NFL/Fantasy News 2008

[stan21]

Re: Fantasy Football News 2008

Re: Fantasy Football News 2008

Damn Hacheman, this is some detailed info ! Impressive... you are officially not invited to any of my leagues ... lol... I started to subscribe for a site last year, and went 4 for 4 playoffs, but couldn't win the big game in any of my leagues. I will be going thru this thread before my last, and biggest draft next week... Nice job... looks like you do this for Baseball and Hoops too ?

 

[Hache Man]

Re: Fantasy Football News 2008

Re: Fantasy Football News 2008

Damn Hacheman, this is some detailed info ! Impressive... you are officially not invited to any of my leagues ... lol... I started to subscribe for a site last year, and went 4 for 4 playoffs, but couldn't win the big game in any of my leagues. I will be going thru this thread before my last, and biggest draft next week... Nice job... looks like you do this for Baseball and Hoops too ?

Hey Stan, good to see you here.....

 

[Hache Man]

Re: Fantasy Football News 2008

Re: Fantasy Football News 2008

NFC Notes: Warner Resurrection
During our last look around the league, the estimable Mr. Silva taught us lessons from around the AFC. This time we'll look at the NFC, with preseason mercifully coming to an end Friday night.



Atlanta Falcons: Any hope Laurent Robinson had to be a sleeper ended when Michael Jenkins took back his starting job. The ascension of Matt Ryan won't help either. No matter what you think of Chris Redman, playing with a rookie quarterback is bad news for the Atlanta passing game. That means you, Roddy White owners! ? Don't be shocked if the Falcons are like last year's Raiders. They can be the rare terrible offense that still manages to run like crazy. Mike Mularkey loves to pound the football, so there should be enough carries to go around for Michael Turner and Jerious Norwood. www.atlantafalcons.ws

Arizona Cardinals: It doesn't matter if Ken Whisenhunt doesn't announce his starting quarterback until next Sunday. It would be a shock if Kurt Warner isn't starting. There is a sense that going with Leinart would hurt the Whiz's standing in a locker room convinced Warner gives them the better chance to win. Warner remains a fine QB2 pick after the top 13-15 quarterbacks are drafted. He won't last all season, but he'll help you until he gets hurt. ? Don't call it a committee, but Tim Hightower can top 100 carries as Edgerrin James' caddy. He's draftable in all leagues. ? The Cardinals continue to struggle to find a third receiver and a quality tight end. That means more targets for Anquan Boldin and Larry Fitzgerald. Warner's re-emergence bodes well for the two veterans. www.arizonacardinals.ws

Carolina Panthers: Despite DeAngelo Williams' strong preseason, expect to see a close split in touches between Williams and Jonathan Stewart to start the year. Stewart is too talented to keep on the bench. I'm excited for Week 1 to start so I don't have to keep repeating that I expect Stewart to have more value by the end of the season. ? D.J. Hackett's status for the opener is uncertain. He could miss a great opportunity to put up numbers while [URL="http://fantasyfootball.usatoday.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=NFL&id=4227"]Steve Smith[/URL] is out, cementing his role in the offense. Dwayne Jarrett would start opposite Muhsin Muhammad if Hackett is out. Mr. Hackett and I have a long, sordid history, but this year his reputation as a high ceiling pick could outweigh his value. Don't expect him to stay healthy. www.carolinapanthers.ws

Chicago Bears: The Orton/Grossman battle was good for punchlines, but what will it mean for Chicago's offense? I expect a conservative attack that features plenty of passes to tight ends Greg Olsen and Desmond Clark. Olsen looks like the best candidate to breakout among their receivers. Rashied Davis, Brandon Lloyd, Devin Hester, and Marty Booker will cancel each other out. ? Kevin Jones played as Matt Forte's backup Thursday. His 34-yard run in the preseason showed he's healthy enough. It appears he's already passed [URL="http://fantasyfootball.usatoday.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=NFL&id=4169"]Adrian Peterson[/URL] on the depth chart and is a great handcuff for Forte owners. It's easy to forget how talented Jones can be if healthy.

Dallas Cowboys: Pro Football Prospectus pointed out how ridiculously overdue the Cowboys were for some injuries this season, especially on the offensive line. Now they've already seen G Kyle Kosier and their third and fourth receivers go down. The injuries are hardly fatal, but make sure they don't lose any more pieces. ? There isn't much mystery to the Cowboys offense. One of the only questions left is how big a role Felix Jones will have. The Dallas coaches' dreamy eyes when talking about Jones in Hard Knocks and Jones' impressive preseason indicate he'll get at least 10 touches a game. ? Patrick Crayton is a nice post-hype pick this year; it's easy to forget how much he's improved over his short career and that his development isn't over yet. The injuries to Sam Hurd and Miles Austin help Crayton even more.

Detroit Lions: It looks like Tatum Bell will make the team, although he'll be rookie Kevin Smith's backup. I have my doubts that either runner will be effective running behind Detroit's offensive line. ? Jon Kitna's big preseason doesn't mean much, but it's a reminder that he can be a serviceable QB2 as long as he stays in the lineup. The main concern is that the Lions fall out of playoff contention and he gets benched for a younger option down the stretch. www.detroitlions.ws

Green Bay Packers: Ryan Grant was healthy enough to start Green Bay's final preseason game, but the team took him out after only one play. The preseason is overrated, but don't be surprised if his workload for Week 1 is lighter than usual. The Packers say they want to get Grant a few more catches, and a few less carries this season. Brandon Jackson remains a solid late pick. ? James Jones could miss Week 1, which would open up more targets for Donald Driver and Greg Jennings. One concern for all the Packers wideouts is the shaky backup quarterback situation. Both rookie quarterbacks have struggled, and an injury to Aaron Rodgers would crush any receiver value. ? Fantasy Nation seems to be down on Donald Lee's chances of repeating his career year. Good call. www.greenbaypackers.ws

Minnesota Vikings: If Tarvaris Jackson misses time this season, that should be good thing for Sidney Rice and Bernard Berrian. Gus Frerotte is more likely to rack up passing yardage. Berrian's minor toe injury is one of many reasons to stay away from him. Rice owners should watch the development of Aundrae Allison, who threatens to take away some snaps eventually. Perhaps he could replace Bobby Wade in the slot. ?LT Bryant McKinnie is looking at a four game suspension from the NFL. www.minnesotavikings.ws
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New Orleans Saints: With players of any significance resting, including Pierre Thomas and Aaron Stecker, it was very interesting to see Deuce McAllister get eleven carries Thursday. If he wasn't playing for his spot on the team, he was certainly playing for some snaps in Week 1. It looks like Sean Payton shared my concern after watching Deuce run in the third preseason game. He looked better Thursday, ripping off a few longer runs, but also got stuffed near the line of scrimmage often. I wouldn't be shocked if McAllister is cut Saturday. At best, his role is uncertain. ? Robert Meachem is getting a lot of misplaced hype in fantasy drafts. He's currently the fourth or fifth receiver in New Orleans. ? Jeremy Shockey didn't take a snap in the preseason, which makes his health something to watch next week.

New York Giants: Not much was decided in Giants camp. Brandon Jacobs still leads a crowded backfield. Derrick Ward makes sense as a Jacobs handcuff, while Ahmad Bradshaw should have a change-of-pace role regardless. ? At receiver [URL="http://fantasyfootball.usatoday.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=NFL&id=4227"]Steve Smith[/URL] remains promising, but injury prone. Plaxico Buress is terminally day-to-day, and a solid WR2 pick. Despite the losses on defense, this is a stable offense. www.newyorkgiants.ws

Philadelphia Eagles: [URL="http://fantasyfootball.usatoday.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=NFL&id=378"]Kevin Curtis[/URL] is out until mid-season and is only worth a flier pick now. Reggie Brown could pick up the slack, but he's questionable for Week 1 with a hamstring injury. The larger question is whether Hank Baskett, DeSean Jackson, and L.J. Smith can keep Donovan McNabb's stats afloat in the meantime. We love McNabb's chances for one final big fantasy campaign, but this hasn't been a great month for the team around him. ? The rumors of Correll Buckhalter's demise were greatly exaggerated. He and Lorenzo Booker will share the backup job, making it unnecessary to handcuff Brian Westbrook in shallow leagues.

St. Louis Rams: [URL="http://fantasyfootball.usatoday.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=NFL&id=1663"]Steven Jackson[/URL]'s holdout didn't change our ranking of him. Orlando Pace's shoulder injury acting up is a bigger concern. Pace continues to practice and will be ready for Week 1, but another in-season injury from the All Pro would be devastating. The passing game already looked out of sorts during the preseason because of poor protection. ? Dante Hall enters the season as the team's third wideout, which is good news for Drew Bennett and Randy McMichael. This team will throw plenty, and someone has to catch passes other than Torry Holt. ? On any other team, I'd be more worried about Holt's decline. He doesn't get the same separation or run away from defenders. But his numbers shouldn't fall off much because he'll see so many targets.

San Francisco 49ers: The J.T. O'Sullivan era is going to be a lot of fun. I expect the 49ers to lead the league in garbage time yards, head-scratching interceptions, and quarterback changes because of injury. This team will move the ball more, but good luck finding consistency from anyone but Frank Gore. ? At receiver, Bryant Johnson should be healthy enough to start the final preseason game. If that happens, he'll probably start over rookie Josh Morgan in Week 1, with Morgan and Arnaz Battle getting plenty of time off the bench. ? As a dynasty league owner of Vernon Davis, I'm concerned about terminally optimistic Mike Martz's Debby Downer statements about Davis' expected production. Expect lots of blocking. And inconsistency. He'll hit enough big plays to put up decent final stats, but may have some silent weeks.

Seattle Seahawks: I get a lot of questions about why Nate Burleson is ranked so low. Sometimes you have to evaluate the player, not the situation. And Burleson is a highly inconsistent player that is unlikely to put it all together. I'd much rather take one of my favorite sleepers Courtney Taylor later in the draft. ? Maurice Morris continues to be undervalued. He won't win a league for you, but he's nice depth as a RB4. Look for him and Julius Jones to trade series early in the season. ? Rookie John Carlson did finally win the starting tight end job.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers: If Jeff Garcia gets hurt or struggles, Jon Gruden probably won't be too disappointed to turn to Brian Griese, who plays like a coach on the field. The Bucs wouldn't lose that much production either. ? Warrick Dunn looks to be the lesser half of a committee with Earnest Graham, with Michael Bennett picking up scraps. Dunn will especially cut into Graham's receiving numbers. That's why we have Graham ranked as a good, but not great, RB2. ? We still don't know how the Bucs are going to split up snaps at wide receiver. My guess is that Maurice Stovall and Antonio Brant are next in line behind Joey Galloway, with Ike Hilliard around just in case. I still love Bryant's chances to emerge over the course of the season, but drafting him has plenty of risk. www.tampabaybuccaneers.ws

Washington Redskins: Washington's rookie wideouts blew their chance for playing time, much less a starting job, with an injured August. Malcolm Kelly and Devin Thomas just weren't quite ready for the NFL. That means more early targets for the usual crew: Santana Moss, Antwaan Randle El, and Chris Cooley. ? Washington's five game preseason schedule was interminable, but they look to have found a keeper in Colt Brennan. With a 7.8 YPA and three touchdowns in five games, he had the best preseason of any rookie quarterback. He was playing against reserves, but so was Brian Brohm. At worst, Brennan looks like a nice long-term backup to Jason Campbell. ? The Redskins aging starting offensive line stayed healthy in the preseason, which is news compared to the last few years. That bodes well for Clinton Portis. This is a boom-or-bust line that could be excellent or crumble all at once. www.washingtonredskins.ws

 

[Hache Man]

Re: Fantasy Football News 2008

Re: Fantasy Football News 2008

Updated: RB Tiers of Heaven
You may have heard this offseason that it's a "down year" for running backs because of all the committees. While there is certainly more uncertainty after the Top Ten than usual, it's more accurate to say that last year was a down year for running backs. That is mostly reflected in our Top-200 rankings, where we recommend taking most WR1s over second running backs.


