By Ralph Mancini, FFi Senior Writer
SEARCHING THE SCRAP HEAP
BROOKS BOLLINGER (MIN-QB)- The former Jet performed quite admirably versus the Eagles by completing 7 of 10 pass attempts for 94 yards in relief of Kelly Holcomb, who was forced to exit the game with a neck injury. Backed by a strong running game, Bollinger could do a serviceable job against a San Diego team that can be thrown on next week.
MICHAEL BENNETT (TB-RB)- Larry Johnson’s former caddy has a new lease on life as a major component in Tampa Bay’s running attack. Despite being being slowly worked into the rotation, Bennett has showcased his trademark speed with an 18-yard carry versus Detroit in week seven and a 19-yard score this week against a formidable Jacksonville defense. Bennett could serve as a useful flex back in most leagues, but don’t confuse him for a workhorse back.
MAURICE STOVALL (TB-WR)- The 6’5” Stovall was thrown to more than normal thanks to a high ankle sprain suffered by third receiver Michael Clayton, which should keep him out for at least the next couple of weeks. Stovall’s size could fill a need on fade routes near the goal line. Versus the Jaguars, the former Golden Domer had four receptions for 38 yards.
MIKE FURREY (DET-WR)- With bye weeks still in full swing, Mike Furrey can be the ideal fill-in starter. Always a Mike Martz favorite since his days with the Rams, Furrey was on the receiving end of 3 passes for 44 yards in week 8. Look for the former defensive back to possibly double this week’s output as top receivers Roy Williams and Calvin Johnson will be locked up with shutdown corners Champ Bailey and Dre’ Bly in their upcoming contest against the Broncos. Furrey is a good possession receiver who knows how to get open.
JEFF KING (CAR-TE)- One of the few bright spots on the Panther end in Carolina’s 31-7 shellacking at the hands of Indianapolis was tight end Jeff King, who led the team with 10 receptions for 81 yards. The second-year professional has made a name for himself as a dependable target that started off the season with 13 receptions in his first three games. His services might be called upon again next week, as Carolina faces off against a stingy Tennessee defense that specializes in shutting down the running game.
JUSTIN PEELLE (MIA-TE)- Stepping in for an injured David Martin, Peelle (6 receptions, 42 yards) stepped up as quarterback Cleo Lemon’s primary target in a low-scoring slugfest versus the Giants at Wembley Stadium. The former Oregon Duck is an exceptional receiver who can line up in a variety of positions.
ONES TO WATCH
SHAUN HILL (QB-SF)- Starting quarterback Alex Smith was no savior this week as San Francisco lost their fifth-straight to the New Orleans Saints. The former number one overall pick in the 2005 draft has been very disappointing and one or two more sub par performances may lead coach Mike Nolan to start the recently acquired Shaun Hill. The 6’3” 225-pound signal caller is best known for his successful 2003 campaign in NFL Europe with the Amsterdam Admirals. During that season, Hill completed a league-record 225 passes for 2,256 yards with 13 touchdowns and only five interceptions. His above-average mobility may serve as a spark to Nolan’s club later in the season.
ADICHINOBE ECHEMANDU (HOU-RB)- The former practice squad player has been signed to take over the role of the recently-released Samkon Gado in the Houston’s offense. The seldom-used Echemandu got off to a flying start in his first game versus San Diego by gaining 62 yards on 10 carries. With Ahman Green’s health status in question, the fortunes of the Texan running attack may be in the hands of Echemandu and Ron Dayne. The Nigerian native is a versatile back who also played wide out during his collegiate years at the University Of California.
ANDRE’ HALL (DEN-RB)- With a number of fantasy owners having already prepared themselves for the possible suspension of Travis Henry by enlisting the services of running back Selvin Young, it might be interesting to note that should Young be elevated to lead back, his immediate backup would be second-year player Andre’ Hall. Similar in stature to Henry at 5’ 10” 212 pounds, Hall has been described as having “better long-speed” than Young. In his two-year stay at the University of South Florida, Hall became the program’s all-time leading rusher 2,731 yards on 480 carries and 24 rushing touchdowns.
LORENZO BOOKER (MIA-RB)- The 5’ 10” 191-pound rookie has generally been a spectator during his first go-around in the NFL. Playing behind Ronnie Brown and Jesse Chatman, Booker hasn’t had an opportunity to showcase his considerable talent, but that day may soon be coming on a winless Miami team that will probably be focused on playing for next season after their week nine bye. The Florida State product is an extraordinarily fast player with sharp, stutter-step moves in the open field. During Miami’s May mini-camp, some compared Booker to Reggie Bush.
TED GINN JR. (MIA-WR)- Miami’s 2007 first-round pick is gradually rounding into the playmaker front-office management envisioned when selecting him. In addition to averaging a healthy 24.3 yards per kickoff return, the speedy Ginn has also been the author of some big plays in recent weeks, including catches of 32 and 36-yards, not to mention his 21-yard touchdown reception he recorded this week versus the Giants. The potential is there for Ginn to develop into a weekly dynamic presence.
Monday, October 29, 2007
Sunday, October 28, 2007
SUNDAY MORNING QUARTERBACK
-Rick Serritella
While Oakland quarterback Josh McCown has declared himself ready to play, he did report some soreness in his fractured big toe this past week. The Raiders have announced Daunte Culpepper will get the start at Tennessee.
There was some talk that David Carr could possibly start against the Colts, but his back injury has not yet healed 100%. The ageless wonder, Vinny Testaverde will once again get the call and another solid performance would definitely stir some quarterback controversy.
The Texans Matt Schaub is not expected to start at San Diego Sunday. Sage Rosenfals will be the man and is considered a solid fill-in fantasy starter.
Don’t be surprised if David Garrard is out longer than expected with a severe ankle sprain, forcing the Jaguars to go with Quinn Gray. Unless there are zero starting quarterbacks sitting your league’s free agent pool, Gray has very little fantasy value.
A poor performance by Cleo Lemon in London could mean rookie quarterback John Beck makes his debut after the week nine bye.
Jim Sorgi will remain Peyton Manning's backup at least through the 2010 season. The Colts number two quarterback signed a three-year contract extension Saturday that will keep him off of the free agent market at the end of the season. He has made a career out of backing up Manning the past four seasons, totaling all off 90 pass attempts. Nice gig.
It looks as if Travis Henry will attempt to give it a go on Monday Night Football. He is considered a game-time decision. Whether Henry starts or not, you can expect to see a lot of Selvin Young. If Henry doesn’t play at all, you can begin to gauge who will get the carries behind Young when Henry begins serving his suspension. The candidates are Cecil Sapp, Andre Hall and we can’t forget Mike Bell if he ever gets healthy.
The Jaguars Maurice Jones-Drew will play in a limited capacity, meaning Fred Taylor may see extended work and/or Gregg Jones could see the goal-line carries. Try to avoid the Jacksonville running back situation if possible.
Cleveland running back Jamal Lewis will need at least one more week to heal his sprain foot. Jason Wright and Jerome Harrison will continue to split carries in his absence.
Packers running back DeShawn Wynn returned to practice this week after sitting out the past few games with a neck injury. He is expected to assume the starting role with Vernand Morency backing him up. Brandon Jackson remains hobbled by shin splints.
Tennessee has been quiet thus far on whether or not running back Chris Brown will play on Sunday. Brown said he expects to play, while head coach Jeff Fisher said he would take a wait and see approach. Either way, don’t expect Brown to do too much as LenDale White has gotten the majority of rushing touchdowns for the Titans this season.
Keep an eye on Buccaneers backup Michael Bennett this week. With Earnest Graham proving to be quite serviceable, it will be interesting to see how many touches Bennett receives as he continues to learn the Jon Gruden playbook.
