed any major doubts about his shoulder problem, and he should at least be a solid starter against better opponents in the near future. How Portis fares next week against Jacksonville could go a long way towards telling how he might perform for the rest of the season if he has no further setbacks. The obvious handcuff, if you can add or deal for him, is Ladell Betts, who rushed for 124 yards and was given the opportunity to take in Washington's first score, a nine-yard run. Betts is a great reserve who padded his numbers well in a blowout.
Little big man: Third on our list of tough guys who overcame health issues to shine in the third week is Brian Westbrook. Listed at only 5-8, 203 pounds, Westbrook has been a source of fantasy concern for several weeks, especially the past two. Yet for the second consecutive game, Westbrook not only played through his knee issues, he played much better than expected. In many cases, it's best to avoid using a player with injury issues, even it appears he might start. I always recommend going with the healthy player over the guy with injury problems. Well, it's clear when Westbrook plays, even if he is not 100 percent, he's a must-start player. He totaled 164 yards and scored three times on just 12 touches at San Francisco. No one in the NFL makes the most of every touch of the ball like Westbrook. His classic speed and explosiveness were on display Sunday (especially on a 71-yard TD run) despite all the worries about his knee. We learned a lesson today. Until Brian Westbrook is listed as out for sure, you don't bench him.
Another big little guy: Jacksonville RB Maurice Jones-Drew is listed at only 5-7, 212 pounds, yet he had a breakthrough game in a loss at Indianapolis Sunday. Jones-Drew averaged nearly eight yards per carry and finished with 135 yards from scrimmage. He also scored on a seven-yard TD reception. Fred Taylor can possibly be kept healthy for longer periods with Jones-Drew giving him some breathers. The rookie presents a unique change of pace to Taylor, with speed, the ability to elude defenders when he gets the ball in space, and his willingness to take some big hits. Jones-Drew will likely never be a full-time ball carrier, even if Taylor gets hurt at some point. But he can be a fine flex player who can often make the most of very opportunity to touch the ball, much like Westbrook. Jones-Drew might never be a top fantasy RB like Westbrook, but he can be another small RB who can survive, and sometimes flourish because of his unique skills.
Daunte doesn't look good: Yes, he led the Dolphins to their first win of the season. But Daunte Culpepper demonstrated that fantasy players can't depend on him, until further notice. Culpepper was sacked five times, threw no TD passes and suffered from the same problems he did in the first two games. He didn't get enough protection, his receivers didn't get open consistently, and Culpepper continued to throw some ugly-looking passes. The Dolphins barely edged the inept Titans at home. Culpepper did score on a five-yard run, but he threw for only 168 yards and finished with just five rushing yards on seven carries. Because Culpepper struggled against a team that looked so bad defensively in the first two games, it's clear he shouldn't be used as a fantasy starter again until he suddenly busts out with a much better performance, if that ever happens. Don't cut Culpepper, but don't consider starting him until your other QB has a bye week.
Palmer back on top: When you can post fine numbers against the very best defenses, you're a bona fide fantasy superstar who should never be benched. Carson Palmer was that type of QB before his knee injury in last year's playoffs, and he has fully returned to that form. Palmer lost a fumble, was intercepted twice and sacked six times, yet he overcame adversity to throw four touchdown passes and led the Bengals to an emotional win at Pittsburgh. Palmer was highly admirable in victory, and while the turnovers did hurt his overall fantasy production a bit, it's clear that Palmer has secured his lofty place again among the very elite QBs in fantasy football. Only Peyton Manning might be more dependable for regularly excellent production, and if Palmer keeps playing well, he could arguably rival Manning again as the best QB in fantasy football.
Bad, bad Ben: Willie Parker bounced back from his forgettable second week performance in a shutout loss to the Jaguars, but his quarterback Ben Roethlisberger kept his awful play going against the Bengals. Roethlisberger looked even worse at times on Sunday than he did last Monday night, as it was more than just his health dragging him down against Cincinnati. While his throws looked better at times and he occasionally looked more confident rolling out of the pocket, Roethlisberger's decisions, especially under pressure, were downright difficult to watch. Roethlisberger completed only 18 of 39 attempts, and was intercepted three times. Hines Ward caught only two passes for 17 yards, and none of his receiving partners challenged Cincinnati very much. A questionable pass-catching corps, combined with Roethlisberger's recent health issues and befuddling game management, make him a must-sit player until he shows signs of improving.
Erratic Eli?: It appeared Eli Manning was headed for the worst game of his young career at halftime of Sunday's game at Seattle. He had no TD passes, three interceptions, and his team trailed by 32 points. But in the fourth quarter, Manning not only regained a minor measure of respect by throwing for three TD passes, he also saved the fortunes of many fantasy teams in his obviously futile effort to make the final score look less ugly. When Manning has to play from behind, he certainly can be statistically prolific. When the Giants win, Manning will often be at the front of the charge. There's no question New York was embarrassed on Sunday, even if the final score didn't look as bad as the Giants played for much of the game. But Manning, who did finish with 275 passing yards, showed he can deliver pretty good numbers, win or lose. He'll make the big throws when the Giants win, and he'll pad his numbers nicely when they play catch-up. Sizzling Seahawks: Matt Hasselbeck quieted most concerns about his sluggish start by throwing five TD passes against the Giants. Hasselbeck did throw an ill-timed pass under pressure that was intercepted and returned for a fourth-quarter score, but for the most part, he got great pass protection and made terrific reads and accurate throws downfield during the game's most important quarters, the first two. The addition of Deion Branch certainly made the Seattle passing game more dangerous and balanced than ever. Branch caught only two passes for 23 yards, but the Giants simply couldn't account for all of Seattle's receiving weapons, as three different wide receivers caught scoring passes. Darrell Jackson remained Hasselbeck's preferred target, as he caught two TD passes. The amazing receiving depth in Seattle makes Hasselbeck hard to bench in any situation going forward, even against Chicago next week. Shaun Alexander was a disappointment again, with just 47 rushing yards on 20 carries, but the passing game did set him up for a two-yard scoring run. He did get a lot of rest in the second half, as he entered the game with concerns about a sore foot. Seattle's offensive line dominated New York's formidable front four for much of the day, though, and won't be intimidated by the Bears. Expect at least respectable fantasy totals from Alexander next week.
</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>