Just don't get carried away. Because of position scarcity, nabbing three quality running backs is still a must for any owner with designs on a title. You just may be able to grab those starters a round or two later than usual. Quality players will fall to the fifth and sixth rounds.

Note: These players are ranked in standard non-PPR scoring.

Tier One: LaDainian Tomlinson, [URL="http://fantasyfootball.usatoday.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=NFL&id=4169"]Adrian Peterson[/URL]

Peterson's collapse in December made this decision easier, but not a cinch. Peterson is a singular talent. Drafting him is drafting a 10% chance at a historic season. He still has a lot of room for improvement, which is scary. LT2 is still the best, but he's not going to reach his 2006 dominance again.

Tier Two: [URL="http://fantasyfootball.usatoday.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=NFL&id=1663"]Steven Jackson[/URL], Brian Westbrook, Joseph Addai, Frank Gore

We'd take all these backs before any quarterback or receiver. Westbrook is likely to see fewer touches this season, but remains the best pass-catching back in the league. Jackson performed as expected after his injury last season despite a terrible team. The offensive line has to get better. Jackson is back after his holdout and we aren't worried about a slow start or injury. Addai is the safest bet for 12+ scores other than LT2, but probably won't reach 300 carries. Gore's talent and the addition of Mike Martz will make him a great value if he falls.

Tier Three: Marshawn Lynch, Clinton Portis, Marion Barber, Ryan Grant

The end of the true RB1s. This is a season with very few sure things at the position. Lynch is clear of any legal problems and is entering his prime. No one breaks more tackles. Other than Barber, we see 300 carries from the other backs in this tier. Barber makes it up with touchdowns and receptions. It would've been nice to have seen Grant play in the preseason, but he's healthy. Even though the top wideouts are safer picks, we'd still grab these RB1s before most of them. Grant is starting to slip behind a few top receivers, though.

Tier Four: Maurice Jones-Drew, Larry Johnson, Brandon Jacobs, Willis McGahee, Jamal Lewis, Reggie Bush, Laurence Maroney, Jonathan Stewart

Leagues will be won and lost this season at the RB2 position. Mo-Jo needs Fred Taylor to get hurt to realize his full potential. Larry Johnson may be healthier, but he was struggling badly on the Chiefs before getting hurt next year. He won't look like the old L.J. until Will Shields and Willie Roaf un-retire. McGahee was very steady last season, but his offensive line is worse and he's coming off a mid-August surgery. Jacobs, Bush, and Maroney could be buy-low candidates on explosive offenses, but they have to worry about carries. Jacobs has the highest ceiling of any back here if he stays healthy. Stewart is an intriguing all-down bruiser who could be a great value as a rookie like [URL="http://fantasyfootball.usatoday.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=NFL&id=4169"]Adrian Peterson[/URL] and Marshawn Lynch last season. He may not open the year carrying the load, but he'll finish it that way.

We see more boom-or-busts in this group than ever. Taking a second-round wide receiver makes a lot of sense this year ahead of most of these guys. You can limit your risk and maximize value by taking this group in round three. Two backs from the top four tiers starts off your running back group with strength.

Willis McGahee took a hit in our most recent draft guide rankings.

Tier Five: Darren McFadden, Thomas Jones, Michael Turner, Earnest Graham, Selvin Young

The last of the legitimate RB2s. McFadden may not last long, but the other four could fall into the fourth and fifth rounds. Jones isn't flashy, but he could give you 300 cheap carries. Jones is a safe bet to score more. Turner is a great talent, but is stuck in a nearly impossible situation. Earnest Graham is unlikely to carry the load as much as last year. Selvin Young is the ultimate boom-or-bust pick, but he'll be a difference maker while healthy. If you don't have a RB2 before this tier, make sure to get one.

Tier Six: Ronnie Brown, Matt Forte, LenDale White, Willie Parker, Edgerrin James, [URL="http://fantasyfootball.usatoday.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=NFL&id=4743"]Chris Johnson[/URL], Rashard Mendenhall, Fred Taylor, Chester Taylor

The best of the committee backs and RB3s. Ronnie Brown is a top-five talent, but has yet to top 300 touches and is coming off a torn ACL. Don't forsake him just because he'll start slow. And do you really want to bet on [URL="http://fantasyfootball.usatoday.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=NFL&id=1312"]Ricky Williams[/URL] staying healthy all year? White faces a challenge from [URL="http://fantasyfootball.usatoday.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=NFL&id=4743"]Chris Johnson[/URL], but still should lead a smashmouth team with a great line in carries. He can still crack 1,000 yards and 8-10 scores. He's a safer pick than Johnson in non-PPR formats, but Johnson should get the ball enough to be an intriguing fantasy reserve. Johnson moved up in the last two weeks. Forte has a decent chance to lead all rookie runners in carries, but the Bears' offense is a concern. Parker is going to lose work to Mendenhall, and now profiles like a younger Fred Taylor, needing a big play every week to be worth using. Chester Taylor has stand-alone value, but [URL="http://fantasyfootball.usatoday.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=NFL&id=4169"]Adrian Peterson[/URL] owners should reach a round early for him.

We look at RB3s as a starter, whether you use a flex position or not. You will need to use them over the course of the season. These are the best of the bunch and have mid-round grades.

Tier Seven: DeAngelo Williams, [URL="http://fantasyfootball.usatoday.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=NFL&id=1312"]Ricky Williams[/URL], Chris Perry, Felix Jones, Ahmad Bradshaw, Julius Jones, Justin Fargas, Kevin Smith, Maurice Morris

Shaky starters, promising backups, and some players in between. The situations in Cincy, Carolina, and Detroit remain up for grabs. Kevin Smith and Chris Perry are the favorites, but are no locks to keep their jobs or stay healthy for long. Committees look likely. DeAngelo Williams may open the year as a starter in Carolina, but probably won't play in the red zone and is likely to lose his job. Bradshaw could be the most dynamic committee back in the league. Fargas was a perfect fit for Oakland's scheme and may be ignored in drafts this year. Felix Jones is a dynamic third-down back at worst. Julius Jones is set up for a rebound in Seattle, but has looked like an average talent. He will probably spend the year splitting carries with Morris, who is undervalued. Ricky is a boom-or-bust pick that should be productive until gets hurt.

RB4s are ultimately reserves, so be careful of reaching too early for risky picks. They should start going off the board halfway through a 12-team draft. Pick a player or two that you feel is undervalued to build your depth. Ideally, you'd draft four backs from the first seven tiers.

Tier Eight: Ray Rice, Jerious Norwood, Kenny Watson, Pierre Thomas, Steve Slaton

For the most part, these are high upside backups and third-down backs. Rice has earned a big role in Baltimore with an impressive rookie off-season. He could play more early with Willis McGahee banged up. Slaton is the only person guaranteed a role in Houston's backfield and could wind up leading the team in carries. Thomas has extra value as a backup on a high-octane offense. Norwood continues to be limited by his situation in Atlanta, but he's very talented.

Tier Nine: Fred Jackson, Ladell Betts, Rudi Johnson, Tim Hightower, Andre Hall, Dominic Rhodes, LaMont Jordan, Chris Brown, Kevin Jones, Ahman Green, Warrick Dunn, Derrick Ward, Leon Washington, Jason Wright, Chris Taylor, Brandon Jackson, Tatum Bell

The best of the remaining draftable players and handcuffs to attach to your starters. Of this group, Hightower, Green, and Jordan have the most potential to emerge with a bigger role. Hall and Rhodes are intriguing because they are an injury away on explosive offenses. Hightower is already a goal-line back and will push for a much larger role as the season moves ahead. Jackson is a good handcuff for Ryan Grant. Rhodes is a must-have for Joseph Addai owners. Rudi and Chris Brown could be cut this weekend.

Tier Ten: Deuce McAllister, Michael Bush, Jamaal Charles, Correll Buckhalter, Chris Taylor, Lorenzo Booker, Jacob Hester, Sammy Morris, DeShaun Foster, Brian Calhoun, Kolby Smith, [URL="http://fantasyfootball.usatoday.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=NFL&id=4169"]Adrian Peterson[/URL] (CHI), Kevin Faulk

Mostly reserves here with questionable roles, but they are all on the fantasy radar. McAllister has the chance for a big role, but any success would be going against all medical precedent after dual ACL and microfracture surgeries in the off-season. Watch our news closely to see what develops with all the borderline cases

 

[Hache Man]

Re: Fantasy Football News 2008

Re: Fantasy Football News 2008

Starting With Warner, Perry
Hello. My name is Aaron Gleeman and I've spent the past five months penning the baseball version of this column. Around this same time each year, as football season draws near and baseball season begins winding down, Gregg Rosenthal flashes Rotoworld's version of the Bat-signal, illuminating the night sky above my palatial, Bruce Wayne-like estate with the letters "N-F-L."

That's the cue to fire up my version of the Bat-mobile?a blue '94 Pontiac Grand Am boasting 98,000 miles and the constant smell of Chinese takeout?and drive around the block a few times. Once that's out of my system, the baseball Daily Dose gets handed off to someone else and you get stuck looking at my ugly mug here for the next five months. It's actually not all that exciting, but it works for us.

Each weekday from now until January this will be the place to stay up to speed on the NFL's latest news, notes, and injuries. If you promise to keep reading, I'll promise never to make another stupid Batman reference that has nothing to do with football or this column. Deal? As you ponder that agreement while trying not to think of me in the Bat-suit, here are some notes from around football ?

* Last week Chris Mortensen of ESPN reported that Kurt Warner would start the Cardinals' season opener, which raised Ken Whisenhunt's dander and led to the coach sarcastically musing: "It seems like Mortensen is making the decision on our quarterback ? nothing has changed." Of course, he hadn't actually named a starter at that point, so no one knew what the "nothing" was that hadn't changed.

It turns out that Mortensen was right, as Arizona announced Sunday that Warner will indeed start Week 1. Warner is a decent bet to get hurt in any given game, so Matt Leinart can still be counted on to see major action this year. However, two disappointing, injury filled seasons after making him the 10th pick in the draft the Cardinals have little confidence left in Leinart now or in the future. www.arizonacardinals.ws

After all, if they still felt great about his long-term outlook they'd have handed the 25-year-old the gig rather than making him compete with and ultimately lose to a 37-year-old. With that said, Warner is anything but the average 37-year-old and it's tough to blame the Cardinals for their decision. There's a very good chance that Warner represents the team's best odds of winning right now.

Plus, there's zero doubt that Warner possess more fantasy potential. In fact, he's now a legit QB1 option. In starting the final 10 games last year he completed 62 percent of his throws while averaging 282 yards and 2.3 touchdowns. No one can be counted on to duplicate that, but Warner remains capable of putting up some huge numbers with Anquan Boldin and Larry Fitzgerald as weapons.

* Following weeks of speculation about what the Bengals had planned for Rudi Johnson, the team provided a somewhat surprising answer by releasing him Saturday. After averaging 1,500 total yards and 12 touchdowns from 2004-2006, Johnson limped through last season while missing significant time with lingering hamstring problems and averaged a measly 2.9 yards per carry.

By cutting Johnson loose the Bengals saved about $3.5 million while turning the starting job over to Chris Perry, who missed all of last year and hasn't played a regular-season game in 21 months. Perry has a grand total of just 73 carries since being a first-round pick in 2004, but if he can ever stay healthy the former Michigan star has the skills necessary to become a three-down running back.

