By Brad Kurtzberg, Fantasy Football Insiders Senior Writer
Most fantasy leagues have reached the playoffs by now and those that aren’t are in the final week of their regular season. Little things can have an effect on a player’s stats so check out the matchups carefully. In the NFL, there is still the drama as to whether or not the Patriots will be perfect and the Dolphins perfectly awful to go along with the usual playoff races which are coming into clearer focus each week. Be aware of the playoff status of your star players, some of them may be benched after their NFL team has clinched a playoff spot or has been eliminated from contention. Here is a look at this week’s matchups which will help you win your fantasy league.
Thursday 8:15 PM ET
Denver at Houston
These two 6-7 teams have mathematical chances of making the playoffs but they would have to win out and get some help. More realistically, they are hoping to finish with a winning season and are working towards building for next year. The Broncos crushed the Chiefs last week while Houston downed the NFC South-leading Bucs. Both teams are looking to keep their momentum going.
Stud: Jay Cutler, QB Denver. Cutler had a very strong game last week and continues to show he has the potential to develop into a very good NFL quaterback someday. The Texans pass defense is 14th in the league and continues to be up and down. Look for a good day from Cutler, especial throwing to Brandon Stokley.
Dud: Ron Dayne, RB Houston. Dayne is not healthy and his ankle injury will slow him down. This is a shame because the Broncos’ run defense is awful so whoever does run the ball a lot for the Texans should do well.
Sleeper: Andre Johnson, WR Houston. Johnson is an elite wide receiver when healthy and one of the top fantasy WRs in the league. Last week, he grabbed 9 passes for only 82 yards and a TD, giving him six TDs in six games this year. Johnson will be up against CB Dre Bly which should be a great matchup to watch, but Johnson had a five inch height advantage and should be able to exploit it with regularity.
Saturday 8:15 PM
Cincinnati at San Francisco
The Bengals and 49ers sounded like a matchup full of playoff implications when the schedule was released in April. It didn’t quite work out that way as inconsistency and injuries derailed both teams. The Bengals have struggled to stop anybody while the Niners have had trouble scoring all season long. On Saturday, they will be starting third-string QB, Shaun Hill, an undrafted free agent who would be making his first NFL start.
Stud: Rudi Johnson, RB Cincinnati. Johnson has scored in three straight games and had more than 90 yards rushing against the Rams last week. The 49ers struggle to stop the run, allowing 123.5 yards per game, ranking them 25th in the league. Johnson is getting healthy, the 49ers defense is not.
Dud: Shaun Hill, QB San Francisco. You’d have to be pretty desperate to be starting Hill this week in your fantasy league. The Bengals pass defense is nothing special but they will blitz Hill and keep him under pressure most of the game. The 49ers offense hasn’t put up good fantasy numbers regardless of who was playing QB.
Sleeper: Carson Palmer, QB Cincinnati. Palmer hasn’t thrown a TD pass in his last two games but even in an off year, he’s too good to keep off the scoreboard for too long. Look for Palmer to get back on track against the Niners this week.
Sunday 1:00 PM ET
Buffalo at Cleveland
These two surprising teams are in the thick of the AFC Wild Card race. The Browns hold the second Wild Card at 8-5 and Buffalo is just one game back. A win for the Bills would give them a major edge in tiebreakers. The Bills exploded offensively last week against Miami. Cleveland just got by the Jets in a sloppy game in which the Brown played down to the level of their opponent but they still found a way to win.
Stud: Derek Anderson, QB Cleveland. Anderson has thrown for 2 TD passes in each of the last three games. He has 26 TDs and counting on the season and plenty of weapons at his disposal. The Bills’ pass defense ranks 28th in the league and they don’t get a lot of pressure on the QB. Anderson should have time to work his magic.
Dud: Cleveland Defense. No, the Bills offense is not all that explosive, but Cleveland’s defense is a fantasy dog and you should stay way if at all possible.
Sleeper: Marshawn Lynch, RB Buffalo. Lynch came back strong after his return from injury against Miami, gaining 107 yards and he needs 142 yards go reach 1,000 for the season. The Browns are 28th at stopping the run and if the weather is cold, Buffalo will run early and often.
Tennessee at Kansas City
The Chiefs have lost six straight and are looking ahead towards next year. The Titans let a 17-3 fourth quarter lead slip away last week and lost to San Diego 23-17 in OT. Now they have lost four of their last five and are on the outside looking in at the AFC Wild Card race. This is a must game for the Titans if they hope to stay in the hunt. The Chiefs can only hope to play spoiler.
Stud: LenDale White, RB Tennessee. White went over 100 yards last week and scored a TD for the second straight game. The Chiefs have been very easy to run on of late and are ranked 25th at stopping the run this year. White should be able to pound the ball and should pick up lots of yards late in the game.
Dud: Brodie Croyle, QB Kansas City. Croyle has not topped the 200 yard mark in any game this year nor has he thrown for more than one TD. The Tennessee defense ranks 8th in the league against the pass so don’t look for Croyle to have a breakout fantasy game.
Sleeper: Tony Gonzalez, TE Kansas City. Gonzalez sprained his ankle last week but stayed in the game so do check his status. He has 17 catches, a 100-plus yard game and a TD in his last two contests. The Titans have matchup problems no matter who they try to cover him with.
Baltimore at Miami
The Dolphins are 0-13 and counting. A loss here would tie them with the 1976 Bucs at 0-14. The Ravens have played some teams tough but at 4-9, they are going nowhere fast. Kyle Boller is scheduled to start despite being pulled last week. This is a game for pride because little else is at stake here.
Stud: Willis McGahee, RB Baltimore. McGahee failed to score last week for the first time in eight games. The Dolphins rank dead last in rushing defense and McGahee is one tough back who is already over 1,000 yards for the season. Look for him to pad his totals.
Dud: John Beck, QB Miami. While the Dolphins have not announced a starter yet, take this advice: stay away from either Beck or Cleo Lemon. In fact, stay away from the entire Dolphins offense if you can help it.
Sleeper: Baltimore Defense. The Miami offense is banged up and going nowhere. They rank 30th in overall yards and 27th in points and tend to be turnover prone. Baltimore’s defense is no longer dominant, but they are still very good at times and should be able to snuff the life out of the Miami attack.
N.Y. Jets at New England
This game has been given one of the largest point spreads in NFL history with the Jets a 24 ½ point underdog. This is also the rematch of “Spygate” which took place in week 1 and started the Pats on their angry way to perfection. These two coaches don’t like each other and there is some bad blood between the teams as well. Anybody here who thinks Bill Belichick won’t run up the score if he has the chance? The Jets would like nothing better than to spoil New England’s perfect season but they may lack the ability to do it.
Stud: Tom Brady, QB New England. Brady threw for 4 TDs and 399 yards against a good Steelers defense last week. Does anybody think the Jets can slow down the Brady Express? Week 1 was an effortless 3 TD, 297 yard game, look for at least that much this week.
Dud: Kellen Clemens, QB N.Y. Jets. Clemens has only four TD passes in six starts this year. He’s still learning and has shown flashes of potential. Don’t expect this to be his fantasy breakout game, though. The Pats are 4th in the league in sacks and 6th in pass defense.
Sleeper: Randy Moss, WR N.Y. Jets. Moss and Wes Welker are both good picks. The Jets pass defense isn’t all that bad, but Moss is still one of the best in the game and the Jets don’t have anybody that can stop him consistently for four quarters.