With Ahman Green nursing a knee injury, Samkon Gado released (now with Dolphins) and Ron Dayne once again underachieving, look for Adimchinobe Echemandu to get a looksy Sunday, as the Texans continue to search for answers with their woeful running attack.
The Colts will be without wide out Marvin Harrison once again as he has been ruled out.
Bubba Franks has been declared out Sunday for the Packers game against the Broncos with a knee injury. Look for Donald Lee to be a viable fantasy option in his place.
Former Seahawks and Bengals wide out Peter Warrick is among the players trying out for the new All American Football League. Also trying out are notables Eric Crouch, Jackie Battle, Chance Mock, and Woodrow Dantzler. The AAFL will begin playing its 10-game schedule next April and features initial franchises in Alabama, Texas, Arkansas, Florida, Michigan, and Tennessee. Its championship will be played on July 3, 2008.
Be sure to sign up for our Email List on the NFL Draft Bible homepage!
While Oakland quarterback Josh McCown has declared himself ready to play, he did report some soreness in his fractured big toe this past week. The Raiders have announced Daunte Culpepper will get the start at Tennessee.
There was some talk that David Carr could possibly start against the Colts, but his back injury has not yet healed 100%. The ageless wonder, Vinny Testaverde will once again get the call and another solid performance would definitely stir some quarterback controversy.
The Texans Matt Schaub is not expected to start at San Diego Sunday. Sage Rosenfals will be the man and is considered a solid fill-in fantasy starter.
Don’t be surprised if David Garrard is out longer than expected with a severe ankle sprain, forcing the Jaguars to go with Quinn Gray. Unless there are zero starting quarterbacks sitting your league’s free agent pool, Gray has very little fantasy value.
A poor performance by Cleo Lemon in London could mean rookie quarterback John Beck makes his debut after the week nine bye.
Jim Sorgi will remain Peyton Manning's backup at least through the 2010 season. The Colts number two quarterback signed a three-year contract extension Saturday that will keep him off of the free agent market at the end of the season. He has made a career out of backing up Manning the past four seasons, totaling all off 90 pass attempts. Nice gig.
It looks as if Travis Henry will attempt to give it a go on Monday Night Football. He is considered a game-time decision. Whether Henry starts or not, you can expect to see a lot of Selvin Young. If Henry doesn’t play at all, you can begin to gauge who will get the carries behind Young when Henry begins serving his suspension. The candidates are Cecil Sapp, Andre Hall and we can’t forget Mike Bell if he ever gets healthy.
The Jaguars Maurice Jones-Drew will play in a limited capacity, meaning Fred Taylor may see extended work and/or Gregg Jones could see the goal-line carries. Try to avoid the Jacksonville running back situation if possible.
Cleveland running back Jamal Lewis will need at least one more week to heal his sprain foot. Jason Wright and Jerome Harrison will continue to split carries in his absence.
Packers running back DeShawn Wynn returned to practice this week after sitting out the past few games with a neck injury. He is expected to assume the starting role with Vernand Morency backing him up. Brandon Jackson remains hobbled by shin splints.
Tennessee has been quiet thus far on whether or not running back Chris Brown will play on Sunday. Brown said he expects to play, while head coach Jeff Fisher said he would take a wait and see approach. Either way, don’t expect Brown to do too much as LenDale White has gotten the majority of rushing touchdowns for the Titans this season.
Keep an eye on Buccaneers backup Michael Bennett this week. With Earnest Graham proving to be quite serviceable, it will be interesting to see how many touches Bennett receives as he continues to learn the Jon Gruden playbook.
With Ahman Green nursing a knee injury, Samkon Gado released (now with Dolphins) and Ron Dayne once again underachieving, look for Adimchinobe Echemandu to get a looksy Sunday, as the Texans continue to search for answers with their woeful running attack.
The Colts will be without wide out Marvin Harrison once again as he has been ruled out.
Bubba Franks has been declared out Sunday for the Packers game against the Broncos with a knee injury. Look for Donald Lee to be a viable fantasy option in his place.
Former Seahawks and Bengals wide out Peter Warrick is among the players trying out for the new All American Football League. Also trying out are notables Eric Crouch, Jackie Battle, Chance Mock, and Woodrow Dantzler. The AAFL will begin playing its 10-game schedule next April and features initial franchises in Alabama, Texas, Arkansas, Florida, Michigan, and Tennessee. Its championship will be played on July 3, 2008.
Be sure to sign up for our Email List on the NFL Draft Bible homepage!
Friday, October 26, 2007
THE BLACK & BLUE REPORT #2
Coming Soon-Black & Blue Report Presented By Brad Kurtzberg
Chicago Bears—Brian Griese really solidified his hold on the starting QB position by leading a 97-yard game winning drive in the final 1:57 of the game last week. Griese threw for 322 yards and didn’t throw any interceptions, but the Bears still had problems getting into the end zone. Part of that is due to a stagnant rushing attack which still only barely averaged three yards per carry…The defense managed three sacks including two by Tommie Harris. Harris now has six sacks on the season. He ran down Donovan McNabb despite playing with a hamstring injury…The run defense is still a problem. Last week, Chicago allowed 123 yards but the Eagles averaged 4.9 yards per rush which won’t get the job done against better teams. Remember, the Eagles are a pass-first offense and usually have trouble moving the ball on the ground…The Bears are 1-2 in the NFC North which makes Sunday’s game against the Lions a must-win. If Chicago loses, the Lions would win all tiebreakers with the Bears and would be 2 ½ games ahead of them in the standings…A win would get the Bears back to .500 at the bye week and give some of their injured players like Nathan Vasher and Darwin Walker a chance to heal…Chicago’s defense allowed the Eagles a lot of yards last week but managed to keep the Eagles out of the end zone most of the time. The defense has not been dominant so bend but don’t break will have to do…
Detroit Lions—A look at the stats from last week’s win over the Bucs makes it seem as though Detroit was badly outplayed. The truth is, the Lions never trailed in this game. The Detroit defense allowed the Bucs to march up and down the field but the defense and special teams came up with big plays when they were needed like fumble recoveries in the red zone and a blocked field goal…Offensively, the return of RB Kevin Jones made a big impact on the offense last week. Detroit’s rushing attack does not have to be dominant but the threat of the run has to exist and Jones gave it to the Lions this past week in his first extended duty. Jones averaged 5.1 yards on 15 carries, scored a TD and made six receptions. He is elusive and powerful and adds an element to the offense that Tatum Bell does not…T.J. Duckett also played well in his season debut. Duckett only had four carries but he picked up 30 yards. The 254 pound Duckett is an inside the tackles type of runner who can pound the ball in short yardage situations and in the red zone. He is a perfect style compliment to Jones which leaves Bell as the number three RB…Jon Kitna is still holding on to the ball too long and taking too many sacks. The offensive line has struggled to pass protect at times, but Kitna isn’t helping. Detroit has allowed 31 sacks in six games, which would put them on pace for 83 over a 16 game season. No quarterback will survive that kind of pounding…Rookie Calvin Johnson had a bit of a coming out party against the Bucs, rushing for one TD and making a clutch, diving catch. The more involved in the offense Johnson gets, the more dangerous they become. Johnson’s eventual emergence (and a steady running game) will take pressure off of Roy Williams.
Green Bay Packers—Green Bay’s running back situation is still unsettled. Even after the bye week, DeShawn Wynn is still not 100 percent healthy. He is expected to start Monday night against Denver and Wynn has produced more than any other Green Bay RB when healthy. Veteran Vernand Morency has only five carries in two games since returning from the injured list and rookie Brandon Jackson has just returned to practice but averaged only 2.6 yards per rush and hasn’t shown coaches enough to secure the starting spot…The Pack lost veteran TE Bubba Franks for a couple of weeks with a knee injury. Donald Lee is still the starter but the Pack had to sign Ryan Krause from the practice squad for depth purposes…LB Brady Poppinga has been very tough against the run but he lacks the speed to cover TEs and gets burned often in space. The Packers’ safeties haven’t helped out much and opposing TEs are really hurting the Pack…The defense will have to make adjustments to correct the problem…Center Scott Wells will return to the Green Bay lineup after missing a game due to a fractured orbital bone. The bye week came at the right time for Wells…Former Packer WR Javon Walker will miss this week’s game against the Pack due to a knee injury. Walker was traded by Green Bay after a contract dispute.