Within a small sample of work as a runner he's averaged 4.6 yards per carry for his career and he ranked third on the team with 51 catches 2005, which was his lone healthy season. He'll face competition for carries from Kenny Watson and DeDe Dorsey, but coach Marvin Lewis made it clear Saturday that Perry is atop the depth chart, saying: "He's never had that opportunity, so this is his chance."

If he can somehow stay healthy Perry is a RB2 option with added PPR value. As for Johnson, in one season he's gone from being among the league's most productive starters to scrambling for work as a backup despite being "only" 28 years old. He's reportedly already scheduled to visit the Lions and will get calls from other interested teams, but don't expect more than a very modest revival.

* In breaking down the Raiders' crowded backfield of Darren McFadden, Justin Fargas, and Michael Bush, the Oakland Tribune suggested that coach Lane Kiffin "has dreams of the three-headed monster" totaling "close to 600 rushing attempts" this season. Between JaMarcus Russell and a shaky receiving corps it would certainly make sense for the Raiders to run a ton, but 600 is a ton-plus.

Oakland ranked third in the NFL with 508 carries last year and Tennessee led at 543. So far this decade only Pittsburgh in 2004 cracked 600 carries, and along with that 618-carry Steelers squad the Ravens in 2003 (552) and Steelers again in 2001 (580) are the only teams to top 550 carries in the past eight seasons. There'll be plenty of carries to go around in Oakland, but there won't be 600.

Two-Minute Drill: If it wasn't already, Travis Henry's career is likely over now that he's been suspended for at least one season for violating the league's substance abuse policy ? With the cap space cleared by cutting Johnson, Willie Anderson, and Deltha O'Neal, the Bengals will likely talk contract extension with impending free agent T.J. Houshmandzadeh ? Let go by Tampa Bay over the weekend, speculation has Chris Simms landing in Baltimore ? Hard Knocks star Danny Amendola will start out on the practice squad, but the Cowboys' rash of receiver injuries may force him into game action ? With [URL="http://fantasyfootball.usatoday.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=NFL&id=4227"]Steve Smith[/URL] suspended, backup tight end Dante Rosario may see an increased role in Carolina's passing game early on ? After leading the NFL in preseason rushing, the Ravens cut Marcus Mason before adding him to the practice squad Sunday ? Claimed off waivers from the Chargers, fifth-round pick [URL="http://fantasyfootball.usatoday.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=NFL&id=4910"]Marcus Thomas[/URL] becomes the Lions' third running back behind fellow rookie Kevin Smith and Tatum Bell ? After being waived, Darius Walker stayed with the Texans by joining the practice squad and could see future action in what's a pretty shaky backfield.

Red Zone: Sam Hurd is expected to miss 2-4 weeks with the dreaded high-ankle sprain, increasing Jason Witten's already massive role in the Cowboys' passing game ? Trent Edwards (quadriceps) practiced fully Sunday and looks ready to start against the Seahawks in Week 1 ? There's still no timetable for [URL="http://fantasyfootball.usatoday.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=NFL&id=378"]Kevin Curtis[/URL]' (hernia) return, but according to general manager Tom Heckert he "feels great" and is "ahead of schedule" ? Jerry Porter (hamstring) returned from the PUP list Sunday, but isn't expected to play in Week 1 ? Wes Welker (ribs) returned to practice Sunday, seemingly making it likely that he'll suit up against the Chiefs ? Ryan Torain (elbow) avoided injured reserve over the weekend, making a midseason debut possible for the intriguing fifth-round rookie ? Amid speculation that he might be done for the season, general manager Phil Savage said Saturday that Joe Jurevicius (knee) will be "back at some point during the year" ? Antwaan Randle El plans to play through a broken bone in his left hand while wearing a protective brace, but the injury wipes away most of his already limited fantasy potential.

 

[Hache Man]

Re: Fantasy Football News 2008

Re: Fantasy Football News 2008

Rudi Resurfaces in Detroit
Cut loose by the Bengals over the weekend, Rudi Johnson landed in what may be the best possible destination for him Monday when he signed a one-year deal with the Lions. In a corresponding move Detroit released veteran disappointment Tatum Bell, meaning that Johnson immediately becomes the team's No. 2 back behind rookie third-round pick Kevin Smith.
www.detroitlions.ws
While the Lions seem committed to Smith as the starter, if he struggles or wears down following a ridiculous college workload it's easy to see Johnson emerging with significant playing time. Of course, as awful as he looked last year there's no guarantee that he'd actually be a fantasy asset even with a bunch of snaps. For now he's a borderline RB3 who's worth stashing in nearly every league.

While Johnson hopes the Lions can do for his sagging career what the Browns did for Jamal Lewis last season, here are some other notes from around football ?

* Thanks to Kyle Boller's shoulder injury, Troy Smith looked to be on the verge of claiming the Ravens' starting job before tonsillitis knocked him completely out of the picture. He was scratched from the team's final two preseason games and had to be hospitalized last week after struggling just to eat for several days. Not surprisingly, coach John Harbaugh named rookie Joe Flacco the starter Monday.

Flacco was the 19th overall pick in April's draft after the Ravens traded up to get him, but figures to be plenty rough around the edges due to playing against sub par collegiate competition at Delaware. His odds of thriving immediately are slim, so Smith may get another chance to grab hold of the job, but the illness couldn't possibly have come at a worse time and could have a huge impact on his career.

Flacco will make his debut at home against the Bengals before getting the Texans on the road and the Browns back at home. None of those three matchups are especially daunting, but Flacco should still be firmly planted on fantasy benches. He's an intriguing long-term prospect with a high ceiling and should learn plenty under offensive coordinator Cam Cameron, but don't expect much this season.

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* Meanwhile, it remains unclear whether Willis McGahee will be taking handoffs from Flacco in Week 1. McGahee is making his way back from knee surgery and practiced Monday, but Harbaugh noted afterward that he "wouldn't say he's 100 percent just watching him run around out there." Healthy or not McGahee figured to lose touches to rookie Ray Rice, so the duo may be splitting snaps Sunday.www.baltimoreravens.ws

* Shortly after reports surfaced that he'll start the Dolphins' season opener over Ronnie Brown, [URL="http://fantasyfootball.usatoday.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=NFL&id=1312"]Ricky Williams[/URL] agreed to a one-year contract extension that has a few interesting fantasy angles. A healthy and productive season from Williams could have set him up to potentially cash in big on the open market, which is why it's surprising that he agreed to a deal that apparently didn't include a bonus. www.miamidolphins.ws

Instead he's said to be getting a significant jump in salary for this season, which while nice pales in comparison to guaranteed money for next year given that he hasn't been healthy and productive since 2003. Not only could he have possibly jumped ship for a big contract following the season, Williams could have found a team willing to hand him a clear-cut starting job.

Rather than playing the year out to maybe end up with a big deal and his own starting gig, he'll commit to Miami for relatively little money and keep fighting for snaps with Brown. All of which not only impacts Williams' future value, but also makes it increasingly difficult for Brown to reestablish himself as an every-down back. It's not great news for either player's fantasy value, but Miami did well.

And in far more interesting Ricky news ? well, just read this. Seriously, read it.

Two-Minute Drill: Despite missing the entire preseason while holding out, coach Scott Linehan indicated Monday that [URL="http://fantasyfootball.usatoday.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=NFL&id=1663"]Steven Jackson[/URL] will get a full workload in Week 1 ? General manager Phil Savage laid out the Browns' plan at running back Sunday, saying that Jason Wright will be the team's third-down back and Jerome Harrison will only see major action if Jamal Lewis gets hurt ? For now at least, Derrick Ward is listed ahead of Ahmad Bradshaw on the Giants' running back depth chart behind starter Brandon Jacobs ? Cut by the Patriots, former first-round pick Chad Jackson is scheduled for a tryout with the receiver-starved Raiders, who signed Ashley Lelie to a one-year deal Monday ? Matt Flynn and not Brian Brohm will open the season as Aaron Rodgers' backup ? Reports that rookie Devin Thomas has been slow to grasp the Redskins' playbook make it unlikely that the second rounder will be a fantasy factor before midseason ? Not only did Andre Woodson fall to the sixth round after being projected by some as a first-round pick heading into last year, he cleared waivers after being cut loose by the Giants and has been added to the practice squad.

Red Zone: [URL="http://fantasyfootball.usatoday.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=NFL&id=4622"]Chad Johnson[/URL] returned to practice Monday and declared his injured shoulder "100 percent" healthy while babbling about various other things ? Matt Hasselbeck (back) returned to practice Monday and announced that he's "ready to go" for Week 1 ? Braylon Edwards (foot) and Derek Anderson (concussion) both practiced fully Monday and should be ready for a Week 1 shootout with the Cowboys ? Despite lingering ankle concerns, Plaxico Burress is absent from the Giants' injury report and has a favorable matchup Thursday night against the Redskins ? Jerry Porter (hamstring) practiced fully Monday, but coach Jack Del Rio shied away from saying whether or not he'll play in Week 1 ? Despite weeks worth of speculation about his mysterious foot injury, Tom Brady said Monday that "there's no question" he'll start the Patriots' season opener ? Following the decision to put off surgery to repair his separated shoulder, Isaiah Stanback will open the season as the Cowboys' third wide receiver ? After sitting out practice Monday, James Jones (knee) looks unlikely to suit up this week.

 

[Hache Man]

Re: Fantasy Football News 2008

Re: Fantasy Football News 2008

Last-Minute Gems
Ah, early September. Labor Day weekend hangovers still haunt you, the Caribbean is lousy with hurricanes, and most fantasy league drafts have finished up. After months of conjecture, hype, and tea-leaf reading, it's time to separate fraud from fantasy stud. More importantly, it's time to scan the waiver wire for that last-minute gem to round out your fantasy squad in preparation for Sunday's opener.

And by all means, if yours is one of the leagues that still has Titans rookie playmaker [URL="http://fantasyfootball.usatoday.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=NFL&id=4743"]Chris Johnson[/URL] on the waiver wire, run ? do not walk ? to the wire and pick him up pronto. I've been steering the Chris Johnson hype train throughout the summer, and it remains on track: this kid is electric, and he's going to blow the doors off the NFL early in the season. Get on board while you still can.

***

This is the first Waiver Wired of the season, so let's review the rules established by Gregg Rosenthal last year:

Every Tuesday, I'll go over the best available pickups at every fantasy position except kicker. Every league setup is different, so I'll try to include players who may be available in shallow leagues, and lesser-known players that are worth trying in deep leagues. I give a recommendation for each player, such as "Should be owned in 12-team leagues." This doesn't mean you should own him, just that he's good enough to improve one of the rosters in your league. If I write, "Must be owned," or "Should be owned in all leagues," I'm recommending doing what you can to find a spot. Let's get to the players.

***

Join subscriber only chats, get weekly rankings before anyone else, plus exclusive weekly projections, stat tools, dynasty ranks, columns, and much more including the Rotoworld Oracle in our Season Pass.


Quarterbacks

Kurt Warner, Cardinals
Amazingly, Warner is still unowned in about half of all fantasy leagues despite the recent announcement that he beat out Matt Leinart for the starting job.

With Larry Fitzgerald and an often-banged up Anquan Boldin, Warner tossed 27 touchdowns in just over 13 games last season. He closed out the season with three-straight 3-touchdown performances and an average of over 300 yards in the last four games.

Sure, he's an injury risk and a slippery-mitted statue in the pocket, but enjoy the ride while it lasts. Warner is a legit asset at starting quarterback for fantasy leaguers and no longer belongs on the waiver wire in any league.