Seattle at Carolina
The Seahawks clinched the NFC West last week and have a chance to earn a first round bye in the playoffs if they stay hot and the Packers stumble down the stretch. The Panthers’ chances really ended when Jake Delhomme went down early in the season. They are 1-5 at home this year and are merely fighting to keep their jobs and Coach John Fox’s position with the team.
Stud: Matt Hasselbeck, QB Seattle. Hasselbeck is one of the better fantasy QBs out there even if he doesn’t grab as many headlines as Tom Brady, Peyton Manning or Brett Favre. He has 6 TDs in the last two games. Add the fact that the Panthers are last in the league in sacks and Hasselbeck should be productive again on Sunday.
Dud: Vinny Testaverde, QB Carolina. Whether it’s Vinny or Matt Moore, don’t expect much statistically from the Panthers’ QBs against the Seahawks. Seattle has been forcing a lot of turnovers lately. They would probably eat Moore alive while just keeping Testaverde’s stats below acceptable fantasy standards.
Sleeper: Bobby Engram, WR Seattle. Want a real sleeper? Try Engram. Quietly, Engram has become a key part of the Seahawks attack. He has scored TDs in back-to-back games and has 42 catches in his last six games.
Arizona at New Orleans
The Cardinals are a better football team this year under their new coaching staff but they are still learning how to win. The Saints struggled early and then have had untimely breakdowns that have kept them on the fringes of the playoff race. The loser of this game is all but done as far as the postseason is concerned but the winner still at least has a pulse. With both Deuce McAlister and Reggie Bush out, the Saints will have to rely on their passing attack more than ever.
Stud: Kurt Warner, QB Arizona. Warner has been putting up some nice fantasy numbers when he’s been healthy enough to play. This week, he should be getting back the receiving duo of Fitzgerald and Boldin which will only help his cause. The Saints are 29th against the pass and don’t have any CBs who can keep up with the Cards’ top wideouts.
Dud: New Orleans Defense. OK, neither of these defenses look to have a great day. The Saints are vulnerable where the Cards’ strength is. This will be a high scoring game.
Sleeper: Drew Brees, QB New Orleans. Brees will throw plenty and the Cardinals defense is 24th against the pass. Aaron Stecker is not a bad RB, but Brees will have a very good day Sunday.
Atlanta at Tampa Bay
The Bucs lost to the Texans last week but still have control of the NFC South with three games to go. They are 4-0 in the division and look to continue their dominance over the Falcons. Atlanta has been stunned by the recent announcement that Coach Bobby Petrino will be leaving to return to the college ranks. In a year full of turmoil and uncertainty, things have been shaken up yet again in Atlanta. Chris Redman will get a start for the Falcons since Joey Harrington hasn’t played well and Byron Leftwich is hurt. Meanwhile, the Bucs should have QB Jeff Garcia back for this game.
Stud: Earnest Graham, RB Tampa Bay. Graham has been a great fantasy pickup this season. He has scored TDs in his last five games including two last week against the Texans. In three of those games, he topped 100 yards and he also adds yards by catching passes out of the backfield. Add to the mix the fact that the Falcons run defense ranks 27th in the league and it should add up to a good game for Graham.
Dud: Warrick Dunn, RB Atlanta. Dunn has a total of 20 yards in 16 carries over the last two games and is losing carries to Jerious Norwood. The Falcons offensive line hasn’t helped matters and Dunn is barely averaging three yards per carry. The Bucs run defense is in the middle of the pack but Dunn won’t be breaking free much on Sunday.
Sleeper: Joey Galloway, WR Tampa Bay. Galloway has caught 13 passes in the last two games and continues to produce despite his advanced age. With Jeff Garcia back, Galloway should have another solid game against Atlanta even going against CB DeAngelo Hall.
Jacksonville at Pittsburgh
Two 9-4 teams battling for playoff position meet in wintry Pittsburgh on Sunday. The Steelers maintain the inside track to win the AFC North while the Jaguars hold the top Wild Card spot in the AFC and are still mathematically alive in the AFC South. Jacksonville and Pittsburgh may meet again come January and this game pits two teams with similar offensive styles against each other.
Stud: Ben Roethlisberger, QB Pittsburgh. Roethlisberger struggled a bit against New England, coming in with fewer than 200 yards and throwing for only 1 TD. The Jaguars pass defense ranks 27th in the league and is the biggest weakness of either of the these two teams in this game. Roethlisberger is due to bounce back.
Dud: Heath Miller, TE Pittsburgh. Miller has only six catches for 66 yards in his last two games and missed one game in between due to injury. The only way Miller pays off in fantasy football is to score TDs. Pittsburgh will be throwing more to its WRs and backs on Sunday as they have more favorable matchups against Jacksonville.
Sleeper: Fred Taylor, RB Jacksonville. Taylor has three straight games of 100-plus yards and has scored two TDs in those contests. The Steelers run defense is one of the best in the game but the Jaguars are a run-first team so Taylor will get his touches (although he splits them with Maurice Jones-Drew), so by the end of the day, Taylor’s numbers should be decent.
Green Bay at St. Louis
The Packers bounced back into form last week and devoured the Raiders 38-7 to clinch the NFC North. Another win and a Seahawks loss would clinch a first round bye for the Pack and keep them mathematically alive in the battle for home field in the NFC for at least one more week. The Rams have had an injury-filled season. They still aren’t sure who will start at QB. Brock Berlin was the starter last week. Marc Bulger may be ready this week and so may Gus Frerotte. With all the injuries to the Rams’ offensive line, they should all be ready. St. Louis has played better as of late but they are 1-5 at home.
Stud: Ryan Grant, RB Green Bay. In the Pack’s last five games, Grant has topped 100 yards three times and has scored 5 TDs. He also has not gained fewer than 88 yards. The Pack will continue to feed him the ball to get Grant and the offense ready to run in the playoffs. St. Louis has had trouble stopping the run all season and presently ranks 21st in that category. Look for Grant to continue his good play.
Dud: Gus Frerotte, QB St. Louis. Or Brock Berlin or Marc Bulger. The bottom line is this: the Rams o-line is beat up and the Packers will pressure the QB with KGB and Aaron Kampman. It’s better to go with RB Stephen Jackson if you want to pick a Rams’ offensive player.
Sleeper: Brett Favre, QB Green Bay. Favre returned to form last week against Oakland. The injuries he suffered against Dallas didn’t seem to affect his play much. The Rams will have trouble pressuring Favre and he should be able to throw a few long TDs on Sunday.
Sunday 4:00 PM ET
Indianapolis at Oakland
The Colts are coming off a strong win over Baltimore while the Raiders were easily handled by the Packers last week in Green Bay. Indy is still fighting to hold on to a first round bye while the Raiders are already playing for next year. RB Justin Fargas was hurt against the Pack (check status) but should play on Sunday. Expect Josh McCown to start at QB this week but JaMarcus Russell should get a start before the season is over.
Stud: Joseph Addai, RB Indianapolis. The Raiders are 31st in the league at stopping the run, allowing an average of 150.4 yards per game. Addai needs 25 yards to top 1,000 for the season and has scored 14 total TDs including three last week. Look for lots of Addai on Sunday against the Raiders.