Minnesota Vikings—In order for the Vikings to win with Tarvaris Jackson at QB, the defense and running game have to make several big plays during the course of a game and that’s tough to do week in and week out. Jackson is hurting the team right now. You can’t win in the NFL these days when your QB is completing only 45.9 percent of his passes…Defenses are gearing up to stop the Minnesota rushing attack and almost inviting Jackson to throw the ball against them. He just can’t get it done at this point in his career. Jackson broke a finger on his throwing hand last week and may not start against the Eagles this Sunday. Kelly Holcomb would get the call if Jackson in unable to go…Head coach Brad Childress continues to insist on splitting carries between Adrian Peterson and Chester Taylor. Since Taylor’s return to the lineup, Peterson has had 12, 20 and 12 carries. Childress is wary of overusing his rookie standout and feels he needs to get Taylor some reps as well…Rookie CB Marcus McCauley has served as the Vikings’ nickel back. He has been picked on regularly by opposing QBs and has been inconsistent in coverage. The third-round pick is still learning the Vikings’ system and adjusting to the NFL game…S Dwight Smith will likely sit out Sunday’s game against the Eagles due to a hamstring injury…Brad Childress and Eagles coach Andy Reid are old friends who worked together in Philadelphia.
Chicago Bears—Brian Griese really solidified his hold on the starting QB position by leading a 97-yard game winning drive in the final 1:57 of the game last week. Griese threw for 322 yards and didn’t throw any interceptions, but the Bears still had problems getting into the end zone. Part of that is due to a stagnant rushing attack which still only barely averaged three yards per carry…The defense managed three sacks including two by Tommie Harris. Harris now has six sacks on the season. He ran down Donovan McNabb despite playing with a hamstring injury…The run defense is still a problem. Last week, Chicago allowed 123 yards but the Eagles averaged 4.9 yards per rush which won’t get the job done against better teams. Remember, the Eagles are a pass-first offense and usually have trouble moving the ball on the ground…The Bears are 1-2 in the NFC North which makes Sunday’s game against the Lions a must-win. If Chicago loses, the Lions would win all tiebreakers with the Bears and would be 2 ½ games ahead of them in the standings…A win would get the Bears back to .500 at the bye week and give some of their injured players like Nathan Vasher and Darwin Walker a chance to heal…Chicago’s defense allowed the Eagles a lot of yards last week but managed to keep the Eagles out of the end zone most of the time. The defense has not been dominant so bend but don’t break will have to do…
Detroit Lions—A look at the stats from last week’s win over the Bucs makes it seem as though Detroit was badly outplayed. The truth is, the Lions never trailed in this game. The Detroit defense allowed the Bucs to march up and down the field but the defense and special teams came up with big plays when they were needed like fumble recoveries in the red zone and a blocked field goal…Offensively, the return of RB Kevin Jones made a big impact on the offense last week. Detroit’s rushing attack does not have to be dominant but the threat of the run has to exist and Jones gave it to the Lions this past week in his first extended duty. Jones averaged 5.1 yards on 15 carries, scored a TD and made six receptions. He is elusive and powerful and adds an element to the offense that Tatum Bell does not…T.J. Duckett also played well in his season debut. Duckett only had four carries but he picked up 30 yards. The 254 pound Duckett is an inside the tackles type of runner who can pound the ball in short yardage situations and in the red zone. He is a perfect style compliment to Jones which leaves Bell as the number three RB…Jon Kitna is still holding on to the ball too long and taking too many sacks. The offensive line has struggled to pass protect at times, but Kitna isn’t helping. Detroit has allowed 31 sacks in six games, which would put them on pace for 83 over a 16 game season. No quarterback will survive that kind of pounding…Rookie Calvin Johnson had a bit of a coming out party against the Bucs, rushing for one TD and making a clutch, diving catch. The more involved in the offense Johnson gets, the more dangerous they become. Johnson’s eventual emergence (and a steady running game) will take pressure off of Roy Williams.
Green Bay Packers—Green Bay’s running back situation is still unsettled. Even after the bye week, DeShawn Wynn is still not 100 percent healthy. He is expected to start Monday night against Denver and Wynn has produced more than any other Green Bay RB when healthy. Veteran Vernand Morency has only five carries in two games since returning from the injured list and rookie Brandon Jackson has just returned to practice but averaged only 2.6 yards per rush and hasn’t shown coaches enough to secure the starting spot…The Pack lost veteran TE Bubba Franks for a couple of weeks with a knee injury. Donald Lee is still the starter but the Pack had to sign Ryan Krause from the practice squad for depth purposes…LB Brady Poppinga has been very tough against the run but he lacks the speed to cover TEs and gets burned often in space. The Packers’ safeties haven’t helped out much and opposing TEs are really hurting the Pack…The defense will have to make adjustments to correct the problem…Center Scott Wells will return to the Green Bay lineup after missing a game due to a fractured orbital bone. The bye week came at the right time for Wells…Former Packer WR Javon Walker will miss this week’s game against the Pack due to a knee injury. Walker was traded by Green Bay after a contract dispute.
Minnesota Vikings—In order for the Vikings to win with Tarvaris Jackson at QB, the defense and running game have to make several big plays during the course of a game and that’s tough to do week in and week out. Jackson is hurting the team right now. You can’t win in the NFL these days when your QB is completing only 45.9 percent of his passes…Defenses are gearing up to stop the Minnesota rushing attack and almost inviting Jackson to throw the ball against them. He just can’t get it done at this point in his career. Jackson broke a finger on his throwing hand last week and may not start against the Eagles this Sunday. Kelly Holcomb would get the call if Jackson in unable to go…Head coach Brad Childress continues to insist on splitting carries between Adrian Peterson and Chester Taylor. Since Taylor’s return to the lineup, Peterson has had 12, 20 and 12 carries. Childress is wary of overusing his rookie standout and feels he needs to get Taylor some reps as well…Rookie CB Marcus McCauley has served as the Vikings’ nickel back. He has been picked on regularly by opposing QBs and has been inconsistent in coverage. The third-round pick is still learning the Vikings’ system and adjusting to the NFL game…S Dwight Smith will likely sit out Sunday’s game against the Eagles due to a hamstring injury…Brad Childress and Eagles coach Andy Reid are old friends who worked together in Philadelphia.
Thursday, October 25, 2007
WEEK EIGHT FANTASY PREVIEW
Oakland @ Tennessee
I still can’t really believe that Kerry Collins is still in the NFL, but he actually put up nice numbers last week, despite not throwing a touchdown. It looks like Vince Young will be back this week, but that doesn’t really change much for Tennessee receivers, who haven’t been great or reliable all year. For Oakland, get Ronald Curry in there: you can’t run on them, so the Raiders are going to have to pass. It was interesting to see Dominic Rhodes get 9 carries and perform similarly to LaMont Jordan, but save that nugget for after the Titans.
Detroit @ Chicago
Kevin Jones has been a tease in that offense for years, and he’s doing it again. Since I am a sucker for talented running backs in explosive offenses, I’ll take the bait (sigh…). Jones scored again last week, and received the bulk of the carries. Mike Martz is never gonna be a pounder, but he will get the ball to the backs in the passing game (great for PPR leaguers), and Jones has seen decent success lately. Meanwhile, Chicago continues to allow opposing runners to beat them.