Recommendation: Must be owned in all leagues

J.T. O'Sullivan, 49ers
Straight from a Mike Martz casting call, JTO has a pedigree similar to former Mad Mike rags-to-riches success stories Kurt Warner and Jon Kitna. He wasn't given much of a chance to start at the beginning of camp, but he drastically outplayed holdovers [URL="http://fantasyfootball.usatoday.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=NFL&id=3147"]Alex Smith[/URL] and Shaun Hill as soon as he got under center.

O'Sullivan isn't a quarterback to invest in heavily, but he makes for a fun dice roll as a QB2 who could thrive under Martz's system or crash back to earth and lose his job by Week 4.

Recommendation: Should be owned in 12-team leagues

Brady Quinn, Browns
Derek Anderson returned to practice Monday and the Browns say he will play Sunday against the Cowboys, but there have been rumblings that his concussion was more troublesome than first believed.

Quinn would take over a high-scoring offense should Anderson have any setbacks over the next couple of weeks. There remains a possibility that Quinn could begin to see playing time later in the year should the Anderson-led Browns stumble through a tough schedule.

Recommendation: Worth monitoring in 12-team leagues

Joe Flacco, Ravens
Troy Smith's tonsillitis has led the Ravens to push the rookie into the starting role in Week 1. He's been overwhelmed for the most part, but Flacco clearly has a cannon arm and exciting potential. The team may go back to Smith when healthy, so Flacco is only an option in dynasty and two quarterback leagues.

Recommendation: Worth a look in two quarterback leagues

Running Backs

Ray Rice, Ravens
Despite Willis McGahee's preseason knee scope, his handcuff is owned in just a third of all fantasy leagues. The Baltimore Sun has questioned McGahee's commitment level and has even gone as far as to suggest that he could be cut before the season is through. Meanwhile, Rice has received an inordinate amount of praise since camp began.

The best reason to pick up Rice, though, is the possibility of a Week 1 start against an always inviting Bengals rush defense. McGahee returned to practice Monday, but he's a long way from being in football shape. If he's unable to go against the Bengals, Rice makes for a very nice RB2 this Sunday.

Recommendation: Should be owned in all leagues

Maurice Morris, Seahawks
Julius Jones is owned in 75 percent of all leagues while Maurice Morris is hovering around 20 percent. It's been widely assumed since Jones' signing in Seattle that he would get a chance to take the job and run with it early in the season. The reality, however, is that coach Mike Holmgren has consistently name-dropped Morris whenever the subject has come up.

This has the makings of a committee attack, but Morris remains number one on the depth chart and is the favorite to start Week 1 versus the Bills.

Recommendation: Should be owned in 12-team leagues

Rudi Johnson, Lions
Rudi has been dropped or undrafted in quite a few leagues. After signing with the Lions, he's behind only rookie Kevin Smith for carries. Don't go crazy about projections coming off a 2.9 yards per carry season and moving to a team with a poor offensive line, but Rudi is worth carrying to see just what his role will be in Motown.

Recommendation: Should be owned in 12-team leagues

Tim Hightower, Cardinals
Already the favorite for goal-line work, the rookie Hightower has also been projected to eat into Edgerrin James' workload throughout the season. And let's face it: second in line behind a 30-year-old back with almost 3,000 career carries is a nice to place to be. Just ask Shaun Alexander how quickly age and a heavy usage pattern can change the backfield picture.

Recommendation: Should be owned in 12-team leagues

Pierre Thomas, Saints
Speaking of being second in line behind an older, injury-prone running back, Thomas is in a plum situation with the Saints high-flying offense. It's no secret that soon-to-be thirtysomething running back Deuce McAllister is coming off a second ACL surgery and an additional microfracture surgery.

Thomas' impressive 226 total yards in Week 17 last season is proof that he can contribute in both the running game and the passing game if Deuce is too rickety for a consistent role.

Recommendation: Should be owned in 12-team leagues

Steve Slaton / Chris Taylor, Texans
With Ahman Green returning from a groin injury, the Texans are expected to give both Slaton and Taylor extra work early in the season. Slaton has been getting most of the hype here, but he's also coming off a minor turf toe injury.

The coaches have yet to decide who will be first off the bench behind Green, so we will know more after the first game. Taylor is the more powerful runner of the two while Slaton is faster and more of an asset in the passing game.

Recommendation: Both should be owned in deeper leagues, but monitor the situation this week in practice

Andre Hall, Broncos
An obvious Selvin Young handcuff and a not-so-obvious touchdown vulture, Hall is unowned in the majority of fantasy leagues.

With the whims of Mike Shanahan, the No. 2 back in Denver is never a bad roster stash. Throw in Selvin Young's injury history, and Hall gets even more intriguing. His one start last season produced 167 total yards and a touchdown.

Recommendation: Should be owned in 12-team leagues

Wide Receivers

DeSean Jackson, Eagles
Even before [URL="http://fantasyfootball.usatoday.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=NFL&id=378"]Kevin Curtis[/URL]' sports hernia surgery, Jackson was slated for a significant role in the Eagles offense. The buzz from Philly's camp has been strong all summer, and Jackson has been ever-present in the passing game.

Coach Andy Reid's decision to hold him out the final preseason game along with the other important starters speaks volumes about his value to the team. He should be targeted out of the slot early and often.

Recommendation: Should be owned in 12-team leagues

Courtney Taylor, Seahawks
The Seahawks are a very flanker-friendly offense, and Taylor is the likely Week 1 starter opposite Nate Burleson. Noted for his precise route running, good hands, and penchant for moving the chains, the 2006 sixth-rounder has the upside of a high-target possession receiver.

With Bobby Engram out and Deion Branch a poor bet for early season contributions, Taylor could be a savvy plug-in for Brandon Marshall and [URL="http://fantasyfootball.usatoday.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=NFL&id=4227"]Steve Smith[/URL] owners.

Recommendation: Should be owned in 12-team leagues

Mark Clayton, Ravens
It's tough to imagine now, but Clayton was ranked as a surefire Top-25 receiver going into last season. Battling through injuries to his foot, calf, head, and back, the expected breakout receiver just couldn't get anything going in 2007.

New offensive coordinator Cam Cameron promises to be more creative than Brian Billick, but the Baltimore quarterback morass and Clayton's lost season have scared owners away. He hasn't lost the talent, however, and has the look of a classic post-hype sleeper.

Recommendation: Should be owned in 12-team leagues

Matt Jones, Jaguars
Jones went from December star in 2006 to a complete afterthought by Week 1 of 2007. We now know that a large part of the problem was that Jones lacked commitment and didn't even know the plays last season.

His arrest for cocaine possession earlier this summer may have served as a wake-up call as he's been the Jags best receiver throughout the preseason and has a shot to start the opener. Jones' Week 17 performance of eight catches for 138 yards and a touchdown to close out last season shows that he has the ability to put up numbers if he can work his way into a prominent role.

Recommendation: Worth a look in 12-team leagues

Eddie Royal, Broncos
The rookie out of Virginia Tech went from fifth receiver and probable punt returner to starter opposite Brandon Marshall by the time camp was over. Coach Mike Shanahan has been effusive in his praise of the precocious Royal and backed up the hype by moving him up the depth chart. He's an especially nice target in return-yardage leagues.

Recommendation: Worth a look in 12-team leagues

Josh Morgan, 49ers
Morgan isn't guaranteed to start over veteran Bryant Johnson, but it remains a strong possibility. The sixth-rounder has been the star of the Niners preseason and has a physical style that calls to mind the play of recent impact rookies such as Marques Colston and Anquan Boldin.

Recommendation: Monitor this week, but worth owning in deep leagues

Tight Ends

Zach Miller, Raiders
In spite of his obvious rapport with greenhorn quarterback JaMarcus Russell, Miller is only owned about a third of all leagues. In Russell's Week 17 start last season he hooked up with Miller eight times for 84 yards, and the two have picked up where they left off this preseason.

With an underwhelming wide receiver crew, expect Miller to continue to be Russell's go-to option in the offense.

Recommendation: Should be owned in 12-team leagues

Ben Utecht, Bengals
[URL="http://fantasyfootball.usatoday.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=NFL&id=4226"]Chris Henry[/URL]'s four-game suspension leaves the Bengals without an obvious third option in the passing game. Utecht will fill that void as the franchise's first legit receiving tight end of the Carson Palmer / Marvin Lewis era.

Recommendation: Should be owned in deep leagues

Randy McMichael, Rams
McMichael's disappointing 2007 has soured many fantasy owners on his potential as a TE2, but he's expected to play a bigger role in the passing game this season. It's no secret that new offensive coordinator Al Saunders intends to utilize McMichael heavily as he has previously for his eight straight pro bowl tight ends.

Recommendation: Should be owned in deep leagues

Anthony Fasano, Dolphins
A Bill Parcells favorite and former second-round pick, Fasano in a great fit as Chad Pennington's safety blanket in Dan Henning's offense. A beat writer's projection of 600 yards and 6-8 touchdowns is overly optimistic, but Fasano does have a chance for TE2 production.

Recommendation: Worth a look in deep leagues

Team Defense
Bengals
The Bengals are nobody's idea of a good defense, and their return game options are as mediocre as any in the league. However, they make for an intriguing Week 1 match-up play against the Ravens and raw rookie Joe Flacco.

 

[Hache Man]

Re: Fantasy Football News 2008

Re: Fantasy Football News 2008

Seahawks Grounded?
While you do yourself a favor and read this story about Tatum Bell's apparent insanity, here are some notes from around football ?

* Shaun Alexander's collapse caused the Seahawks to ditch the running game often last year on the way to ranking second in the NFL behind only the Saints with 37 throws per game, but general manager Tim Ruskell said Tuesday that things will be different this season. "It's too hard to make a living off the pass like we did last year," Ruskell said. "That would just be too hard."

Mike Holmgren has a pass-heavy reputation because he coached quarterbacks in San Francisco and had Brett Favre at his disposal in Green Bay, but Seattle ranked just 22nd, 19th, 27th, 7th, 13th, 14th, 23rd, and 18th in pass attempts in his first eight seasons at the helm. That all changed last season because they simply couldn't run the ball, but the ground game should be improved this year.

Maurice Morris and Julius Jones literally alternated first-team reps at practice Monday, which obviously suggests that they'll begin the season splitting snaps. "It really is going to be a committee thing," fullback Leonard Weaver said. "But that's one thing I can say about all of us, we're unselfish. Whoever gets the start, who cares?"

Gregg Rosenthal & The Gang are constantly updating the Rotoworld Draft Guide projections, which currently predict 189 touches for Jones and 182 touches for Morris. That workload distribution may be best for the Seahawks, but would keep both guys from being more than mediocre RB3 or FLEX options. Beyond that, a return to balance offensively would leave Matt Hasselbeck as a low-level QB1.

* A month ago the Broncos' tight end depth chart had Tony Scheffler behind both Daniel Graham and Nate Jackson, but his stint in the quasi-doghouse now appears to be over. A new version of the depth chart was released Tuesday and Scheffler is back at the top where he belongs, which while perhaps little more than a formality should provide some relief for his fantasy owners.

Graham is essentially a sixth offensive lineman and despite being an ex-wideout even Jackson is a better blocker than Scheffler, which no doubt played a major part in his temporary demotion. However, few tight ends possess more potential in the passing game than Scheffler, who as a sophomore last season emerged as an elite fantasy tight end down the stretch.

He ranked second on the team in catches (49) and touchdowns (5) while placing third in yards (549), and did so despite not catching his first pass of the year until Week 5. If his numbers over the final dozen games last season are prorated to a full, 16-game workload he'd have 730 yards and seven touchdowns on 65 grabs. If healthy, Scheffler is a clear TE1 capable of matching those prorated stats.