Dud: Josh McCown, QB Oakland. McCown has an injured finger while Dante Culpepper is nursing a quad injury. The coaching staff has already announced that JaMarcus Russell will see some action this week even if he doesn’t start. Add it up and it means that McCown or whoever starts for the Raiders will be playing only part of the game and will be facing the league’s top pass defense. Stay away.
Sleeper: Peyton Manning, QB Indianapolis. Manning should be able to do at least as well as Brett Favre did last week, which was 2 TDs and 260-plus yards. Manning has plenty of weapons at his disposal and the game still means something to the Colts.
Philadelphia at Dallas
The Eagles lost a heartbreaker to the Giants last week as a last second field goal to tie the game hit the upright and was no good. The Cowboys continue to march toward home field advantage in the NFC with a 12-1 record after last week’s last minute comeback win over the Lions. Their only loss came to the Patriots which is hardly something to be ashamed of. A win and a Packer loss would clinch the top seed in the NFC for Dallas. Philly has lost three straight and their playoff hopes are hanging by a thread.
Stud: Tony Romo, QB Dallas. Romo is good enough to play well even against tough defenses. He picked the Eagles apart in Philadelphia earlier this season and should do just find this time around.
Dud: Donovan McNabb, QB Philadelphia. McNabb is gutting it out and playing hurt although Philly fans still love to boo him. Teams have limited McNabb’s downfield throwing ability and the Cowboys will do likewise by putting plenty of pressure on McNabb and taking away the deep ball.
Sleeper: Brian Westbrook, RB Philadelphia. Last week, Westbrook had more than 150 total yards and a TD. If a team takes away the run, Philly will throw it to Westbrook. He is a fantasy stud and even his “off” games are better than a lot of people’s good ones.
Detroit at San Diego
At the midway point of the season, the Lions were on top of the world at 6-2 and the Chargers were struggling. Detroit hasn’t won since and Jon Kitna’s 10-win guarantee is now impossible. The Lions need to win to keep their slim playoff hopes alive. San Diego is in the driver’s seat in the AFC West and picked up a big comeback win last week against Tennessee. A win by San Diego or a Broncos loss clinches a division title for the Chargers.
Stud: LaDainian Tomlinson, RB San Diego. LT has had an “off” season and still has more than 1,600 total yards and 14 TDs with three games to play. The Lions run defense isn’t too bad (16th in the league) but they will not be able to stop LT who can also make yards catching passes.
Dud: Jon Kitna, QB Detroit. Kitna has slowed down as the constant pounding he has absorbed all season has taken it’s toll. He has only 3 TD passes in his last four games and just one 300-plus yard game in his last 10. The Chargers defense is fourth in sacks and will increase its totals against the struggling Detroit offensive line.
Sleeper: Philip Rivers, QB San Diego. Rivers has been a disappointment this year although he won some points with his teammates for leading a gutsy comeback last week against Tennessee. The Lions pass defense is dreadful (next to last in the league) and Rivers will take advantage.
Sunday 8:15 PM ET
Washington at N.Y. Giants
The Giants held on for a big division win last week in Philadelphia while the Redskins got clutch play from backup QB Todd Collins to get past the Bears last Thursday. At least the Redskins are well rested. The Giants clinch a playoff spot with a win. The Redskins need to win all three of their remaining contests and hope that is enough to grab the final spot in the NFC.
Stud: Brandon Jacobs, RB N.Y. Giants. Jacobs is running well but he keeps fumbling, having lost four in his last seven games. When healthy, he is a strong threat to gain 100 or more yards and can take over a game. In a low scoring contest like this one should be, expect Jacobs to be a difference maker.
Dud: Todd Collins, QB Washington. Collins played very well last week, but the Giants defense is a tougher nut to crack than the Bears and the Giants will have time to prepare for Collins. Collins is likely to have decreased efficiency the longer he plays. The Giants lead the league in sacks and will put constant pressure on him.
Sleeper: Clinton Portis, RB Washington. Portis will be the focal point of the Redskins’ offense. He is catching more passes out of the backfield lately and remains an effective runner. The Giants and Redskins will be in a defensive struggle and Portis will carry the load well for Washington.
Monday 8:30 PM ET
Chicago at Minnesota
The Bears are not going back to the playoffs after falling to 5-8 while the Vikings are 7-6 and suddenly have the inside track to the second Wild Card in the NFC. With Rex Grossman hurt and Brian Griese ineffective, the Bears turn to Kyle Orton. The Vikings defense has been making big plays of late. On offense, the running game is dominant while the passing game has suddenly become efficient. Chicago is just a mess and is waiting for the season to end.
Stud: Chester Taylor, RB Minnesota. Taylor has 6 TDs and two 100-plus games in his last four weeks. The Bears run defense has been poor and both Vikings RBs should have big games on Monday night.
Dud: Adrian Peterson, RB Chicago. Peterson is averaging 3.2 yards per carry and hasn’t been able to get going since taking over for the injured Cedric Benson. The Vikings run defense is the best in the league and they are almost impossible to run against up the middle.
Sleeper: Adrian Peterson, RB Minnesota. Peterson struggled last week against the 49ers. He should bounce back against the Bears mediocre run defense. In the first meeting between these teams, Peterson ran for 224 yards and 3 TDs. While he may not match those numbers, he should have a strong game.
Thursday, December 13, 2007
ROOKIE REPORT: TRENT EDWARDS (QB-BUF)
By Ralph Mancini, NFL Draft Bible Senior Writer
Going into the 2007 NFL Draft, Stanford quarterback Trent Edwards was quite the enigma in that his collegiate production was unremarkable both on an individual and team level. His exceptional physical skills belied his team’s embarrassing 1-11 record along with a rather ordinary 36-33 touchdown-to-interception ratio.
The Buffalo Bills were one team willing to take a chance on the 6’ 4” 231-pound signal caller as much-needed insurance for their 2006 starter J.P. Losman whose erratic and mistake-prone ways had Buffalo’s front office and coaching staff very concerned about the direction of their squad.
The rookie project grew up in a hurry when called on to step in for an injured Losman during the second quarter of a 38-7 drubbing at the hands of the mighty New England Patriots in week three.
Although Edwards showed signs of being an accurate passer in the preseason, it was a pleasant surprise to watch Edwards efficiently move the offense downfield versus the division-rival Jets the following week.
The 24-year-old exuded the poise and confidence of a 10-year veteran as he went on to complete nine straight passes during one stretch. Edwards capped off his amazing debut with a game-winning touchdown pass to tight end Michael Gaines on fourth down.
The Los Gatos, California native completed 22 of 28 throws for 234 yards, but what was most telling about the neophyte was his natural ability to process what was happening around him and hit his check-down receivers when there was nothing open downfield.
His calmness in the pocket was certainly eye-opening for head coach Dick Jauron who was immediately on the fence regarding whether to reinsert Losman as the starter upon his return from injury.
“I’ve always said nobody’s job is secure,” said the coach in assessing his rookie’s unexpected performance. “From week to week, we play whoever we think is the best guy. So we’ll see where it goes.”
This couldn’t have been music to Losman’s ears who probably began seeing the proverbial writing on the wall. Despite his four years as a professional, the Tulane product is still prone to forcing long passes into coverage even when there are safer options in the offing.
Ranked fourth overall among quarterbacks by the NFL Draft Bible prior to draft day, Edwards was lauded for his quick decisions and exemplary intangibles, but as we’ve witnessed with many highly-touted prospects in recent years (see Smith, Alex), intelligence and overall mental makeup can only take you so far if a player’s pure physical skills aren’t up to snuff.