Before I talk about Chicago, I need to introduce you all to one of my favorite lame fantasy players: Muhsin Muhammad. Muhsin is 34, slow, on a weird lame offense, and has been generally disrespected in the fantasy world the last few years. Well, I have been in some pretty dire WR situations on my teams the last few years (especially this year…some readers are perhaps laughing at this understatement as they read this), and am always looking for guys like this to get me through. Muhammad also happens to be a large man for a receiver, and he’s crafty, especially in the end zone. Muhsin has caught a TD in 3 of the 4 games since Brian Griese has taken the job from Sexy Rexy, and has another excellent matchup this week. Get him in there, and join me in praising his fantasy contributions.
Philadelphia @ Minnesota
So it looks like the only thing that can stop the Viking running game is the Viking passing game (and Dallas I guess…but you get my meaning). I went into this season looking for a neato prediction for a team that could come out of nowhere, and mine was the Vikings. I thought, look, they had a ridiculous run defense last season, an effective runner (Taylor), and a stud rookie runner (Peterson), and all the talking heads we love so much can’t ever stop talking about how running and stopping the run are the keys to success in the National Football League (does anyone else think it’s a bit smug the way they always call it the National Football League, as though it were base to abbreviate such a hallowed organization?). I thought if there could be a way that Tarvaris Jackson was any better than terrible that they had a shot to make some noise. Especially in that division. I mean, he was a second round pick. Well, guess what happened…
Anyway, in regards to this game, Philly has had a good record vs. the run, but I think they’re overrated. They’ve faced GB (don’t even try to run), Washington (can’t score much against anyone but Detroit), Detroit (don’t like to run, and were down by a klabillion points early), the Giants (without the punishing and scary Brandon Jacobs), the Jets (who ran for over 100), and Chicago (Cedric Benson doesn’t like football). So, yeah, overrated. Start Peterson, and give Taylor a look if you need him: he’s been quietly effective with the touches he’s gotten since AP exploded, and caught some passes last week too.
Cleveland @ St. Louis
Steven Jackson’s back! Don’t hesitate starting him here. This is one of those games where almost anyone you have has a chance to be productive. Look for Bulger to bounce back and for Isaac Bruce to finally do something. Start Jamal Lewis, or his replacement, Jason Wright, depending on injury status. Joe Jurevicius also has a great matchup.
Pittsburgh @ Cincinnati
Kenny Watson. I watch my Jets play the Bengals, expect Chad and Houshmandzadeh to run all over the place, but why use awesome players to win when you can use obscure ones that mess up the fantasy world? Sit the Bengal runners this week against Pitt, though. I love Santonio Holmes and Hines Ward this week, for obvious Bengal-defense-related reasons.
Indianapolis @ Carolina
Kenton Keith stole Joseph Addai’s show on Monday Night, which should make sense to us based on Indy’s history of using two running backs. He looked good too. Keith is a decent play this week against Carolina given his success against that stout Jacksonville D last week. I hate to rain on Vinny Testaverde’s parade here, but did anyone else notice that on his touchdown pass to Steve Smith that the cornerback sorta, like, stopped playing football while the ball was in the air, and that Smith walked into the endzone? Vinny, god bless him, came back “off his couch”, “from mowing his lawn”, “from watching the games last Sunday”, etc., in 2005 for the Jets and, um, wasn’t good. I’m just not buying him yet. But, from the numbers this year, fantasy players want him in there because David Carr looks worse.
New York Giants @ Miami
I was watching the games last week with a couple of friends, one of whom is (was) a Ronnie Brown owner. I had just advised him on keeping Brown going forward despite the Dolphins’ tough schedule coming up. He had always planned on selling Brown before the Patriots game, assuming he would play well against the bad teams earlier on the schedule and would return to his normal Ronnie Brown form soon enough. Well, Ronnie Brown went on to lead running backs in points, and I told him I thought he had been far too dominant and involved in the offense for his production to dip too much. Ronnie Brown Owner decided to keep him, and as we were watching he was thanking me for my wisdom, as Brown was having another good day. About a minute later, Brown tore his ACL on a broken turnover play. Ouch. The good news for some of us is Jesse Chatman didn’t look too bad, and he has a decent matchup this week. My Ronnie Brown Owner friend wasn’t so lucky as to be able to claim Chatman. That privilege went to the guy in our league who irritates everyone with his outlandish trade demands. Ugh.
Meanwhile, in London (London?), the Giants are growing on me. I maintain they haven’t really beaten anyone good, but the Dolphins certainly aren’t good, so look for more of the same from your G-Men. Miami can’t stop anything. Jacobs has looked the best in the backfield, and should continue to get most carries.
Buffalo @ New York Jets
These two very stoppable forces and moveable objects meet again in their second divisional showdown. Chad Pennington, everyone’s favorite noodly-armed pigskin tosser, will be starting again. Mangini seems to think he is doing a lot of good things amidst the bad things, and he’s probably right. The Jets are just not good. But, Laveranues Coles, Jerricho Cotchery and Chris Baker all have good matchups here. So do Thomas Jones and little Leon Washington. So do Lee Evans and Roscoe Parrish. Yeah, these defenses are bad…
Houston @ San Diego
It’ll be interesting to see how the Chargers handle having an actual wide receiver in their offense. The only wide receiver who has caught over 60 passes for them since David Boston in 2003 was old man Keenan McCardell, and he was old (David Boston!) Chambers is definitely a start here, and we’ll see what happens. He should provide the deep threat to open up Tomlinson and Gates even more, but Chambers is a bit of a flake who has the drops and doesn’t run clean routes consistently. The Chargers have a very beatable secondary, so my boy Kevin Walter, who I have hated on in the past but seems to continue to get looks and catches, as well as his cohort Andre Davis, are good starts this week. I’d consider sitting Ahman Green against them, though. Also, keep in mind that this game has a chance of being postponed due to the wildfires near San Diego, so keep an eye on how your league deals with this.
Jacksonville @ Tampa Bay
In one of the more pathetic displays of quarterback play in recent memory, Quinn Gray came in for David Garrard on Monday Night, and will be starting for the Jags for the next few weeks. Yeesh. The Jaguars really have no choice but to run the ball now, which elevates Fred Taylor’s and Maurice Jones-Drew’s stock. Since you were not starting any Jaguar receivers, continue to not start them (I mean, none of you were starting them, were you?). The Bucs’ Earnest Graham had himself a game with 92 rushing yards and 13 catches on the day that Michael Bennett came to town. I still think Graham is the better play going forward because he’ll get the goal line carries, but Bennett looked good. I’d only start Graham this week, though, and he isn’t a great play. Jeff Garcia, by the way, hasn’t thrown an interception yet this year. Just thought that was cool; don’t start him here.
New Orleans @ San Francisco
Devery Henderson finally caught a touchdown, but it was his only catch, and only target of the day. Fluke! I hate Devery. The interesting question is: who is the Saints’ second receiver behind Colston. It looked like David Patten again last week (I think my Lance Moore experiment is over…), but I just don’t trust Patten somehow: he was irrelevant for so long after leaving the Pats, and for him to just emerge as significant again out of nowhere smells funny to me. If you’re desperate for a receiver this week, Patten and Moore are decent reach plays since Nate Clements will be on Colston. It looks like Alex Smith will end the short-lived Trent Dilfer era in San Francisco this week, so start keeping an eye on their receiver situation again. I’m still sort of attached to Darrell Jackson despite his lameness this year, but watch Ashley Lelie and Arnaz Battle also. If Jackson plays, he has a good matchup against the Saints. Battle saw most of the looks last week, and he’s also a solid play.
Washington @ New England
The Skins have a great defense, but who cares. Tom Brady is driven, and as long as Randy Moss can catch touchdowns in double coverage with his biceps (one of the sickest catches I have ever seen), he’s unstoppable. Laurence Maroney looked awful, and I’d stay away from him for a while: they seem content to just pass anyway, even when they’re up 50. I don’t like Washington’s offense this week. Portis had a great game last week, but this is not the Cardinals, and they’re going to be passing in their futile attempt to keep up with Tom WelMossworth. Santana Moss is having serious problems these days, and I’d stay away.