* Mixed in between the usual Brett Favre worship and coffee-related tales, Peter King's recent SI.com column had an interesting note about inflated tackle totals. According to King (by way of Dallas Morning News columnist Rick Gosselin), the Colts' coaching staff credited their defense with a league-high 1,416 tackles last year, which works out to 1.81 tackles per defensive snap that involved a tackle.

My immediate reaction is that perhaps the Colts' typically porous run defense would be a little better if they didn't need 1.81 players to make every tackle. But wait, it gets even more ridiculous. Colts defenders were credited with 891 "solo" tackles on the 781 snaps that involved a tackle, which seems to suggest that not everyone has a firm grasp of what "solo" means.

Indianapolis' tackle-inflating ways are enough to make Deion Sanders ponder a comeback, but they're hardly alone. Ex-teammates and media members criticize Ray Lewis for padding his stops by jumping on piles and each week newspapers are filled with reports about teams "reviewing film" and "discovering" that their big-name linebacker really made 17 tackles instead of his NFL-credited 11.

Two-Minute Drill: Fresh off a one-year contract extension, [URL="http://fantasyfootball.usatoday.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=NFL&id=1312"]Ricky Williams[/URL] took a break from his pre-med studies to announce Tuesday that he wants to finish his career in Miami ? 49ers air-traffic controller Mike Martz indicated Tuesday that Bryant Johnson will start over rookie Josh Morgan in Week 1 ? John Clayton of ESPN reports that Bills left tackle Jason Peters isn't close to ending his holdout, but that may change once he begins losing weekly game checks in addition to being fined $15,000 per day ? After working out Chris Simms, Joey Harrington, and Todd Bouman the Ravens have apparently decided to sign the 36-year-old career backup who hasn't played a game since 2005, which probably isn't great news for the other two guys ? Meanwhile, Harrington is reportedly scheduled for a visit with the Saints ? Seemingly happy with Matt Flynn and Brian Brohm, general manager Ted Thompson said Tuesday that he's "not even thinking about" adding a veteran backup for Aaron Rodgers ? Olindo Mare beat out rookie Brandon Coutu to be Seattle's primary kicker, but both players remain on the Seahawks' roster.

Red Zone: Jaguars reserve offensive lineman Richard Collier was shot outside a nightclub early Tuesday morning and is in critical condition ? Tarvaris Jackson (knee) practiced Tuesday and said afterward that he'll be ready to start Monday night against the Packers ? Ryan Grant (hamstring) sat out Tuesday's practice after getting zero carries in the Packers' preseason finale, but he's seemingly in no danger of missing Monday night's matchup with the Vikings ? D.J. Hackett (toe) is slated to return to practice Wednesday and with [URL="http://fantasyfootball.usatoday.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=NFL&id=4227"]Steve Smith[/URL] suspended figures to start alongside Muhsin Muhammad in Week 1 ? Troy Smith has been released from the hospital after losing 20 pounds and the Ravens' starting job while battling a tonsil infection ? Donnie Avery (knee) didn't dress for Monday's practice and the rookie sounds unlikely to play Sunday ? Chargers left tackle Marcus McNeil (neck) is not expected to play Sunday, which is good news for Julius Peppers and the Panthers ? Jason Taylor (knee) returned to practice on a limited basis Tuesday, with coach Jim Zorn guessing afterward that he's "50-50" to play Thursday night and won't get a full workload even if he does suit up

 

[Hache Man]

Re: Fantasy Football News 2008

Re: Fantasy Football News 2008

Week 1 Rankings
Redskins/Giants isn't most glamorous opening matchup the NFL has ever served up, but who cares? The first of 256 regular season games is worthy of thanks and celebration. The first Opening Night I'm not giddy for will be the night I quit. And I'm not leaving this gig until Rotoworld Grand Poobah Rick Cordella locks the company doors on me ala Steve McNair or offers me the Brett Favre Stay Retired and Like it Package.

Thursday's game allows us to focus sharply on two teams before Sunday's head-spinning insanity. The key offensive players are almost identical to last season, but the teams in drastically different situations. While Eli Manning enjoys an underrated offensive line and improving weapons, Jason Campbell is struggling to learn another new offense. His receiver depth has failed to improve because Washington will get nothing Thursday from their high-drafted rookies. New coach Jim Zorn forced to rely heavily on Clinton Portis stabilize the offense. It's like Joe Gibbs never left.

***

Due to popular demand, the Week 1 rankings are posting early because of the Thursday night opener. As always, Season Pass subscribers have access to detailed weekly stat projections for every player listed. Our Rotoworld Oracle uses those projections and your scoring system and lineup requirement to make weekly lineup suggestions. We also crank out exclusive weekly columns, stat tools, game picks, IDP help, top 200 ranks, and much more. It's like hiring an assistant GM without having to talk to someone.

I've made comments on the Giants/Redskins tilt below, but the rest of the Week 1 notes will come later in the week. An updated set of rankings after the Friday injury report comes out.

[SIZE=+1]Week 1 Quarterbacks[/SIZE]

<TABLE width="100%"><TBODY><TR class=TableTopRed><TD>Rank</TD><TD>Player Name</TD><TD>Opponent</TD><TD>Notes</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>1</TD><TD>Tom Brady</TD><TD>vs. KC</TD><TD>Fully expected to play</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>2</TD><TD>Tony Romo</TD><TD>at CLE</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>3</TD><TD>Donovan McNabb</TD><TD>vs. STL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>4</TD><TD>Peyton Manning</TD><TD>vs. CHI</TD><TD>Bears are bigger concern than knee</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>5</TD><TD>Drew Brees</TD><TD>vs. TB</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>6</TD><TD>Ben Roethlisberger</TD><TD>vs. HOU</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>7</TD><TD>Carson Palmer</TD><TD>at BAL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>8</TD><TD>Derek Anderson</TD><TD>vs. DAL</TD><TD>Will start</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>9</TD><TD>Kurt Warner</TD><TD>at SF</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>10</TD><TD>Matt Hasselbeck</TD><TD>at BUF</TD><TD></TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>11</TD><TD>Eli Manning</TD><TD>vs. WAS</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>12</TD><TD>Jay Cutler</TD><TD>at OAK</TD><TD>No Brandon Marshall</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>13</TD><TD>Matt Schaub</TD><TD>at PIT</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>14</TD><TD>Jon Kitna</TD><TD>at ATL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>15</TD><TD>Aaron Rodgers</TD><TD>vs. MIN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>16</TD><TD>David Garrard</TD><TD>at TEN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>17</TD><TD>Marc Bulger</TD><TD>at PHI</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>18</TD><TD>Brett Favre</TD><TD>at MIA</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>19</TD><TD>Vince Young</TD><TD>vs. JAC</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>20</TD><TD>J.T. O'Sullivan</TD><TD>vs. ARZ</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>21</TD><TD>Jason Campbell</TD><TD>at NYG</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>22</TD><TD>Jeff Garcia</TD><TD>at NO</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>23</TD><TD>Jake Delhomme</TD><TD>at SD</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>24</TD><TD>Philip Rivers</TD><TD>vs. CAR</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>25</TD><TD>Trent Edwards</TD><TD>vs. SEA</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>26</TD><TD>Tarvaris Jackson</TD><TD>at GB</TD><TD>Expected to start</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>27</TD><TD>Chad Pennington</TD><TD>vs. NYJ</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>28</TD><TD>JaMarcus Russell</TD><TD>vs. DEN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>29</TD><TD>Matt Ryan</TD><TD>vs. DET</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>30</TD><TD>Kyle Orton</TD><TD>at IND</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>31</TD><TD>Brodie Croyle</TD><TD>at NE</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>32</TD><TD>Joe Flacco</TD><TD>vs. CIN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

QB Notes: The Redskins may struggle to apply pressure on Eli Manning with their front seven. Losing defensive coordinator Gregg Williams was a huge blow. Jason Taylor may not be ready, and their defensive line is average at best. With time to throw, Manning's receivers can win one-on-one battles against Washington's man coverage. ? Washington's offensive line is healthier than last season, although they are benching stalwart Jon Jansen. Look for Campbell to get the ball out of his hands faster than last year, concentrating on shorter routes. The question is whether his smurfish group of receivers fit this system of slants. It could take a while to get the timing down; I'd expect mediocre numbers on Thursday.

Discuss your rankings and your lineup decisions in the Rotoworld football forums.

<!--RW-->[SIZE=+1]Week 1 Running Backs[/SIZE]

<TABLE width="100%"><TBODY><TR class=TableTopRed><TD>Rank</TD><TD>Player Name</TD><TD>Opponent</TD><TD>Notes</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>1</TD><TD>LaDainian Tomlinson</TD><TD>vs. CAR</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>2</TD><TD>[URL="http://fantasyfootball.usatoday.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=NFL&id=4169"]Adrian Peterson[/URL]</TD><TD>at GB</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>3</TD><TD>Brian Westbrook</TD><TD>vs. STL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>4</TD><TD>[URL="http://fantasyfootball.usatoday.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=NFL&id=1663"]Steven Jackson[/URL]</TD><TD>at PHI</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>5</TD><TD>Frank Gore</TD><TD>vs. ARZ</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>6</TD><TD>Marshawn Lynch</TD><TD>vs. SEA</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>7</TD><TD>Marion Barber</TD><TD>at CLE</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>8</TD><TD>Joseph Addai</TD><TD>vs. CHI</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>9</TD><TD>Clinton Portis</TD><TD>at NYG</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>10</TD><TD>Brandon Jacobs</TD><TD>vs. WAS</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>11</TD><TD>Selvin Young</TD><TD>at OAK</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>12</TD><TD>Ryan Grant</TD><TD>vs. MIN</TD><TD>Keep an eye on (hamstring)</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>13</TD><TD>Larry Johnson</TD><TD>at NE</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>14</TD><TD>Laurence Maroney</TD><TD>vs. KC</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>15</TD><TD>Michael Turner</TD><TD>vs. DET</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>16</TD><TD>Maurice Jones-Drew</TD><TD>at TEN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>17</TD><TD>Jamal Lewis</TD><TD>vs. DAL</TD><TD>Keep an eye on</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>18</TD><TD>Reggie Bush</TD><TD>vs. TB</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>19</TD><TD>Thomas Jones</TD><TD>at MIA</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>20</TD><TD>Earnest Graham</TD><TD>at NO</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>21</TD><TD>Matt Forte</TD><TD>at IND</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>22</TD><TD>Darren McFadden</TD><TD>vs. DEN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>23</TD><TD>Chris Perry</TD><TD>at BAL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>24</TD><TD>Willis McGahee</TD><TD>vs. CIN</TD><TD>Reduced workload?</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>25</TD><TD>LenDale White</TD><TD>vs. JAC</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>26</TD><TD>Willie Parker</TD><TD>vs. HOU</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>27</TD><TD>Jonathan Stewart</TD><TD>at SD</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>28</TD><TD>DeAngelo Williams</TD><TD>at SD</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>29</TD><TD>Edgerrin James</TD><TD>at SF</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>30</TD><TD>Justin Fargas</TD><TD>vs. DEN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>31</TD><TD>[URL="http://fantasyfootball.usatoday.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=NFL&id=1312"]Ricky Williams[/URL]</TD><TD>vs. NYJ</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>32</TD><TD>[URL="http://fantasyfootball.usatoday.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=NFL&id=4743"]Chris Johnson[/URL]</TD><TD>vs. JAC</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>33</TD><TD>Ronnie Brown</TD><TD>vs. NYJ</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>34</TD><TD>Kevin Smith</TD><TD>at ATL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>35</TD><TD>Fred Taylor</TD><TD>at TEN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>36</TD><TD>Maurice Morris</TD><TD>at BUF</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>37</TD><TD>Ray Rice</TD><TD>vs. CIN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>38</TD><TD>Rashard Mendenhall</TD><TD>vs. HOU</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>39</TD><TD>Julius Jones</TD><TD>at BUF</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>40</TD><TD>Steve Slaton</TD><TD>at PIT</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>41</TD><TD>Ahman Green</TD><TD>at PIT</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>42</TD><TD>Kenny Watson</TD><TD>at BAL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>43</TD><TD>Chester Taylor</TD><TD>at GB</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>44</TD><TD>Felix Jones</TD><TD>at CLE</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>45</TD><TD>Ahmad Bradshaw</TD><TD>vs. WAS</TD><TD></TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>46</TD><TD>Jerious Norwood</TD><TD>vs. DET</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>47</TD><TD>Rudi Johnson</TD><TD>at ATL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>48</TD><TD>Andre Hall</TD><TD>at OAK</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>49</TD><TD>Tim Hightower</TD><TD>at SF</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>50</TD><TD>Fred Jackson</TD><TD>vs. SEA</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>51</TD><TD>Sammy Morris</TD><TD>vs. KC</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>52</TD><TD>Warrick Dunn</TD><TD>at NO</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>53</TD><TD>Chris Taylor</TD><TD>at PIT</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>54</TD><TD>Brandon Jackson</TD><TD>vs. MIN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>55</TD><TD>Ladell Betts</TD><TD>at NYG</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>56</TD><TD>Dominic Rhodes</TD><TD>vs. CHI</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>57</TD><TD>Pierre Thomas</TD><TD>vs. TB</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>58</TD><TD>DeShaun Foster</TD><TD>vs. ARZ</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>59</TD><TD>Kevin Jones</TD><TD>at IND</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>60</TD><TD>Deuce McAllister</TD><TD>vs. TB</TD><TD>- </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>