The damning effect of being part of a losing program with an 11-20 record as a starter at Stanford caused many to overlook Edwards’s overall raw strength, as well as his potent arm allowing him to both toss it deep and put some real zip in his short-to-intermediate throws.
His mobility and speed, on the other hand, are also top shelf among his peers at the quarterback position. The young athlete posted a 4.76 in the 40 prior to being drafted, which becomes even more impressive when factoring in Edwards’s size.
His one glaring red flag (questionable durability) reared its ugly head during Buffalo’s week eight rematch with Gang Green when Edwards was forced to exit the game in the third quarter with a sprained right wrist.
Although tests on the ailing wrist came back negative, it was time once again for Losman to reclaim the reins to the Buffalo Bills attack, but with the exception of one promising game versus Cincinnati, the veteran triggerman’s streaky ways once again boiled to the surface.
His inability to consistently get a good read on defenses led to interceptions and fumbles in back-to-back losing efforts versus the Patriots and Jaguars.
With a playoff spot hanging in the balance, Jauron had no choice but to turn to his prized rookie and entrust him with the task of restoring order to an offense spiraling out of control.
The unflappable field general picked up right where he left off in a late-season 17-15 overtime thriller victory over the Washington Redskins.
In this emotional game fresh off the untimely death of Sean Taylor, Edwards masterfully led the troops on a game-winning drive with no timeouts left and 56 seconds to go. The precocious quarterback set up the deciding field goal with a clutch 31-yard completion to receiver Josh Reed in front of a passionate crowd on the road. The third-round pick wasn’t finished there.
This first-year revelation went on to make quick work of the hapless Miami Dolphins a week later by initially attacking Miami’s safeties on two touchdown passes to tight end Robert Royal. It became evident in this game that offensive coordinator Steve Fairchild began opening up the playbook for Edwards who punctuated his breakthrough four-touchdown performance with a fourth quarter 70-yard strike to speedster Lee Evans.
While it’s certainly too early to anoint Edwards as the second coming of Jim Kelly, the youngster has proven to possess the mental and physical ingredients necessary to achieve long-term success.
Edwards will be looking to add to his 1,212 yards and five touchdowns in this Sunday’s pivotal showdown with the Cleveland Browns as both teams can ill-afford to lose any of their remaining games with the postseason on the line.
Going into the 2007 NFL Draft, Stanford quarterback Trent Edwards was quite the enigma in that his collegiate production was unremarkable both on an individual and team level. His exceptional physical skills belied his team’s embarrassing 1-11 record along with a rather ordinary 36-33 touchdown-to-interception ratio.
The Buffalo Bills were one team willing to take a chance on the 6’ 4” 231-pound signal caller as much-needed insurance for their 2006 starter J.P. Losman whose erratic and mistake-prone ways had Buffalo’s front office and coaching staff very concerned about the direction of their squad.
The rookie project grew up in a hurry when called on to step in for an injured Losman during the second quarter of a 38-7 drubbing at the hands of the mighty New England Patriots in week three.
Although Edwards showed signs of being an accurate passer in the preseason, it was a pleasant surprise to watch Edwards efficiently move the offense downfield versus the division-rival Jets the following week.
The 24-year-old exuded the poise and confidence of a 10-year veteran as he went on to complete nine straight passes during one stretch. Edwards capped off his amazing debut with a game-winning touchdown pass to tight end Michael Gaines on fourth down.
The Los Gatos, California native completed 22 of 28 throws for 234 yards, but what was most telling about the neophyte was his natural ability to process what was happening around him and hit his check-down receivers when there was nothing open downfield.
His calmness in the pocket was certainly eye-opening for head coach Dick Jauron who was immediately on the fence regarding whether to reinsert Losman as the starter upon his return from injury.
“I’ve always said nobody’s job is secure,” said the coach in assessing his rookie’s unexpected performance. “From week to week, we play whoever we think is the best guy. So we’ll see where it goes.”
This couldn’t have been music to Losman’s ears who probably began seeing the proverbial writing on the wall. Despite his four years as a professional, the Tulane product is still prone to forcing long passes into coverage even when there are safer options in the offing.
Ranked fourth overall among quarterbacks by the NFL Draft Bible prior to draft day, Edwards was lauded for his quick decisions and exemplary intangibles, but as we’ve witnessed with many highly-touted prospects in recent years (see Smith, Alex), intelligence and overall mental makeup can only take you so far if a player’s pure physical skills aren’t up to snuff.
The damning effect of being part of a losing program with an 11-20 record as a starter at Stanford caused many to overlook Edwards’s overall raw strength, as well as his potent arm allowing him to both toss it deep and put some real zip in his short-to-intermediate throws.
His mobility and speed, on the other hand, are also top shelf among his peers at the quarterback position. The young athlete posted a 4.76 in the 40 prior to being drafted, which becomes even more impressive when factoring in Edwards’s size.
His one glaring red flag (questionable durability) reared its ugly head during Buffalo’s week eight rematch with Gang Green when Edwards was forced to exit the game in the third quarter with a sprained right wrist.
Although tests on the ailing wrist came back negative, it was time once again for Losman to reclaim the reins to the Buffalo Bills attack, but with the exception of one promising game versus Cincinnati, the veteran triggerman’s streaky ways once again boiled to the surface.
His inability to consistently get a good read on defenses led to interceptions and fumbles in back-to-back losing efforts versus the Patriots and Jaguars.
With a playoff spot hanging in the balance, Jauron had no choice but to turn to his prized rookie and entrust him with the task of restoring order to an offense spiraling out of control.
The unflappable field general picked up right where he left off in a late-season 17-15 overtime thriller victory over the Washington Redskins.
In this emotional game fresh off the untimely death of Sean Taylor, Edwards masterfully led the troops on a game-winning drive with no timeouts left and 56 seconds to go. The precocious quarterback set up the deciding field goal with a clutch 31-yard completion to receiver Josh Reed in front of a passionate crowd on the road. The third-round pick wasn’t finished there.
This first-year revelation went on to make quick work of the hapless Miami Dolphins a week later by initially attacking Miami’s safeties on two touchdown passes to tight end Robert Royal. It became evident in this game that offensive coordinator Steve Fairchild began opening up the playbook for Edwards who punctuated his breakthrough four-touchdown performance with a fourth quarter 70-yard strike to speedster Lee Evans.
While it’s certainly too early to anoint Edwards as the second coming of Jim Kelly, the youngster has proven to possess the mental and physical ingredients necessary to achieve long-term success.
Edwards will be looking to add to his 1,212 yards and five touchdowns in this Sunday’s pivotal showdown with the Cleveland Browns as both teams can ill-afford to lose any of their remaining games with the postseason on the line.
Wednesday, December 12, 2007
The Buzz, Week 15
By Fantasy Phil Eletto, Fantasy Football Insiders Senior Writer
As the season comes to an end, there is still no shortage of replacement players that can come up big for you in the playoffs. Who might those players be? As we do every week, we bring you the buzz…
According to ESPNews, New Orleans Saints running back Reggie Bush will not play again this season due to a partially torn posterior cruciate ligament. With Bush out against the Falcons on Monday night, Aaron Stecker picked up 100 yards rushing on 20 carries. He also caught three passes for seven yards. Consider Stecker a top 30 running back the rest of the way.