Green Bay @ Denver
This is an interesting matchup for Green Bay because Denver stops the pass but can’t stop the run. Do the Packers dare leave their fate in the hands of DeShawn Wynn and Vernand Morency? Start Wynn. Denver doesn’t have a great fantasy matchup here, so Brandon Marshall may have a tough time. Travis Henry has some uncertainty surrounding him this week, so keep an eye on whether or not he plays. Denver, as usual, has like 12 guys who could play (namely 3 guys named Selvin Young, Andre Hall, and Cecil Sapp), so if Henry is out it’s anybody’s guess who will emerge. The favorite is Young.
I still can’t really believe that Kerry Collins is still in the NFL, but he actually put up nice numbers last week, despite not throwing a touchdown. It looks like Vince Young will be back this week, but that doesn’t really change much for Tennessee receivers, who haven’t been great or reliable all year. For Oakland, get Ronald Curry in there: you can’t run on them, so the Raiders are going to have to pass. It was interesting to see Dominic Rhodes get 9 carries and perform similarly to LaMont Jordan, but save that nugget for after the Titans.
Detroit @ Chicago
Kevin Jones has been a tease in that offense for years, and he’s doing it again. Since I am a sucker for talented running backs in explosive offenses, I’ll take the bait (sigh…). Jones scored again last week, and received the bulk of the carries. Mike Martz is never gonna be a pounder, but he will get the ball to the backs in the passing game (great for PPR leaguers), and Jones has seen decent success lately. Meanwhile, Chicago continues to allow opposing runners to beat them.
Before I talk about Chicago, I need to introduce you all to one of my favorite lame fantasy players: Muhsin Muhammad. Muhsin is 34, slow, on a weird lame offense, and has been generally disrespected in the fantasy world the last few years. Well, I have been in some pretty dire WR situations on my teams the last few years (especially this year…some readers are perhaps laughing at this understatement as they read this), and am always looking for guys like this to get me through. Muhammad also happens to be a large man for a receiver, and he’s crafty, especially in the end zone. Muhsin has caught a TD in 3 of the 4 games since Brian Griese has taken the job from Sexy Rexy, and has another excellent matchup this week. Get him in there, and join me in praising his fantasy contributions.
Philadelphia @ Minnesota
So it looks like the only thing that can stop the Viking running game is the Viking passing game (and Dallas I guess…but you get my meaning). I went into this season looking for a neato prediction for a team that could come out of nowhere, and mine was the Vikings. I thought, look, they had a ridiculous run defense last season, an effective runner (Taylor), and a stud rookie runner (Peterson), and all the talking heads we love so much can’t ever stop talking about how running and stopping the run are the keys to success in the National Football League (does anyone else think it’s a bit smug the way they always call it the National Football League, as though it were base to abbreviate such a hallowed organization?). I thought if there could be a way that Tarvaris Jackson was any better than terrible that they had a shot to make some noise. Especially in that division. I mean, he was a second round pick. Well, guess what happened…
Anyway, in regards to this game, Philly has had a good record vs. the run, but I think they’re overrated. They’ve faced GB (don’t even try to run), Washington (can’t score much against anyone but Detroit), Detroit (don’t like to run, and were down by a klabillion points early), the Giants (without the punishing and scary Brandon Jacobs), the Jets (who ran for over 100), and Chicago (Cedric Benson doesn’t like football). So, yeah, overrated. Start Peterson, and give Taylor a look if you need him: he’s been quietly effective with the touches he’s gotten since AP exploded, and caught some passes last week too.
Cleveland @ St. Louis
Steven Jackson’s back! Don’t hesitate starting him here. This is one of those games where almost anyone you have has a chance to be productive. Look for Bulger to bounce back and for Isaac Bruce to finally do something. Start Jamal Lewis, or his replacement, Jason Wright, depending on injury status. Joe Jurevicius also has a great matchup.
Pittsburgh @ Cincinnati
Kenny Watson. I watch my Jets play the Bengals, expect Chad and Houshmandzadeh to run all over the place, but why use awesome players to win when you can use obscure ones that mess up the fantasy world? Sit the Bengal runners this week against Pitt, though. I love Santonio Holmes and Hines Ward this week, for obvious Bengal-defense-related reasons.
Indianapolis @ Carolina
Kenton Keith stole Joseph Addai’s show on Monday Night, which should make sense to us based on Indy’s history of using two running backs. He looked good too. Keith is a decent play this week against Carolina given his success against that stout Jacksonville D last week. I hate to rain on Vinny Testaverde’s parade here, but did anyone else notice that on his touchdown pass to Steve Smith that the cornerback sorta, like, stopped playing football while the ball was in the air, and that Smith walked into the endzone? Vinny, god bless him, came back “off his couch”, “from mowing his lawn”, “from watching the games last Sunday”, etc., in 2005 for the Jets and, um, wasn’t good. I’m just not buying him yet. But, from the numbers this year, fantasy players want him in there because David Carr looks worse.
New York Giants @ Miami
I was watching the games last week with a couple of friends, one of whom is (was) a Ronnie Brown owner. I had just advised him on keeping Brown going forward despite the Dolphins’ tough schedule coming up. He had always planned on selling Brown before the Patriots game, assuming he would play well against the bad teams earlier on the schedule and would return to his normal Ronnie Brown form soon enough. Well, Ronnie Brown went on to lead running backs in points, and I told him I thought he had been far too dominant and involved in the offense for his production to dip too much. Ronnie Brown Owner decided to keep him, and as we were watching he was thanking me for my wisdom, as Brown was having another good day. About a minute later, Brown tore his ACL on a broken turnover play. Ouch. The good news for some of us is Jesse Chatman didn’t look too bad, and he has a decent matchup this week. My Ronnie Brown Owner friend wasn’t so lucky as to be able to claim Chatman. That privilege went to the guy in our league who irritates everyone with his outlandish trade demands. Ugh.
Meanwhile, in London (London?), the Giants are growing on me. I maintain they haven’t really beaten anyone good, but the Dolphins certainly aren’t good, so look for more of the same from your G-Men. Miami can’t stop anything. Jacobs has looked the best in the backfield, and should continue to get most carries.
Buffalo @ New York Jets
These two very stoppable forces and moveable objects meet again in their second divisional showdown. Chad Pennington, everyone’s favorite noodly-armed pigskin tosser, will be starting again. Mangini seems to think he is doing a lot of good things amidst the bad things, and he’s probably right. The Jets are just not good. But, Laveranues Coles, Jerricho Cotchery and Chris Baker all have good matchups here. So do Thomas Jones and little Leon Washington. So do Lee Evans and Roscoe Parrish. Yeah, these defenses are bad…
Houston @ San Diego
It’ll be interesting to see how the Chargers handle having an actual wide receiver in their offense. The only wide receiver who has caught over 60 passes for them since David Boston in 2003 was old man Keenan McCardell, and he was old (David Boston!) Chambers is definitely a start here, and we’ll see what happens. He should provide the deep threat to open up Tomlinson and Gates even more, but Chambers is a bit of a flake who has the drops and doesn’t run clean routes consistently. The Chargers have a very beatable secondary, so my boy Kevin Walter, who I have hated on in the past but seems to continue to get looks and catches, as well as his cohort Andre Davis, are good starts this week. I’d consider sitting Ahman Green against them, though. Also, keep in mind that this game has a chance of being postponed due to the wildfires near San Diego, so keep an eye on how your league deals with this.