RB Notes: There has been a lot of speculation about how the Giants backfield will be used this season. While Derrick Ward and Ahman Bradshaw's roles are to be determined, it's safe to pencil in 15-20 carries from Brandon Jacobs. Since he's always a good bet to score, the train cannot be benched. I still expect Bradshaw to have plenty of stand alone value as a fantasy reserve. ? The Redskins plan to keep Clinton Portis on the field as much as Joe Gibbs did, if not more. Ladell Betts is a true backup, not a committee partner.

[SIZE=+1]Week 1 Wide Receivers[/SIZE]

<TABLE width="100%"><TBODY><TR class=TableTopRed><TD>Rank</TD><TD>Player Name</TD><TD>Opponent</TD><TD>Notes</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>1</TD><TD>Randy Moss</TD><TD>vs. KC</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>2</TD><TD>Terrell Owens</TD><TD>at CLE</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>3</TD><TD>Andre Johnson</TD><TD>at PIT</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>4</TD><TD>Braylon Edwards</TD><TD>vs. DAL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>5</TD><TD>Larry Fitzgerald</TD><TD>at SF</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>6</TD><TD>Reggie Wayne</TD><TD>vs. CHI</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>7</TD><TD>Marques Colston</TD><TD>vs. TB</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>8</TD><TD>T.J. Houshmandzadeh</TD><TD>at BAL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>9</TD><TD>Torry Holt</TD><TD>at PHI</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>10</TD><TD>Anquan Boldin</TD><TD>at SF</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>11</TD><TD>[URL="http://fantasyfootball.usatoday.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=NFL&id=4622"]Chad Johnson[/URL]</TD><TD>at BAL</TD><TD>Fully expected to start</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>12</TD><TD>[URL="http://fantasyfootball.usatoday.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=NFL&id=35"]Roy Williams[/URL]</TD><TD>at ATL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>13</TD><TD>Santonio Holmes</TD><TD>vs. HOU</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>14</TD><TD>Plaxico Burress</TD><TD>vs. WAS</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>15</TD><TD>Jerricho Cotchery</TD><TD>at MIA</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>16</TD><TD>Wes Welker</TD><TD>vs. KC</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>17</TD><TD>Marvin Harrison</TD><TD>vs. CHI</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>18</TD><TD>Calvin Johnson</TD><TD>at ATL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>19</TD><TD>Greg Jennings</TD><TD>vs. MIN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>20</TD><TD>Lee Evans</TD><TD>vs. SEA</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>21</TD><TD>Dwayne Bowe</TD><TD>at NE</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>22</TD><TD>Roddy White</TD><TD>vs. DET</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>23</TD><TD>Laveranues Coles</TD><TD>at MIA</TD><TD></TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>24</TD><TD>Joey Galloway</TD><TD>at NO</TD><TD></TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>25</TD><TD>Donald Driver</TD><TD>vs. MIN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>26</TD><TD>Santana Moss</TD><TD>at NYG</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>27</TD><TD>Antonio Bryant</TD><TD>at NO</TD><TD>New starter</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>28</TD><TD>Chris Chambers</TD><TD>vs. CAR</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>29</TD><TD>Hines Ward</TD><TD>vs. HOU</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>30</TD><TD>Patrick Crayton</TD><TD>at CLE</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>31</TD><TD>Vincent Jackson</TD><TD>vs. CAR</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>32</TD><TD>Bernard Berrian</TD><TD>at GB</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>33</TD><TD>Ronald Curry</TD><TD>vs. DEN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>34</TD><TD>Reggie Brown</TD><TD>vs. STL</TD><TD>Looks like he'll play</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>35</TD><TD>Donte' Stallworth</TD><TD>vs. DAL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>36</TD><TD>Drew Bennett</TD><TD>at PHI</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>37</TD><TD>D.J. Hackett</TD><TD>at SD</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>38</TD><TD>Jerry Porter</TD><TD>at TEN</TD><TD>Status Uncertain</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>39</TD><TD>Anthony Gonzalez</TD><TD>vs. CHI</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>40</TD><TD>Nate Burleson</TD><TD>at BUF</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>41</TD><TD>Courtney Taylor</TD><TD>at BUF</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>42</TD><TD>Isaac Bruce</TD><TD>vs. ARZ</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>43</TD><TD>Javon Walker</TD><TD>vs. DEN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>44</TD><TD>Sidney Rice</TD><TD>at GB</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>45</TD><TD>Kevin Walter</TD><TD>at PIT</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>46</TD><TD>Amani Toomer</TD><TD>vs. WAS</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>47</TD><TD>Eddie Royal</TD><TD>at OAK</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>48</TD><TD>Darrell Jackson</TD><TD>at OAK</TD><TD>Last chance to start?</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>49</TD><TD>Mark Clayton</TD><TD>vs. CIN</TD><TD>The Flacco effect</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>50</TD><TD>David Patten</TD><TD>vs. TB</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>51</TD><TD>Ted Ginn Jr.</TD><TD>vs. NYJ</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>52</TD><TD>Justin Gage</TD><TD>vs. JAC</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>53</TD><TD>Bryant Johnson</TD><TD>vs. ARZ</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>54</TD><TD>Derrick Mason</TD><TD>vs. CIN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>55</TD><TD>DeSean Jackson</TD><TD>vs. STL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>56</TD><TD>Josh Morgan</TD><TD>vs. ARZ</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>57</TD><TD>Arnaz Battle</TD><TD>vs. ARZ</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>58</TD><TD>Reggie Williams</TD><TD>at TEN</TD><TD></TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>59</TD><TD>Hank Baskett</TD><TD>vs. STL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>60</TD><TD>Muhsin Muhammad</TD><TD>at SD</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>61</TD><TD>Rashied Davis</TD><TD>at IND</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>62</TD><TD>Jabar Gaffney</TD><TD>vs. KC</TD><TD>- </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

WR Notes: The Redskins put a lot of pressure on their cornerbacks to play man coverage. If they can't generate pressure, the Giants could expose them. Still, it's hard to pick Amani Toomer or [URL="http://fantasyfootball.usatoday.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=NFL&id=4227"]Steve Smith[/URL]. The team will go four wide and get tight end Kevin Boss involved, so the pie is split up too many ways. Plaxico Burress is an every-week play until proven otherwise. ? Santana Moss will play flanker this season, which should increase the amount of short passes he says. While that should help his consistency, it also increases his chance for injury. He could really use some development from the young Washington receivers to take pressure off.

[SIZE=+1]Week 1 Tight Ends[/SIZE]

<TABLE width="100%"><TBODY><TR class=TableTopRed><TD>Rank</TD><TD>Player Name</TD><TD>Opponent</TD><TD>Notes</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>1</TD><TD>Jason Witten</TD><TD>at CLE</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>2</TD><TD>Kellen Winslow</TD><TD>vs. DAL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>3</TD><TD>Antonio Gates</TD><TD>vs. CAR</TD><TD>Expected to start</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>4</TD><TD>Tony Gonzalez</TD><TD>at NE</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>5</TD><TD>Jeremy Shockey</TD><TD>vs. TB</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>6</TD><TD>Chris Cooley</TD><TD>at NYG</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>7</TD><TD>Vernon Davis</TD><TD>vs. ARZ</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>8</TD><TD>Owen Daniels</TD><TD>at PIT</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>9</TD><TD>Dallas Clark</TD><TD>vs. CHI</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>10</TD><TD>Tony Scheffler</TD><TD>at OAK</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>11</TD><TD>Todd Heap</TD><TD>vs. CIN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>12</TD><TD>Heath Miller</TD><TD>vs. HOU</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>13</TD><TD>Zach Miller</TD><TD>vs. DEN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>14</TD><TD>Greg Olsen</TD><TD>at IND</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>15</TD><TD>Alge Crumpler</TD><TD>vs. JAC</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>16</TD><TD>L.J. Smith</TD><TD>vs. STL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>17</TD><TD>Ben Watson</TD><TD>vs. KC</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>18</TD><TD>Ben Utecht</TD><TD>at BAL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>19</TD><TD>Randy McMichael</TD><TD>at PHI</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>20</TD><TD>Marcedes Lewis</TD><TD>at TEN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>21</TD><TD>Donald Lee</TD><TD>vs. MIN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>22</TD><TD>Desmond Clark</TD><TD>at IND</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>23</TD><TD>Kevin Boss</TD><TD>vs. WAS</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>24</TD><TD>Dustin Keller</TD><TD>at MIA</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>25</TD><TD>Anthony Fasano</TD><TD>vs. NYJ</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>26</TD><TD>Chris Baker</TD><TD>at MIA</TD><TD>- </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

TE Notes: Mike Lombardi expects [URL="http://fantasyfootball.usatoday.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=NFL&id=2811"]Chris Cooley[/URL] to get double-teamed regularly on third downs. While you can't bench him, another slow start to the season wouldn't surprise. ? Kevin Boss is a nice developmental player, but there are too many excellent fantasy options to use him at this point.
<!--RW-->
[SIZE=+1]Week 1 Team Defense[/SIZE]

<TABLE width="100%"><TBODY><TR class=TableTopRed><TD>Rank</TD><TD>Player Name</TD><TD>Opponent</TD><TD>Notes</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>1</TD><TD>Patriots Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>vs. KC</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>2</TD><TD>Chargers Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>vs. CAR</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>3</TD><TD>Seahawks Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>at BUF</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>4</TD><TD>Vikings Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>at GB</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>5</TD><TD>Giants Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>vs. WAS</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>6</TD><TD>Colts Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>vs. CHI</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>7</TD><TD>Packers Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>vs. MIN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>8</TD><TD>Cowboys Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>at CLE</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>9</TD><TD>Steelers Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>vs. HOU</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>10</TD><TD>Eagles Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>vs. STL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>11</TD><TD>Buccaneers Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>at NO</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>12</TD><TD>Bengals Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>at BAL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>13</TD><TD>Broncos Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>at OAK</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>14</TD><TD>Jaguars Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>at TEN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>15</TD><TD>Titans Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>vs. JAC</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>16</TD><TD>Texans Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>at PIT</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>17</TD><TD>Bears Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>at IND</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>18</TD><TD>Ravens Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>vs. CIN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>19</TD><TD>Cardinals Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>at SF</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>20</TD><TD>Bills Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>vs. SEA</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>21</TD><TD>Jets Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>at MIA</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>22</TD><TD>Panthers Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>at SD</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>23</TD><TD>Raiders Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>vs. DEN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>24</TD><TD>Dolphins Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>vs. NYJ</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>25</TD><TD>Redskins Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>at NYG</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>26</TD><TD>Lions Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>at ATL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>27</TD><TD>Saints Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>vs. TB</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>28</TD><TD>Fortyniners Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>vs. ARZ</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>29</TD><TD>Falcons Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>vs. DET</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>30</TD><TD>Browns Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>vs. DAL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>31</TD><TD>Rams Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>at PHI</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>32</TD><TD>Chiefs Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>at NE</TD><TD>- </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