Although New England refuses to run the ball, they probably won’t be punished for their stubbornness against the Jets and Bills. In fact, since they may look to score 10 TDs against the Jets this week, they may end up ruinning the ball once they get their 40 –point lead. However in Week Sixteen, it’s hard to see them playing Tom Brady much in the second half (after he throws 2-3 TD passes). Laurence Maroney could get 30+ touches total these next two weeks.
Clinton Portis is going to face two of the league’s top run defenses when his Redskins take on the Giants and Minesota. It’s going to be very hard for him to come up large for you these next two weeks.
There was some trepidation with Marshawn Lynch for obvious reasons (he had the dreaded high ankle sprain), but for them to activate him tells you his ankle is close to totally healed. And for Buffalo to give him 23 carries when the game was over by halftime tells you he felt good. Unless he has some pain in the ankle this week, he’s good to go and is a must-start this week against Cleveland’s shaky run defense.
Congratulations to Fountain of Youth player of the year, Fred Taylor! Like most games this season, Taylor wasn’t doing much in last week’s game – until he busted off an 80-yard TD run. He needs to score from farther out, since Maurice Jones-Drew gets most of the red zone carries, but Taylor continues to run like a young pup. At this point, since you know he’s been great and since you know he’ll get the rock, you have to use him. The runner up for the Ponce de Leon award would be Joey Galloway, who is second only because he showed no signs of slowing based on last year’s numbers.
Andre Johnson has not been slowed by Sage Rosenfelds taking the reins of the Houston offense and now we know for sure that Johnson can even produce against a very stingy defense with the solid Rosenfelds at the helm.
Another wideout that has not been slowed by a change at quarterback, Lee Evans is a good bet to get 5-6 catches any given week with Trent Edwards in. You have to feel a lot better about Evans now after Edwards showed the ability to get him the ball deep. He may not make more than 1-2 more big plays this year, but he will catch a good number of passes each week and we know what he can do with them. Evans had only four pass targets, and basically made two plays…usually with Edwards in he’s more active.
In week one of the post Roy Williams era, shaun McDonald did a solid job in his debut as the starter on the outside, which is a good sign because he will see tougher coverage compared to when he’s basically the #3. Wideout Calvin Johnson really doesn’t command the ball every week, so McDonald should continue to be very active. He led the team with 12 pass targets and Johnson had 8.
Should you hate Travis Henry or Mike Shanahan? Henry wins his appeal of a positive marijuana test. He is healthy going into the game and scored twice the previous week. The team apparently wanted to limit his action all along, and with Selvin Young healthier and obviously able to do big things, there was no need for Henry in the blowout win. In fact, Young started the game, and the Chiefs had no answer for him. Henry was used early in the game and he did score, but you have to be careful with him the rest of the way because Young could seriously limit his production again. The Broncos have finally realized that they can’t over-extend either, and Henry’s knee isn’t completely healed, so he’s shaky.
When you talk about players who are producing now at the position, and that’s obviously very important this time of the year, Reggie Williams of Jacksonville definitely needs to be in the conversation. He’s playing with a lot of confidence, and he’s really physical with an eye for the end zone. There are many other players getting touches each week, but Williams is making the most of his and his quarterback continues to play very well. If you need him or are on the fence about him, roll with him. He had 9 pass targets, 3 catches of 15 or more yards, and he lost a 23-yard catch to a penalty, costing him a 100-yard game.
Surprise, Jerricho Cotchery goes from questionable for the season (he was listed as doubtful for at least the game) to back to being a very viable option because it appears Lavernaues Coles is still limited with his injury.
Ron Dayne was in and out of the game with his ankle injury, so you have to be concerned about him this week with the short week (they play Thursday). The injured ankle prevented him from participating in Monday's walk-through practice, making it unlikely he'll be able to play this week. However, if he is cleared to play and has no more issues in practice, he would be a viable starter against the Broncos, who have struggled to stop the run for most of the season. Head coach Gary Kubiak is planning on going with Darius Walker and dash of Adimchinobe Echemandu at running back in place of Dayne.
If Frank Gore can rush for 68 yards and average 4.2 yards per carry against the Vikings with Shawn Hill (you are justified in saying, WHO?) in at running the offense, and if he can catch 8 passes for 49 yards, then he’s worth starting for the rest of the season--and should be drafted next season exactly where he was THIS season. Gore gets Cincy this week, then Tampa Bay and finally Cleveland. Start him against all these teams if you’re still in it. If he’s not going to run well, he’s still going to be very active in the passing game (10 targets this past week).
While the juicy story out of San Francisco is the battle between Alex Smith and coach Mike Nolan for leadership of the team, Hill almost certainly will get the first start of his six-year career Saturday night at Monster Park. However, Trent Dilfer could get the nod if he's medically cleared to play after sustaining a concussion in Sunday's 27-7 loss to Minnesota. He was released from Stanford Hospital on Sunday night and reported to work Monday still feeling the effects of the blow to the head. "I can barely think, let alone talk," Dilfer said. One certainty is Alex Smith will not be playing again this year after undergoing season-ending surgery.
One might think it would be tough to endorse Chris Cooley as a “must start” with Jason Campbell out, but you should have enough confidence in Todd Collins to continue starting Cooley and expecting good things. Collins knows the offense well, has a good arm, and he was able to get the ball to the tight end last week. In fact, he could even lean on Cooley even more than Campbell did.
Samkon Gado replaced Jesse Chatman against Buffalo and had 12 carries for 52 yards and two touchdowns to go with two catches for 41 yards. Gado is expected to start in Week 15 against Baltimore and even though the Ravens are a stout run defense, he could have value simply because he'll get the majority of touches. Consider Gado a No. 3 Fantasy running back or a flex option against Baltimore.
Dolphins head coach Cam Cameron will also go with Cleo Lemon, not John Beck as his team's starting quarterback for their Week Fifteen game. The offense has not been able to move the ball at all with Beck at the helm, while Cleo Lemon gave them a bit of a spark last week in Buffalo.
Dallas TE Jason Witten's 15 catches Sunday not only set a team record for a game, but he tied the NFL record for catches by a tight end in a game. Hall of Famers Kellen Winslow (yes kids, ther is another Winslow) and Mike Ditka also had 15-catch games. Witten's final catch was a 16-yarder for the winning touchdown against Detroit. "There's a lot of playmakers in this room on offense, but I want that ball in my hands just like Terrell (Owens) wants it in his," Witten said.
Quick Hits
The injured ribs that Oakland Raiders’ Justin Fargas sustained this past Sunday are not likely to prevent him from playing in this week's game vs. the Colts.
Meanwhile, Raiders head coach Lane Kiffin announced that rookie JaMarcus Russell will not start this week's game, but will still see playing time.
Bobby Petrino doesn’t deserve a headline, instead Petrino should be ashamed. Leaving a Falcons team that has been nothing but turmoil all year is understandable. It certainly is better than holding them up all offseason like Nick Saban did to the Dolphins. But leaving a and singing the schools fight song (on camera) the night after a football game? Considering the leagacy he, Saban and Steve Spurrier left, NFL teams have to be wary of pulling someone directly from the college ranks. Turns out DeAngelo Hall had it right. Oh, yeah fantasy impact, there really is none.
The NFL has moved the Week Sixteen game between the Washington Redskins and the Minnesota Vikings to Sunday night. With the Vikings now at 7-6 and the Redskins at 6-7 the game is certain to have playoff implications, even if both teams lose in Week Fifteen.