Jacksonville @ Tampa Bay
In one of the more pathetic displays of quarterback play in recent memory, Quinn Gray came in for David Garrard on Monday Night, and will be starting for the Jags for the next few weeks. Yeesh. The Jaguars really have no choice but to run the ball now, which elevates Fred Taylor’s and Maurice Jones-Drew’s stock. Since you were not starting any Jaguar receivers, continue to not start them (I mean, none of you were starting them, were you?). The Bucs’ Earnest Graham had himself a game with 92 rushing yards and 13 catches on the day that Michael Bennett came to town. I still think Graham is the better play going forward because he’ll get the goal line carries, but Bennett looked good. I’d only start Graham this week, though, and he isn’t a great play. Jeff Garcia, by the way, hasn’t thrown an interception yet this year. Just thought that was cool; don’t start him here.
New Orleans @ San Francisco
Devery Henderson finally caught a touchdown, but it was his only catch, and only target of the day. Fluke! I hate Devery. The interesting question is: who is the Saints’ second receiver behind Colston. It looked like David Patten again last week (I think my Lance Moore experiment is over…), but I just don’t trust Patten somehow: he was irrelevant for so long after leaving the Pats, and for him to just emerge as significant again out of nowhere smells funny to me. If you’re desperate for a receiver this week, Patten and Moore are decent reach plays since Nate Clements will be on Colston. It looks like Alex Smith will end the short-lived Trent Dilfer era in San Francisco this week, so start keeping an eye on their receiver situation again. I’m still sort of attached to Darrell Jackson despite his lameness this year, but watch Ashley Lelie and Arnaz Battle also. If Jackson plays, he has a good matchup against the Saints. Battle saw most of the looks last week, and he’s also a solid play.
Washington @ New England
The Skins have a great defense, but who cares. Tom Brady is driven, and as long as Randy Moss can catch touchdowns in double coverage with his biceps (one of the sickest catches I have ever seen), he’s unstoppable. Laurence Maroney looked awful, and I’d stay away from him for a while: they seem content to just pass anyway, even when they’re up 50. I don’t like Washington’s offense this week. Portis had a great game last week, but this is not the Cardinals, and they’re going to be passing in their futile attempt to keep up with Tom WelMossworth. Santana Moss is having serious problems these days, and I’d stay away.
Green Bay @ Denver
This is an interesting matchup for Green Bay because Denver stops the pass but can’t stop the run. Do the Packers dare leave their fate in the hands of DeShawn Wynn and Vernand Morency? Start Wynn. Denver doesn’t have a great fantasy matchup here, so Brandon Marshall may have a tough time. Travis Henry has some uncertainty surrounding him this week, so keep an eye on whether or not he plays. Denver, as usual, has like 12 guys who could play (namely 3 guys named Selvin Young, Andre Hall, and Cecil Sapp), so if Henry is out it’s anybody’s guess who will emerge. The favorite is Young.
Tuesday, October 23, 2007
BUSTED BRUISED & BROKEN
David Kaye, Fantasy Football Insiders
AFC Injury Report
Miami Dolphins running back Ronnie Brown (knee) left Sunday’s blowout loss to the Patriots early with a torn ACL after attempting to tackle New England cornerback Randall Gay on a Cleo Lemon interception. He will be out for the remainder of the season and in his absence journeyman Jesse Chatman will be forced into the starting role. Chatman and Patrick Cobbs are now both adequate fantasy options on a week-to-week basis.
Quarterback Trent Green (concussion) has been placed on injured reserve and will miss the duration of the season. It’s still very questionable if Green will take another snap in his football career due to constant concussions.
Cleveland Browns running back Jamal Lewis (foot) is listed as questionable for this week’s matchup with the woeful St.Louis Rams. He’s hopeful that he can play Sunday after having nearly two weeks off to rest.
Houston Texans quarterback Matt Schaub (hip) is currently day-to-day after injuring his right hip in Sunday’s nail biting 38-36 loss to the Titans. While Schaub has an outstanding completion percentage, he has not thrown a touchdown since week four and his passer rating has dropped significantly.
Tennessee Titans quarterback Vince Young (right quad) missed Sunday’s game at Houston, but is expected to suit up this week against the 2-4 Raiders at home. Even though the electrifying playmaker is listed as day-to-day, head coach Jeff Fisher believes ‘’he’ll have a much better chance to play this coming week.’’
Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback David Garrard (sprained ankle) left Monday night’s game limping off the field after being sacked early in the second quarter. Monitor Garrard’s status throughout the week to see if he’s able to play Sunday at Tampa Bay.
Denver Broncos tight end Stephen Alexander (leg) was placed on injured reserve after sustaining a left leg injury. Alexander had not appeared in a game this season for the Broncos.
NFC Injury Report
Chicago Bears running back Cedric Benson (knee) is probable for this week’s game against Detroit.
Minnesota Vikings quarterback Tarvaris Jackson (broken finger) is currently wearing a splint on his right index finger and will have to wait until later in the week for the swelling to subside. Despite his poor performances every week, Jackson is still listed as the starter for Sunday’s game against the last place Eagles.
Atlanta Falcons quarterback Byron Leftwich (high ankle sprain) is expected to take the team’s bye week to fully recover and be prepared to start week nine against San
Francisco. The quarterback position for the Falcons is still very much in limbo even if Leftwich is healthy and there’s a serious possibility that Joey Harrington reclaims his starting spot.
San Francisco 49ers quarterback Alex Smith (separated shoulder) has been out of action for the past two weeks and is not expected to play in this week’s home game against the Saints.
All-Pro running back Frank Gore (ankle sprain) is uncertain if he’ll suit up for Sunday’s game after sustaining the injury during the first half of last week’s loss to the Giants.
AFC Injury Report
Miami Dolphins running back Ronnie Brown (knee) left Sunday’s blowout loss to the Patriots early with a torn ACL after attempting to tackle New England cornerback Randall Gay on a Cleo Lemon interception. He will be out for the remainder of the season and in his absence journeyman Jesse Chatman will be forced into the starting role. Chatman and Patrick Cobbs are now both adequate fantasy options on a week-to-week basis.
Quarterback Trent Green (concussion) has been placed on injured reserve and will miss the duration of the season. It’s still very questionable if Green will take another snap in his football career due to constant concussions.
Cleveland Browns running back Jamal Lewis (foot) is listed as questionable for this week’s matchup with the woeful St.Louis Rams. He’s hopeful that he can play Sunday after having nearly two weeks off to rest.
Houston Texans quarterback Matt Schaub (hip) is currently day-to-day after injuring his right hip in Sunday’s nail biting 38-36 loss to the Titans. While Schaub has an outstanding completion percentage, he has not thrown a touchdown since week four and his passer rating has dropped significantly.
Tennessee Titans quarterback Vince Young (right quad) missed Sunday’s game at Houston, but is expected to suit up this week against the 2-4 Raiders at home. Even though the electrifying playmaker is listed as day-to-day, head coach Jeff Fisher believes ‘’he’ll have a much better chance to play this coming week.’’
Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback David Garrard (sprained ankle) left Monday night’s game limping off the field after being sacked early in the second quarter. Monitor Garrard’s status throughout the week to see if he’s able to play Sunday at Tampa Bay.
Denver Broncos tight end Stephen Alexander (leg) was placed on injured reserve after sustaining a left leg injury. Alexander had not appeared in a game this season for the Broncos.
NFC Injury Report
Chicago Bears running back Cedric Benson (knee) is probable for this week’s game against Detroit.
Minnesota Vikings quarterback Tarvaris Jackson (broken finger) is currently wearing a splint on his right index finger and will have to wait until later in the week for the swelling to subside. Despite his poor performances every week, Jackson is still listed as the starter for Sunday’s game against the last place Eagles.
Atlanta Falcons quarterback Byron Leftwich (high ankle sprain) is expected to take the team’s bye week to fully recover and be prepared to start week nine against San
Francisco. The quarterback position for the Falcons is still very much in limbo even if Leftwich is healthy and there’s a serious possibility that Joey Harrington reclaims his starting spot.