Notes: This is a great test for the Giants team defense in the post-Strahan era. This is a matchup in which they should be able to force mistakes

[SIZE=+1]Week 1 Kickers[/SIZE]

<TABLE width="100%"><TBODY><TR class=TableTopRed><TD>Rank</TD><TD>Player Name</TD><TD>Opponent</TD><TD>Notes</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>1</TD><TD>Stephen Gostkowski</TD><TD>vs. KC</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>2</TD><TD>Nick Folk</TD><TD>at CLE</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>3</TD><TD>Nate Kaeding</TD><TD>vs. CAR</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>4</TD><TD>Josh Scobee</TD><TD>at TEN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>5</TD><TD>Josh Brown</TD><TD>at PHI</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>6</TD><TD>Ryan Longwell</TD><TD>at GB</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>7</TD><TD>Mason Crosby</TD><TD>vs. MIN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>8</TD><TD>Shayne Graham</TD><TD>at BAL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>9</TD><TD>Adam Vinatieri</TD><TD>vs. CHI</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>10</TD><TD>Rob Bironas</TD><TD>vs. JAC</TD><TD>Sidelined(groin)</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>11</TD><TD>Phil Dawson</TD><TD>vs. DAL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>12</TD><TD>Robbie Gould</TD><TD>at IND</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>13</TD><TD>Neil Rackers</TD><TD>at SF</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>14</TD><TD>Jason Hanson</TD><TD>at ATL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>15</TD><TD>David Akers</TD><TD>vs. STL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>16</TD><TD>Matt Bryant</TD><TD>at NO</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>17</TD><TD>Matt Stover</TD><TD>vs. CIN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>18</TD><TD>John Kasay</TD><TD>at SD</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>19</TD><TD>Joe Nedney</TD><TD>vs. ARZ</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>20</TD><TD>Kris Brown</TD><TD>at PIT</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>21</TD><TD>Jeff Reed</TD><TD>vs. HOU</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>22</TD><TD>Martin Gramatica</TD><TD>vs. TB</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>23</TD><TD>Sebastian Janikowski</TD><TD>vs. DEN</TD><TD>Sidelined(hamstring)</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>24</TD><TD>Jason Elam</TD><TD>vs. DET</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>25</TD><TD>Rian Lindell</TD><TD>vs. SEA</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>26</TD><TD>Shaun Suisham</TD><TD>at NYG</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>27</TD><TD>Mike Nugent</TD><TD>at MIA</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>28</TD><TD>Dan Carpenter</TD><TD>vs. NYJ</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>29</TD><TD>Matt Prater</TD><TD>at OAK</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>30</TD><TD>Olindo Mare</TD><TD>at BUF</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>31</TD><TD>Nick Novak</TD><TD>at NE</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>32</TD><TD>John Carney</TD><TD>vs. WAS</TD><TD>- </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

 

[Hache Man]

Re: Fantasy Football News 2008

Re: Fantasy Football News 2008

Shanahan Shenanigans
Football officially returns tonight and I'll be glued to NBC while smiling from ear to ear thinking about the 250-plus games on the docket over the next six months. To celebrate the occasion I'm hosting a "Rotoworld Live Chat" today at 3:00 p.m. EST, which you can check out by clicking here. All questions are welcome, but we'll try to stray from the usual "sit or start?" queries to focus on the big picture.

While you clear your schedule to chat with me this afternoon?it's opening night, your boss will understand?here are some notes from around football ?

* Mike Klis of the Denver Post reports that the Broncos "plan on rotating" Selvin Young and Andre Hall to begin the season, which certainly isn't shocking given coach Mike Shanahan's annual quest to make fantasy owners sorry for drafting his presumptive No. 1 runner. Shanahan's presence always makes it difficult to predict how Denver's backfield will shake out, but for now it seems fairly simple.

Like last season, Young figures to get the bulk of the work between the 20-yard lines, which is to say that he'll do most of the heavy lifting before giving way to a short-yardage specialist at the goal line. Last year that role was spread between several players, but this time around it'll definitely be Hall vulturing touchdowns that Young can't cash in from long distance.

While that arrangement limits Young's upside, it shouldn't come as a shock and won't keep him from being a solid RB2 option as long as he plays well and stays healthy. He should be able to get around 200 carries and 40-50 catches, which is more than enough touches to make an impact even if Hall steals a handful of scores at the goal line. Young is worth starting, while Hall is worth owning.

* Coach Jon Gruden revealed Wednesday that Antonio Bryant will start Week 1 alongside Joey Galloway, providing a great opportunity for one of the Rotoworld Draft Guide 's favorite value picks. Released by the 49ers last year after violating the NFL's substance abuse policy, Bryant ended up sitting out his entire age-26 season before signing a one-year deal with the Bucs for the veteran's minimum.

Landing in Tampa Bay seemed like a great fit immediately and Bryant is now in position to put together a big comeback campaign as the Bucs' flanker. He has plenty of baggage and it's possible that he may have lost a step during what was essentially a lost season, but Bryant averaged 850 yards on 55 grabs during the previous three seasons despite playing for some brutal passing attacks.

Galloway is still the man in Tampa Bay, but gets fewer targets than most No. 1 wideouts because he's primarily a deep threat. Plus, he's 37 years old and the fountain of youth has to dry up at some point. Bryant will have to hold off Michael Clayton, Ike Hilliard, and Maurice Stovall, but could emerge as a WR2 option if he can stay healthy and out of trouble. He's definitely worth gambling on. tampabaybuccaneers.ws

* Responding to reports that his surgically repaired knee might be well enough for him to play in the Seahawks' opener, Deion Branch said Tuesday that he's not ready "right now." Coach Mike Holmgren agreed with his assessment, saying Wednesday that Branch is unlikely to suit up against the Bills this week. Worse, the Tacoma News Tribune speculates that "he's not close to being ready."

After going without a catch in Week 1 last season Branch turned in three straight big games, totaling 329 yards on 20 catches, but now seems unlikely to make an impact before October. Courtney Taylor will start at flanker for however long he's out and makes for a sneaky WR3 option this week even if the Seahawks are true to their word by featuring a more balanced offensive attack.

* Speaking of Seattle's offense, Holmgren confirmed Wednesday that Maurice Morris will get the Week 1 start over Julius Jones. Yesterday in this space my guess was that Morris and Jones would split time and that remains a pretty good bet, although Holmgren indicated that Morris will be given first crack at emerging with a bigger slice of the carries. Neither guy is a strong RB2 play this week.

Two-Minute Drill: After 102 catches last season, Brandon Marshall said Tuesday that his totally unattainable goal is to haul in 140 passes this year despite a one-game suspension ? According to agent Drew Rosenhaus, "there's a very good chance Lito Sheppard gets traded in the next few weeks" ? After previously demanding a trade, Anquan Boldin is now saying that his contract status won't be an issue during the season ? Kyle Boller's (shoulder) season is over after he was placed on injured reserve Wednesday and the Ravens signed Todd Bouman to back up rookie Joe Flacco in Week 1 ? Told that Michael Turner expects 300 carries, offensive coordinator Mike Mularkey replied: "I've never said he's going to get 300 and I probably never will" ? Chad Jackson wasn't offered a job after trying out for the Raiders this week, which is probably all you need to know about his career at this point ? Similarly, Cedric Benson reportedly tried out for the Saints recently, but predictably wasn't offered a contract ? With Kevin Faulk suspended, LaMont Jordan will see Week 1 action on passing downs ? Stuck behind Earnest Graham and Warrick Dunn, Michael Bennett said Wednesday that he doesn't expect to play much this year due to his lack of reps in practice.

Red Zone: Amid radio-fueled rumors about Tom Brady's foot, coach Bill Belichick uncharacteristically discussed an injury Wednesday by noting that "he'll be ready to go" against the Chiefs ? Meanwhile, Peyton Manning (knee) practiced fully Wednesday and will start Sunday night versus the Bears ? Willis McGahee (knee) was limited in practice Wednesday, hinting that he'll get less than a full workload in Week 1 even if he starts ? Ryan Grant (hamstring) missed his second straight practice Wednesday, putting his status for Monday night in some question ? Wes Welker (ribs) is absent from the Patriots' injury report, but Ben Watson sat out Wednesday's practice with an undisclosed knee injury ? Jerry Porter (hamstring) practiced Wednesday, but his status remains uncertain the season opener ? According to coach Lane Kiffin, Javon Walker (hamstring) is "questionable" to face his former Broncos teammates Monday night ? Reggie Brown (hamstring) was limited in his return to practice Wednesday, but figures to see tons of Week 1 targets with [URL="http://fantasyfootball.usatoday.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=NFL&id=378"]Kevin Curtis[/URL] (hernia) out ? Bernard Berrian's turf toe is healed enough that he's absent from the Vikings' injury report.

 

[Hache Man]

Re: Fantasy Football News 2008

Re: Fantasy Football News 2008

Giant Opener for Plax
Football officially returned Thursday night, as the Super Bowl champions kicked off their title defense with a 16-7 win over the Redskins. After signing a five-year, $35 million contract extension hours before the game Plaxico Burress celebrated with 133 yards on a career-high 10 catches, turning in his second straight huge opener after torching the Cowboys for 144 yards and three scores last season.
www.newyorkgiants.ws
Along with Burress, Brandon Jacobs also had an impressive night, bulldozing his way to 116 yards on 21 carries. Meanwhile, the Redskins managed just 209 total yards and 11 first downs, as new coach Jim Zorn showed off a very conservative attack in his debut. Interestingly, Zorn got the Redskins job after Steve Spagnulo withdrew from consideration to remain the Giants defensive coordinator.

While this season begins like last season ended, here are some other notes from around football ?

* Giants tidbits from the opener: Eli Manning was his usual inconsistent self, but had a rushing touchdown after totaling two scores on the ground through his first four years. Derrick Ward is clearly No. 2 on the depth chart behind Jacobs, with Ahmad Bradshaw third. Kevin Boss went catchless and was targeted just once, showing why the Rotoworld Draft Guide ranked him just 23rd among tight ends.

* Redskins tidbits from the opener: Antwaan Randle El had a superficially nice game with 73 yards on seven grabs, but nearly all of that came in quasi-garbage time. Chris Cooley had just one catch for seven yards, but he's never had a big Week 1, combining for 57 yards on seven grabs in four previous openers. Plus, after watching this amazing video you know Cooley will step it up for his owners.

* [URL="http://fantasyfootball.usatoday.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=NFL&id=378"]Kevin Curtis[/URL]' hernia put Reggie Brown in position to get a ton of early season targets as the Eagles' top receiver, but a hamstring injury has Brown uncertain to play in Week 1. He missed Thursday's practice and offensive coordinator Marty Mornhinweg called him "day-to-day right now" while adding that regardless of his status rookie DeSean Jackson "will start at front flanker" Sunday.