Seattle Seahawks head coach Mike Holmgren indicated Monday that starting running back Shaun Alexander will continue to rotate with backup Maurice Morris.
Place very little faith in Kyle Orton, and with the Bears announcing Monday that Orton will start this week's game vs. Minnesota, he could render Bernard Berrian fairly useless as long as he’s starting.
Seattle Seahawks WR D. J. Hackett (ankle) is ahead of schedule in his recovery according to head coach Mike Holmgren. However, Holmgren did not offer a firm timetable for Hackett's return.
The St. Louis Rams could decide as early as Wednesday afternoon what Marc Bulger’s (concussion) status is for this week's game.
Obviously, Javon Walker’s knee is still a major problem because he was expected to play, yet he was inactive. Walker’s name may look good on your roster, but that’s about all he’s worth right now.
San Diego Chargers fullback Lorenzo Neal will be sidelined for the remainder of the season with a broken right fibula. While it doesn’t downgrade LaDanian Tomlinson much, it certainly doesn’t help.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach Jon Gruden announced that quarterback Jeff
Garcia will return to the starting lineup for this week's game vs. Atlanta. Garcia has been sidelined the last two weeks due to a back injury.
“Throw Me the Damn Ball”
Players who had ten or more passes thrown to them this past week:
Jason Witten 18
Michael Jenkins 14
Randy Moss 13
Bernard Berrian 12
Shaun McDonald 12
Larry Fitzgerald 12
Plaxico Burress 12
Brandon Marshall 12
Marques Colston 12
Steve Smith 11
Drew Carter 11
Earnest Graham 11
Andre Johnson 11
Hines Ward 11
Wes Welker 11
Laveranues Coles 11
Devin Hester 10
Ted Ginn 10
Torry Holt 10
Chris Chambers 10
Frank Gore 10
Jerricho Cotchery 10
David Patten 10
Please note our new feature and feel free to offer your comments by clicking the COMMENT link. If this doesn’t get you “buzzed” enough, feel free to fire questions to me at phil@nfldraftbible.com or tune in Sundays at 10:30 AM to www.scrubradio.com for the fantasy spot hosted by Jib Records www.jibmachinerecords.com. CEO John Templeman and I will be happy to discuss all things fantasy football. You can also check out our weekly pocast, posted every Saturday covering all the upcoming NFL games. It can be found on the “audio” tab at the top of the NFLDraftBible.com media player.
While the regular and fantasy season is coming to an end, NFL Draft Bible’s draft research is just heating up. Stay with NFLDRAFTBIBLE.COM to see who your team is going to pick or who from your favorite conference or school will be moving on.
Best of luck in the playoffs, Rock on!
As the season comes to an end, there is still no shortage of replacement players that can come up big for you in the playoffs. Who might those players be? As we do every week, we bring you the buzz…
According to ESPNews, New Orleans Saints running back Reggie Bush will not play again this season due to a partially torn posterior cruciate ligament. With Bush out against the Falcons on Monday night, Aaron Stecker picked up 100 yards rushing on 20 carries. He also caught three passes for seven yards. Consider Stecker a top 30 running back the rest of the way.
Although New England refuses to run the ball, they probably won’t be punished for their stubbornness against the Jets and Bills. In fact, since they may look to score 10 TDs against the Jets this week, they may end up ruinning the ball once they get their 40 –point lead. However in Week Sixteen, it’s hard to see them playing Tom Brady much in the second half (after he throws 2-3 TD passes). Laurence Maroney could get 30+ touches total these next two weeks.
Clinton Portis is going to face two of the league’s top run defenses when his Redskins take on the Giants and Minesota. It’s going to be very hard for him to come up large for you these next two weeks.
There was some trepidation with Marshawn Lynch for obvious reasons (he had the dreaded high ankle sprain), but for them to activate him tells you his ankle is close to totally healed. And for Buffalo to give him 23 carries when the game was over by halftime tells you he felt good. Unless he has some pain in the ankle this week, he’s good to go and is a must-start this week against Cleveland’s shaky run defense.
Congratulations to Fountain of Youth player of the year, Fred Taylor! Like most games this season, Taylor wasn’t doing much in last week’s game – until he busted off an 80-yard TD run. He needs to score from farther out, since Maurice Jones-Drew gets most of the red zone carries, but Taylor continues to run like a young pup. At this point, since you know he’s been great and since you know he’ll get the rock, you have to use him. The runner up for the Ponce de Leon award would be Joey Galloway, who is second only because he showed no signs of slowing based on last year’s numbers.
Andre Johnson has not been slowed by Sage Rosenfelds taking the reins of the Houston offense and now we know for sure that Johnson can even produce against a very stingy defense with the solid Rosenfelds at the helm.
Another wideout that has not been slowed by a change at quarterback, Lee Evans is a good bet to get 5-6 catches any given week with Trent Edwards in. You have to feel a lot better about Evans now after Edwards showed the ability to get him the ball deep. He may not make more than 1-2 more big plays this year, but he will catch a good number of passes each week and we know what he can do with them. Evans had only four pass targets, and basically made two plays…usually with Edwards in he’s more active.
In week one of the post Roy Williams era, shaun McDonald did a solid job in his debut as the starter on the outside, which is a good sign because he will see tougher coverage compared to when he’s basically the #3. Wideout Calvin Johnson really doesn’t command the ball every week, so McDonald should continue to be very active. He led the team with 12 pass targets and Johnson had 8.
Should you hate Travis Henry or Mike Shanahan? Henry wins his appeal of a positive marijuana test. He is healthy going into the game and scored twice the previous week. The team apparently wanted to limit his action all along, and with Selvin Young healthier and obviously able to do big things, there was no need for Henry in the blowout win. In fact, Young started the game, and the Chiefs had no answer for him. Henry was used early in the game and he did score, but you have to be careful with him the rest of the way because Young could seriously limit his production again. The Broncos have finally realized that they can’t over-extend either, and Henry’s knee isn’t completely healed, so he’s shaky.
When you talk about players who are producing now at the position, and that’s obviously very important this time of the year, Reggie Williams of Jacksonville definitely needs to be in the conversation. He’s playing with a lot of confidence, and he’s really physical with an eye for the end zone. There are many other players getting touches each week, but Williams is making the most of his and his quarterback continues to play very well. If you need him or are on the fence about him, roll with him. He had 9 pass targets, 3 catches of 15 or more yards, and he lost a 23-yard catch to a penalty, costing him a 100-yard game.
Surprise, Jerricho Cotchery goes from questionable for the season (he was listed as doubtful for at least the game) to back to being a very viable option because it appears Lavernaues Coles is still limited with his injury.
Ron Dayne was in and out of the game with his ankle injury, so you have to be concerned about him this week with the short week (they play Thursday). The injured ankle prevented him from participating in Monday's walk-through practice, making it unlikely he'll be able to play this week. However, if he is cleared to play and has no more issues in practice, he would be a viable starter against the Broncos, who have struggled to stop the run for most of the season. Head coach Gary Kubiak is planning on going with Darius Walker and dash of Adimchinobe Echemandu at running back in place of Dayne.