San Francisco 49ers quarterback Alex Smith (separated shoulder) has been out of action for the past two weeks and is not expected to play in this week’s home game against the Saints.
All-Pro running back Frank Gore (ankle sprain) is uncertain if he’ll suit up for Sunday’s game after sustaining the injury during the first half of last week’s loss to the Giants.
Monday, October 22, 2007
MONDAY MORNING WAIVER WIRE HELP
Ralph Mancini, FFI Sr. Writer
SEARCHING THE SCRAP HEAP
SAGE ROSENFELS (QB-HOU)- The former Miami Dolphin stepped in for a battered Matt Schaub and turned an apparent blowout at the hands of the Tennessee Titans into a edge-of-your-seat thriller by throwing four touchdown passes in the fourth quarter. Rosenfels did a fantastic job of spreading the ball among his receivers throughout the game. The 29-year-old signal caller punctuated his performance by sensing pressure by defensive end Travis LaBoy and unleashing a 53-yard bomb to Andre’ Davis temporarily putting Houston ahead 38-36 before opposing kicker Rob Bironas hit a game winning field goal for the Titans. Rosenfels is a fine pick up if Schaub is forced to miss time.
JESSE CHATMAN (RB-MIA)- Subbing for Ronnie Brown who exited the game with a dinged-up knee, Chatman put up serious numbers in garbage time by gaining 73 yards on only seven carries, including a 7-yard score . The hard-charging 5’8” dynamo could fill in quite nicely next week against a Giants defense that gives up significant yardage on the ground.
KENNY WATSON (RB-CIN)- Watson led Cincinnati’s offensive charge by gaining 130 yards on the ground and scoring three touchdowns with his team’s season hanging in the balance. The former Nittany Lion also chipped in with three receptions for 27 yards in the Bengals 38-31 victory over the hapless New York Jets. Regardless of whether Rudi Johnson returns next week, Watson deserves to be on everyone’s fantasy roster as Cincinnati will certainly continue to provide him with touches in the coming weeks. The speedy fifth-year veteran has proven to be a very disciplined runner.
MUSHIN MUHAMMAD (WR-CHI)- The 34-year-old Muhammad is making a resurgence in Chicago by quietly turning into Brian Griese’s favorite receiver in recent weeks. In Sunday’s 19-16 win over Philadelphia, the big wide out not only caught the game-winning touchdown pass, but also recorded a 44-yard reception. Add Muhammad to your fantasy teams and start him next versus the Lions next week.
ARNAZ BATTLE (SF-WR)- On a team in total disarray, Battle is one of the few players showing any sort of promise. In San Francisco’s 33-15 drubbing at the hands of the New York Giants, the former Notre Dame quarterback had six catches for 57 yards, including a 17-yard touchdown grab. Though limited by his underwhelming quarterbacks, Battle has the athletic skills to gain yards after the catch and also do damage on the occasional running play. Battle should put up good numbers in next week’s game versus the New Orleans Saints.
BRANDON STOKLEY (WR-DEN)- The veteran slot receiver is now in Denver’s starting lineup and gives his team a sure-handed option in the passing game who knows how to get open. Expect the Broncos to look to him both deep and an underneath routes.
TONY SCHEFFLER (DEN-TE)- The Bronco is back from a broken foot and has good chemistry with his quarterback Jay Cutler, who’s suddenly short on receiving options with the absence of number one receiver Javon Walker. In 2006, Scheffler caught 11 of his 18 passes in his last four games with Cutler at the helm.
LEONARD POPE (TE-ARIZ)- Previously featured in ONES TO WATCH, Pope did an excellent job acting as Kurt Warner’s safety valve. At 6’ 8”, Pope presents a big target, who can run after the catch. In Arizona’s 22-19 loss to Washington, Pope had three receptions for 35 yards, including a one-yard touchdown catch from backup Tim Rattay in the fourth quarter. The return of wide out Anquan Boldin should open more room for the second-year professional.
ROB BIRONAS (K-TENN)- Bironas made history by setting the all-time record for kicking the most field goals in one game by hitting on eight of them in leading the Titans to victory. Blessed with a booming leg, Bironas kicked a 60-yard field goal last year versus the Colts, as well as a 52-yarder versus the Titans this Sunday.
ONES TO WATCH
CHRIS REDMAN (QB-ATL)- Well, it didn’t take long for newly-anointed starter Byron Leftwich to go down with an injury this week. Although Joey Harrington stepped in to replace the former Jaguar, who suffered a high ankle sprain, it may not be long before coach Bobby Petrino decides to give Redman a try. The former Louisville standout has generally been viewed as a bust from his Baltimore Raven days. Despite all that, Redman seemed to have a good grasp of the offense in the preseason. Stay tuned.
CHRIS HENRY (RB-TENN)- Buried behind lead backs Lendale White and Chris Brown to start the season, Henry has had little opportunity to showcase the skills that made him a second round pick out of the University of Arizona until this Sunday. Against the Texans, Henry was impressive in gaining 57 yards on 11 carries, including a 4-yard touchdown run. The 6’ 0” 228 pounder brings good size and 4.4 speed to the table, which complements the inside, short-yardage strengths of White.
MAURICE MORRIS (RB-SEA)- As Shaun Alexander’s disastrous season continues, coach Mike Holmgren may begin carving a larger role for longtime backup Maurice Morris, who produced 42 yards on 10 carries against the Rams. Although he has never performed against tougher defenses, Morris has significantly less mileage on his wheels than the aforementioned Alexander.
GLENN MARTINEZ (WR-MIA)- The 25-year-old journeyman is Denver’s third receiver and despite only recording one catch for 11 yards against the Steelers, Jay Cutler did look deep for the former Detroit Lion. Look for him to get more looks in the coming weeks with the cannon-armed Cutler behind center. Martinez also runs back kickoffs and punts.
DEREK HAGAN (WR-MIA)- The recent trade of star wide out Chris Chambers has given the 23-year-old Hagan a chance to establish himself as Miami’s top receiver. In this Sunday’s loss to New England, the 6’ 2” receiver led his team with 4 catches for 56 yards. In his short tenure in the NFL, Hagan has showed the potential of becoming a strong receiver capable of making receptions over the middle. He may also develop into a solid end zone option.
WILL HELLER (TE-SEA)- The fifth-year veteran could be looking at a bigger role as the 35-year old Marcus Pollard trudges along with a bum knee this year. In this week’s win versus the Rams, Heller recorded three receptions for 18 yards and one touchdown. Unlike fellow Seattle receivers, the 6’ 6” tight end presents a huge target on short yardage and goal line plays.
SEARCHING THE SCRAP HEAP
SAGE ROSENFELS (QB-HOU)- The former Miami Dolphin stepped in for a battered Matt Schaub and turned an apparent blowout at the hands of the Tennessee Titans into a edge-of-your-seat thriller by throwing four touchdown passes in the fourth quarter. Rosenfels did a fantastic job of spreading the ball among his receivers throughout the game. The 29-year-old signal caller punctuated his performance by sensing pressure by defensive end Travis LaBoy and unleashing a 53-yard bomb to Andre’ Davis temporarily putting Houston ahead 38-36 before opposing kicker Rob Bironas hit a game winning field goal for the Titans. Rosenfels is a fine pick up if Schaub is forced to miss time.
JESSE CHATMAN (RB-MIA)- Subbing for Ronnie Brown who exited the game with a dinged-up knee, Chatman put up serious numbers in garbage time by gaining 73 yards on only seven carries, including a 7-yard score . The hard-charging 5’8” dynamo could fill in quite nicely next week against a Giants defense that gives up significant yardage on the ground.
KENNY WATSON (RB-CIN)- Watson led Cincinnati’s offensive charge by gaining 130 yards on the ground and scoring three touchdowns with his team’s season hanging in the balance. The former Nittany Lion also chipped in with three receptions for 27 yards in the Bengals 38-31 victory over the hapless New York Jets. Regardless of whether Rudi Johnson returns next week, Watson deserves to be on everyone’s fantasy roster as Cincinnati will certainly continue to provide him with touches in the coming weeks. The speedy fifth-year veteran has proven to be a very disciplined runner.
MUSHIN MUHAMMAD (WR-CHI)- The 34-year-old Muhammad is making a resurgence in Chicago by quietly turning into Brian Griese’s favorite receiver in recent weeks. In Sunday’s 19-16 win over Philadelphia, the big wide out not only caught the game-winning touchdown pass, but also recorded a 44-yard reception. Add Muhammad to your fantasy teams and start him next versus the Lions next week.
ARNAZ BATTLE (SF-WR)- On a team in total disarray, Battle is one of the few players showing any sort of promise. In San Francisco’s 33-15 drubbing at the hands of the New York Giants, the former Notre Dame quarterback had six catches for 57 yards, including a 17-yard touchdown grab. Though limited by his underwhelming quarterbacks, Battle has the athletic skills to gain yards after the catch and also do damage on the occasional running play. Battle should put up good numbers in next week’s game versus the New Orleans Saints.
BRANDON STOKLEY (WR-DEN)- The veteran slot receiver is now in Denver’s starting lineup and gives his team a sure-handed option in the passing game who knows how to get open. Expect the Broncos to look to him both deep and an underneath routes.
TONY SCHEFFLER (DEN-TE)- The Bronco is back from a broken foot and has good chemistry with his quarterback Jay Cutler, who’s suddenly short on receiving options with the absence of number one receiver Javon Walker. In 2006, Scheffler caught 11 of his 18 passes in his last four games with Cutler at the helm.
LEONARD POPE (TE-ARIZ)- Previously featured in ONES TO WATCH, Pope did an excellent job acting as Kurt Warner’s safety valve. At 6’ 8”, Pope presents a big target, who can run after the catch. In Arizona’s 22-19 loss to Washington, Pope had three receptions for 35 yards, including a one-yard touchdown catch from backup Tim Rattay in the fourth quarter. The return of wide out Anquan Boldin should open more room for the second-year professional.
ROB BIRONAS (K-TENN)- Bironas made history by setting the all-time record for kicking the most field goals in one game by hitting on eight of them in leading the Titans to victory. Blessed with a booming leg, Bironas kicked a 60-yard field goal last year versus the Colts, as well as a 52-yarder versus the Titans this Sunday.
ONES TO WATCH
CHRIS REDMAN (QB-ATL)- Well, it didn’t take long for newly-anointed starter Byron Leftwich to go down with an injury this week. Although Joey Harrington stepped in to replace the former Jaguar, who suffered a high ankle sprain, it may not be long before coach Bobby Petrino decides to give Redman a try. The former Louisville standout has generally been viewed as a bust from his Baltimore Raven days. Despite all that, Redman seemed to have a good grasp of the offense in the preseason. Stay tuned.
CHRIS HENRY (RB-TENN)- Buried behind lead backs Lendale White and Chris Brown to start the season, Henry has had little opportunity to showcase the skills that made him a second round pick out of the University of Arizona until this Sunday. Against the Texans, Henry was impressive in gaining 57 yards on 11 carries, including a 4-yard touchdown run. The 6’ 0” 228 pounder brings good size and 4.4 speed to the table, which complements the inside, short-yardage strengths of White.
MAURICE MORRIS (RB-SEA)- As Shaun Alexander’s disastrous season continues, coach Mike Holmgren may begin carving a larger role for longtime backup Maurice Morris, who produced 42 yards on 10 carries against the Rams. Although he has never performed against tougher defenses, Morris has significantly less mileage on his wheels than the aforementioned Alexander.
GLENN MARTINEZ (WR-MIA)- The 25-year-old journeyman is Denver’s third receiver and despite only recording one catch for 11 yards against the Steelers, Jay Cutler did look deep for the former Detroit Lion. Look for him to get more looks in the coming weeks with the cannon-armed Cutler behind center. Martinez also runs back kickoffs and punts.
DEREK HAGAN (WR-MIA)- The recent trade of star wide out Chris Chambers has given the 23-year-old Hagan a chance to establish himself as Miami’s top receiver. In this Sunday’s loss to New England, the 6’ 2” receiver led his team with 4 catches for 56 yards. In his short tenure in the NFL, Hagan has showed the potential of becoming a strong receiver capable of making receptions over the middle. He may also develop into a solid end zone option.
WILL HELLER (TE-SEA)- The fifth-year veteran could be looking at a bigger role as the 35-year old Marcus Pollard trudges along with a bum knee this year. In this week’s win versus the Rams, Heller recorded three receptions for 18 yards and one touchdown. Unlike fellow Seattle receivers, the 6’ 6” tight end presents a huge target on short yardage and goal line plays.
Sunday, October 21, 2007
SUNDAY MORNING QUARTERBACK
Dolphins quarterback Trent Green has been placed on the injured reserve, ending his season and most likely his career. Despite selecting John Beck in the second round of last year’s draft, don’t be surprised if Miami finds the opportunity to select a franchise quarterback too good of an opportunity to pass up.
In Baltimore, Kyle Boller will start. Steve McNair is listed as the backup this week.
The Chiefs have activated former All Pro running back Priest Holmes. He will backup Larry Johnson as the team traded Michael Bennett to Tampa Bay earlier in the week.
Giants running back Brandon Jacobs will be in the starting lineup. Some “mainstream media” outlets have been reporting Jacobs is out, which is not the case.
The duo of Fred Taylor and Maurice Jones-Drew will both be in the lineup Sunday after being limited in practice during the week.
After being inactive last week, Ron Dayne will serve as Ahman Green’s back up on Sunday for Houston.
Keep an eye on Quinton Gather this week as he is expected to backup LenDale White when Tennessee visits Houston. With Chris Brown injured, the team does not entrust rookie running back Chris Henry to handle backup duties.
World, meet Kyle Eckel. Look for the New England running back to hit paydirt Sunday.
Colts wide out Marvin Harison (knee) will play.
The Broncos received devastating news this week when it was learned wide reciver Javon Walker will be out at least six weeks after undergoing knee surgery. If Denver is out of the playoff hunt during his time of return, they could hold him out of action until next season.
Tight end Chris Baker will miss Sunday’s game with a back injury. One has to wonder if that is really the case as Baker was disciplined earlier in the week by head coach Eric Mangjni for his comments following last week’s game.
In Baltimore, Kyle Boller will start. Steve McNair is listed as the backup this week.
The Chiefs have activated former All Pro running back Priest Holmes. He will backup Larry Johnson as the team traded Michael Bennett to Tampa Bay earlier in the week.
Giants running back Brandon Jacobs will be in the starting lineup. Some “mainstream media” outlets have been reporting Jacobs is out, which is not the case.
The duo of Fred Taylor and Maurice Jones-Drew will both be in the lineup Sunday after being limited in practice during the week.
After being inactive last week, Ron Dayne will serve as Ahman Green’s back up on Sunday for Houston.
Keep an eye on Quinton Gather this week as he is expected to backup LenDale White when Tennessee visits Houston. With Chris Brown injured, the team does not entrust rookie running back Chris Henry to handle backup duties.
World, meet Kyle Eckel. Look for the New England running back to hit paydirt Sunday.
Colts wide out Marvin Harison (knee) will play.
The Broncos received devastating news this week when it was learned wide reciver Javon Walker will be out at least six weeks after undergoing knee surgery. If Denver is out of the playoff hunt during his time of return, they could hold him out of action until next season.
Tight end Chris Baker will miss Sunday’s game with a back injury. One has to wonder if that is really the case as Baker was disciplined earlier in the week by head coach Eric Mangjni for his comments following last week’s game.
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