If Frank Gore can rush for 68 yards and average 4.2 yards per carry against the Vikings with Shawn Hill (you are justified in saying, WHO?) in at running the offense, and if he can catch 8 passes for 49 yards, then he’s worth starting for the rest of the season--and should be drafted next season exactly where he was THIS season. Gore gets Cincy this week, then Tampa Bay and finally Cleveland. Start him against all these teams if you’re still in it. If he’s not going to run well, he’s still going to be very active in the passing game (10 targets this past week).
While the juicy story out of San Francisco is the battle between Alex Smith and coach Mike Nolan for leadership of the team, Hill almost certainly will get the first start of his six-year career Saturday night at Monster Park. However, Trent Dilfer could get the nod if he's medically cleared to play after sustaining a concussion in Sunday's 27-7 loss to Minnesota. He was released from Stanford Hospital on Sunday night and reported to work Monday still feeling the effects of the blow to the head. "I can barely think, let alone talk," Dilfer said. One certainty is Alex Smith will not be playing again this year after undergoing season-ending surgery.
One might think it would be tough to endorse Chris Cooley as a “must start” with Jason Campbell out, but you should have enough confidence in Todd Collins to continue starting Cooley and expecting good things. Collins knows the offense well, has a good arm, and he was able to get the ball to the tight end last week. In fact, he could even lean on Cooley even more than Campbell did.
Samkon Gado replaced Jesse Chatman against Buffalo and had 12 carries for 52 yards and two touchdowns to go with two catches for 41 yards. Gado is expected to start in Week 15 against Baltimore and even though the Ravens are a stout run defense, he could have value simply because he'll get the majority of touches. Consider Gado a No. 3 Fantasy running back or a flex option against Baltimore.
Dolphins head coach Cam Cameron will also go with Cleo Lemon, not John Beck as his team's starting quarterback for their Week Fifteen game. The offense has not been able to move the ball at all with Beck at the helm, while Cleo Lemon gave them a bit of a spark last week in Buffalo.
Dallas TE Jason Witten's 15 catches Sunday not only set a team record for a game, but he tied the NFL record for catches by a tight end in a game. Hall of Famers Kellen Winslow (yes kids, ther is another Winslow) and Mike Ditka also had 15-catch games. Witten's final catch was a 16-yarder for the winning touchdown against Detroit. "There's a lot of playmakers in this room on offense, but I want that ball in my hands just like Terrell (Owens) wants it in his," Witten said.
Quick Hits
The injured ribs that Oakland Raiders’ Justin Fargas sustained this past Sunday are not likely to prevent him from playing in this week's game vs. the Colts.
Meanwhile, Raiders head coach Lane Kiffin announced that rookie JaMarcus Russell will not start this week's game, but will still see playing time.
Bobby Petrino doesn’t deserve a headline, instead Petrino should be ashamed. Leaving a Falcons team that has been nothing but turmoil all year is understandable. It certainly is better than holding them up all offseason like Nick Saban did to the Dolphins. But leaving a and singing the schools fight song (on camera) the night after a football game? Considering the leagacy he, Saban and Steve Spurrier left, NFL teams have to be wary of pulling someone directly from the college ranks. Turns out DeAngelo Hall had it right. Oh, yeah fantasy impact, there really is none.
The NFL has moved the Week Sixteen game between the Washington Redskins and the Minnesota Vikings to Sunday night. With the Vikings now at 7-6 and the Redskins at 6-7 the game is certain to have playoff implications, even if both teams lose in Week Fifteen.
Seattle Seahawks head coach Mike Holmgren indicated Monday that starting running back Shaun Alexander will continue to rotate with backup Maurice Morris.
Place very little faith in Kyle Orton, and with the Bears announcing Monday that Orton will start this week's game vs. Minnesota, he could render Bernard Berrian fairly useless as long as he’s starting.
Seattle Seahawks WR D. J. Hackett (ankle) is ahead of schedule in his recovery according to head coach Mike Holmgren. However, Holmgren did not offer a firm timetable for Hackett's return.
The St. Louis Rams could decide as early as Wednesday afternoon what Marc Bulger’s (concussion) status is for this week's game.
Obviously, Javon Walker’s knee is still a major problem because he was expected to play, yet he was inactive. Walker’s name may look good on your roster, but that’s about all he’s worth right now.
San Diego Chargers fullback Lorenzo Neal will be sidelined for the remainder of the season with a broken right fibula. While it doesn’t downgrade LaDanian Tomlinson much, it certainly doesn’t help.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach Jon Gruden announced that quarterback Jeff
Garcia will return to the starting lineup for this week's game vs. Atlanta. Garcia has been sidelined the last two weeks due to a back injury.
“Throw Me the Damn Ball”
Players who had ten or more passes thrown to them this past week:
Jason Witten 18
Michael Jenkins 14
Randy Moss 13
Bernard Berrian 12
Shaun McDonald 12
Larry Fitzgerald 12
Plaxico Burress 12
Brandon Marshall 12
Marques Colston 12
Steve Smith 11
Drew Carter 11
Earnest Graham 11
Andre Johnson 11
Hines Ward 11
Wes Welker 11
Laveranues Coles 11
Devin Hester 10
Ted Ginn 10
Torry Holt 10
Chris Chambers 10
Frank Gore 10
Jerricho Cotchery 10
David Patten 10
Please note our new feature and feel free to offer your comments by clicking the COMMENT link. If this doesn’t get you “buzzed” enough, feel free to fire questions to me at phil@nfldraftbible.com or tune in Sundays at 10:30 AM to www.scrubradio.com for the fantasy spot hosted by Jib Records www.jibmachinerecords.com. CEO John Templeman and I will be happy to discuss all things fantasy football. You can also check out our weekly pocast, posted every Saturday covering all the upcoming NFL games. It can be found on the “audio” tab at the top of the NFLDraftBible.com media player.
While the regular and fantasy season is coming to an end, NFL Draft Bible’s draft research is just heating up. Stay with NFLDRAFTBIBLE.COM to see who your team is going to pick or who from your favorite conference or school will be moving on.
Best of luck in the playoffs, Rock on!
Tuesday, December 11, 2007
Ones To Watch
By Ralph Mancini, NFL Draft Bible Senior Writer
JOHN LEE HIGGINS (WR-OAK)- With another season down the tubes, Oakland might be ready to give a long look at some of their younger and unproven players. Among these is rookie receiver John Lee Higgins. In his last two years at UTEP, Higgins averaged 19.7 yards per reception in addition to scoring 19 touchdowns. Ranked as the 14th best receiver in the latest edition of the NFL Draft Bible, the 5'11" 186-pound Higgins has the type of physical skills to turn a screen pass into an 80-yard score. Look for the 24-year-old to get some repetitions out of the slot.
SEAN McHUGH (TE-DET)- With tight end Casey FitzSimmons and star receiver Roy Williams out with injuries, the 6'5" 265-pound McHugh has been seeing more playing time and has looked very promising in the process. The former Nittany Lion hauled in three receptions for sixty yards versus the Cowboys in week 14. Overall, McHugh has averaged 17 yards per reception on the season. Widely considered to be an above-average blocker, McHugh is also an athletic route runner who knows how to get open despite his lack of blazing speed.
JOHN LEE HIGGINS (WR-OAK)- With another season down the tubes, Oakland might be ready to give a long look at some of their younger and unproven players. Among these is rookie receiver John Lee Higgins. In his last two years at UTEP, Higgins averaged 19.7 yards per reception in addition to scoring 19 touchdowns. Ranked as the 14th best receiver in the latest edition of the NFL Draft Bible, the 5'11" 186-pound Higgins has the type of physical skills to turn a screen pass into an 80-yard score. Look for the 24-year-old to get some repetitions out of the slot.
SEAN McHUGH (TE-DET)- With tight end Casey FitzSimmons and star receiver Roy Williams out with injuries, the 6'5" 265-pound McHugh has been seeing more playing time and has looked very promising in the process. The former Nittany Lion hauled in three receptions for sixty yards versus the Cowboys in week 14. Overall, McHugh has averaged 17 yards per reception on the season. Widely considered to be an above-average blocker, McHugh is also an athletic route runner who knows how to get open despite his lack of blazing speed.
Ones To Watch
By Ralph Mancini, NFL Draft Bible Senior Writer
DEDE DORSEY (RB-CIN)- Dorsey’s accomplishments as a special-teams ace earned him some carries in week 14. The backup runner made the most of his opportunities, gaining 81 yards on only four carries. The 5’ 11” 196-pounder has eye-catching speed to break runs to the outside and possesses the ability to make defenders miss in the open field. Lead back Rudi Johnson won’t be 100 percent for the remainder of the year which may lead to Dorsey getting some more action with the starting offense.
COURTNEY TAYLOR (WR-SEA)- The rookie wide out has been turning heads in practice by displaying good athleticism along with quality hands. What’s been most impressive about him is the way he utilizes his 6’ 1” 205-pound frame to shield defenders. Ranked as the 20th best receiver in the latest edition of the NFL Draft Bible, only Taylor’s ankle woes at Auburn prevented him from being a first-day pick during last April’s draft.
DEDE DORSEY (RB-CIN)- Dorsey’s accomplishments as a special-teams ace earned him some carries in week 14. The backup runner made the most of his opportunities, gaining 81 yards on only four carries. The 5’ 11” 196-pounder has eye-catching speed to break runs to the outside and possesses the ability to make defenders miss in the open field. Lead back Rudi Johnson won’t be 100 percent for the remainder of the year which may lead to Dorsey getting some more action with the starting offense.
COURTNEY TAYLOR (WR-SEA)- The rookie wide out has been turning heads in practice by displaying good athleticism along with quality hands. What’s been most impressive about him is the way he utilizes his 6’ 1” 205-pound frame to shield defenders. Ranked as the 20th best receiver in the latest edition of the NFL Draft Bible, only Taylor’s ankle woes at Auburn prevented him from being a first-day pick during last April’s draft.
Monday, December 10, 2007
Busted, Bruised & Broken, Week 15
By David Kaye, Fantasy Football Insiders
AFC Injury Report
Miami Dolphins Pro Bowl defensive end Jason Taylor (ankle) is probable for Sunday’s game against the Ravens.
Jacksonville Jaguars defensive tackle Marcus Stroud (sprained right ankle) is questionable for Sunday’s showdown at Pittsburgh. Stroud has been inactive for four games this season.
Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Marvin Harrison (knee) is questionable for this weekend’s contest at Oakland. Harrison has not played since the Colts’ week seven victory over the Jaguars.
Running back Kenton Keith (sprained thumb) is probable for Sunday’s game, while safety Antoine Bethea (sprained knee) is questionable.
Houston Texans running back Ron Dayne (ankle) is questionable for Saturday night’s game against the Broncos.
Running back Ahman Green (knee) has been placed on injured reserve and will miss the remainder of the season. Green, who signed a four-year, $23 million contract with the Texans in the off season, has been a complete disappointment for a franchise that has consistently lacked a stabilizing force in the backfield.
San Diego Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers (left knee) is probable for this weekend’s game against the struggling Lions, while defensive stalwart Shawne Merriman (left knee) is probable.
Fullback Lorenzo Neal (broken right fibula) was carted off the field during Sunday’s win over Tennessee and his status for this week’s game is still uncertain.
Kansas City Chiefs tight end Tony Gonzalez (sprained ankle) is questionable for Sunday‘s game against the Titans.
NFC Injury Report
Philadelphia Eagles tight end L. J. Smith (knee) is questionable for this weekend‘s game divisional match-up against the 11-2 Cowboys.
Redskins quarterback Jason Campbell (dislocated left patella) will be out indefinitely after suffering the debilitating injury during last Thursday’s victory over the woeful Bears.
Minnesota Vikings defensive end Erasmus James (ACL) has been placed on injured reserve and will miss the remainder of the season.
Chicago Bears quarterback Rex Grossman (sprained left MCL) is expected to miss the remainder of the season, but will not need surgery on his injured left knee.
Buccaneers quarterback Jeff Garcia (back contusion) has missed the previous two games, but it does look likely that he’ll receive the starting nod this week.
Wide receiver Ike Hilliard (back) is questionable for Sunday’s game against Atlanta.
Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kurt Warner (elbow, ribs, knee) is probable for Sunday’s game at New Orleans.
San Francisco 49’ers quarterback Trent Dilfer (concussion) is questionable for this weekend’s game against the Bengals.
AFC Injury Report
Miami Dolphins Pro Bowl defensive end Jason Taylor (ankle) is probable for Sunday’s game against the Ravens.
Jacksonville Jaguars defensive tackle Marcus Stroud (sprained right ankle) is questionable for Sunday’s showdown at Pittsburgh. Stroud has been inactive for four games this season.
Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Marvin Harrison (knee) is questionable for this weekend’s contest at Oakland. Harrison has not played since the Colts’ week seven victory over the Jaguars.
Running back Kenton Keith (sprained thumb) is probable for Sunday’s game, while safety Antoine Bethea (sprained knee) is questionable.
Houston Texans running back Ron Dayne (ankle) is questionable for Saturday night’s game against the Broncos.
Running back Ahman Green (knee) has been placed on injured reserve and will miss the remainder of the season. Green, who signed a four-year, $23 million contract with the Texans in the off season, has been a complete disappointment for a franchise that has consistently lacked a stabilizing force in the backfield.
San Diego Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers (left knee) is probable for this weekend’s game against the struggling Lions, while defensive stalwart Shawne Merriman (left knee) is probable.
Fullback Lorenzo Neal (broken right fibula) was carted off the field during Sunday’s win over Tennessee and his status for this week’s game is still uncertain.
Kansas City Chiefs tight end Tony Gonzalez (sprained ankle) is questionable for Sunday‘s game against the Titans.
NFC Injury Report
Philadelphia Eagles tight end L. J. Smith (knee) is questionable for this weekend‘s game divisional match-up against the 11-2 Cowboys.
Redskins quarterback Jason Campbell (dislocated left patella) will be out indefinitely after suffering the debilitating injury during last Thursday’s victory over the woeful Bears.
Minnesota Vikings defensive end Erasmus James (ACL) has been placed on injured reserve and will miss the remainder of the season.
Chicago Bears quarterback Rex Grossman (sprained left MCL) is expected to miss the remainder of the season, but will not need surgery on his injured left knee.
Buccaneers quarterback Jeff Garcia (back contusion) has missed the previous two games, but it does look likely that he’ll receive the starting nod this week.
Wide receiver Ike Hilliard (back) is questionable for Sunday’s game against Atlanta.
Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kurt Warner (elbow, ribs, knee) is probable for Sunday’s game at New Orleans.
San Francisco 49’ers quarterback Trent Dilfer (concussion) is questionable for this weekend’s game against the Bengals.
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