With Jackson and Hank Baskett the Eagles' likely starters, Brown is no longer a fantasy option against the Rams. Meanwhile, Jackson is suddenly set to take on a big role offensively after initially being expected to serve primarily as a return man early on. While the Eagles will surely lean even heavier than usual on Brian Westbrook, with Curtis and Brown out there's room for a wideout to step up.

* Coach Tony Sparano said Wednesday that Ronnie Brown has had "more life in his legs" and "a little more burst" recently, and refused to confirm various reports that [URL="http://fantasyfootball.usatoday.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=NFL&id=1312"]Ricky Williams[/URL] will be the Week 1 starter. However, the Newark Star-Ledger speculates that Williams will likely get "nearly 20 carries" against the Jets. Brown figures to see third-down work either way, but Williams is the better Week 1 bet. www.miamidolphins.ws

* Antonio Gates has practiced fully this week, but said Thursday that he "won't start the game" and will be limited in Week 1 due to his surgically repaired foot. "Just trying to monitor the situation depending how it feels when I get out there," Gates said. "Sunday will definitely tell the tale and give a clear picture of what I can do in the game." Gates is impossible to bench, so check back on his status. www.sandiegochargers.ws

* Offensive coordinator Cam Cameron said Thursday that Willis McGahee (knee) is "getting close" to full health, but could be a game-time decision Sunday after being limited in back-to-back practices. "Whether that'll mean this week or not, I don't know," Cameron said. If McGahee sits rookie Ray Rice should get 15-20 touches and the two backs may split time anyway. McGahee is a poor RB2. www.baltimoreravens.ws

Two-Minute Drill: According to coach Rod Marinelli, Rudi Johnson "went out and had a good day" in his first Lions practice, but don't expect more than a handful of Week 1 touches ? Devin Hester is slated to start at wide receiver in addition to returning kicks in Week 1, and coach Tony Dungy said Wednesday that the Colts plan to kick to him ? While the Steelers reportedly remain undecided on their goal-line running back, Mewelde Moore will take over for Willie Parker on third downs ? After passing both Will Heller and Jeb Putzier on the Seahawk's tight end depth chart, rookie John Carlson will get the Week 1 start ? General manager Scot McCloughan said Wednesday that former No. 1 overall pick [URL="http://fantasyfootball.usatoday.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=NFL&id=3147"]Alex Smith[/URL] won't return to the 49ers at the price of $9 million next season unless he's viewed as the starter ? Primarily a special teamer in the past, Greg Camarillo has surprisingly moved ahead of Derek Hagan on the Dolphins' receiver depth chart ? A shell of his former self since his 2005 knee injury, Daunte Culpepper retired Thursday at the age of 31, saying that he's been denied a "fair chance to compete for a job."

Red Zone: Ryan Grant (hamstring) returned to practice Thursday after two days off, but remains a mediocre RB1 option due to an unfavorable matchup against Minnesota ? Either putting an end to the injury talk or ramping up speculation even further, Tom Brady (foot) is oddly absent from the injury report after years of being "probable" every week ? [URL="http://fantasyfootball.usatoday.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=NFL&id=4622"]Chad Johnson[/URL] (shoulder) put in a full practice Thursday, making him a go for Sunday's matchup with the Ravens ? Concerns about his stitched-up foot can be put aside now that Braylon Edwards is absent from the injury report ? Limited in practice Thursday, Joey Galloway (groin) and Antonio Bryant (knee) both seem likely to face the Saints in Week 1 ? Javon Walker (hamstring) skipped practice Thursday and will be a game-time decision Monday night, so he shouldn't be in fantasy lineups this week ? D.J. Hackett (toe) practiced fully Thursday and will start Sunday against the Chargers ? Ben Watson (knee) missed his second straight practice Thursday, making it unlikely that he'll play this week ? Angelo Crowell led the Bills with 126 tackles last year, but his season is over before it starts following knee surgery Thursday.

 

[Hache Man]

Re: Fantasy Football News 2008

Re: Fantasy Football News 2008

MCI Index: Who's rising?
Welcome to the first installment of the Fantasy Man-Crush Index, your 2008 player stock guide. Each week, I'll take a look at a handful of players upon whom Fantasy Nation ? that's you, readers -- is heaping piles of crazy, sometimes irrational affection. Or not heaping, as the case may be, either of which will hopefully help you with those tough "buy or sell?" decisions that can make or break your season.

But first, a trip down memory lane, sponsored by Rotoworld, Vermont Teddy Bears and eHarmony?

I found my first fantasy football man-crush back in 1998, my "rookie year." I was absolutely butchering my draft the way newbies often do ?Drew Bledsoe fifth overall (homer pick!); Chiefs D/ST in the 4th round (with the imbecilic reasoning that Tamarick Vanover would have lots of punt return touchdowns). But in the 13th round, like a chimp, I blindly hurled more of my own filth at the draft board and, somehow, it hit a talented but troubled rookie out of Marshall named Randy Moss. Guffaws, jeers and tired jokes about my team locker room reeking like Jeff Spicoli's van quickly followed. But I was the one laughing sixteen weeks later, after Moss hauled in 1,313 yards and 17 TDs.

I've loved Moss ever since . . . in a platonic, respectful, awkward man-hug/knuckle-rap kind of way, not a "leave my wife, kidnap him, keep him in a dirt pit in my sub-basement and then make a suit out of his skin" way. I've had him on most of my teams over the past decade. Randy and I have had our ups and downs, sure ? mooning Packer fans; ditching FedEx Field early; being labeled washed-up by such respected football minds as Art Shell and innkeeper/offensive coordinator Tom Walsh. But last year, he rewarded my longtime faith and devotion with his monster 23-TD season. Yes, folks, I truly believe that he rocked those monster numbers just for me.

Wait . . . is that weird?

Anyway, I'll do my damndest this season to be your Standard & Poor's each week, examining the how's and why's of a player's rising or falling stock. I'll consider everything from simple point production to x-factors like injuries, depth chart and/or team personnel changes, and even off-field incidents, like sucker-punching an innocent plasma screen (talkin' to you, Brandon Marshall). And because you likely don't have all day to scour fantasy message boards, read articles from local beat writers and generally immerse yourself in all things fantasy football 24/7, I'll be out there gathering that intel for you. No reason you should get fired.

With that, let's take a look at some risers and fallers as we sit giddily perched on the brink of another season?

[SIZE=+1]RISERS[/SIZE]

Rudi Johnson, RB, Lions
Being plucked off the scrapheap by respected personnel guru Matt Millen is the only reason Rudi's not working a Long John Silver's drive-thru right now. Yes, he could very easily see some goal line carries and now only a rookie (Kevin Smith) stands between him and a starting gig on a decent offense (albeit one with a terrible O-line), his hammys are suspect at best, no matter which feline-themed themed uniform he wears. Stock has risen, yes, but I'm personally not buying. www.detroitlions.ws

DeSean Jackson, WR, Eagles
When [URL="http://fantasyfootball.usatoday.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=NFL&id=378"]Kevin Curtis[/URL] went down, Jackson had a golden opportunity to seize control of a full-time gig. And he did with some stellar pre-season play. Now, Reggie Brown is pulling his annual "I'll injure anything, anytime" act. Temper expectations of course, because (A) we have little empirical evidence that shows he can produce against starting defenses for four quarters, and (B) the WR2 on Philly has never been a fantasy goldmine. But that Reid held him out of the pre-season finale ? a rarity for a rook -- speaks volumes about his potential. While he's not assured of pulling a "Colston-in-2006" because Hank Baskett is also kicking around, Jackson could have a nice impact if things shake out.

Ray Rice, RB, Ravens
Willis McGahee battled (knee) injuries throughout the pre-season, and word is the Ravens weren't happy with the speed of his recovery, i.e. they felt he was playing too much Madden 2008 instead of re-habbing Enter Ray Rice, an undersized rookie from Rutgers who impressed in the pre-season and would start this weekend if McGahee can't go vs. Cincy. He's a must-own for McGahee owners and could make some noise in Week 1 against a suspect Bengals run defense. www.baltimoreravens.ws

Chris Perry/Kenny Watson, RBs, Bengals
The aforementioned Johnson is gone. Perry finally made it through a camp and is the starter heading into Week 1. But while his stock rose enough to see him drafted his own injury history and the presence of both Kenny Watson and DeDe Dorsey (even though most people generally don't fear dudes named "DeDe") make Perry risky. I personally think Kenny Watson again ends up with the most production out of all Bengal RBs this year. How much that is this season is anyone's guess.

Jerricho Cotchery, WR, Jets
Favre has always had that "break glass in case of emergency" receiver. Back in the day it was Antonio Freeman. Then Donald Driver. And word out of Jets camp is that this year's official Favre security blanket is Cotchery. After a quietly spectacular 2007 (82 catches, 1,130 yards, 2 TDs) with mediocre at best quarterbacks, his (usual) 4th round draft status makes it clear that Fantasy Nation is ready to start a-courtin' Cotchery for years to come. www.newyorkjets.ws

Tony Scheffler, TE, Broncos
While most have Owen Daniels poised to be this year's Jason Witten -- and don't get me wrong, I love Daniels -- Tony Scheffler might even be better value considering he was typically drafted somewhere around the 11th/12th round, while Daniels hovered around the 9th. In only seven starts last season, Scheffler racked up 49 catches for 549 yards and 5 TDs. And with Darrell Jackson iffy at best and pre-season darling Eddie Royal unproven, Scheffler could play that de facto WR role in Denver the way Witten does in Dallas. Oh, and he was Cutler's roommate as a rookie and they're like BFF! OMG! LOL! which can't hurt.

Maurice Morris, RB, Seahawks
Julius Jones was typically drafted in the 6th round. Meanwhile, Mo Mo, as his friends call him, often went five to seven rounds later even though he'll likely split carries at worst. That's good value, my friends. And Holmgren has named him the "starter" against the Bills, although there's bound to be a rotation, but if he excels he could keep stealing carries.

Amani Toomer
To quote bartender/American poet laureate Moe Syzlak, "Wha-wha-whaaaaaat?!" True, Toomer only had two catches for 12 yards. But looking more closely, he had eight targets -- almost a quarter of Eli's 35 total passes ? half in the red zone, and two from the Redskins' 6-yard line that could have gone for scores. Toomer led the league in red zone targets for much of 2007 ? yes, ahead of Moss, Wayne, Welker, Edwards, and Colston ? and while he won't get the consistent yards or TDs like Plaxico, he's clearly somewhat of a security blanket for Eli and makes a solid emergency Flex player.

Derrick Ward
One game, yes, but Ward is the clear backup to Jacobs. And he looked good, too. If Jacobs goes down, as he does with some frequency, Ward's proven he can carry the load, averaging 94 yards in the five starts last season, with three TDs. If you own Jacobs and don't have Ward, get him. If you don't own Jacobs and have Ward, start the trade talks. If you own Ward but want to own Jacobs, but Ward is?was?.wait, now I'm confused?you get the idea.
<!--RW-->[SIZE=+1]FALLERS[/SIZE]

Selvin Young, RB, Broncos
Denver running backs are like exotic dancers. They'll tease you. You know better than to believe in them. Yet when the sun rises and you sober up, you're sitting alone in a corner booth at Denny's, glumly picking at a soggy Moons Over My-Hammy? that you bought with your few remaining crumpled $1 bills. Still, when Young's promising rookie competition, Ryan Torain, went down for at least six weeks, his value shot up . . . only to quickly peter out when we learned that Young would rotate with Andre Hall. Not a shock, no, but relying on Young to bust a long one from somewhere between the 20's is a boom or bust proposition. Add in the fact that (A) he plays for Beelzebub?er, Shanahan, and (B) Hall will vulture his short TDs, and Selvin's value takes a slight hit.

Carson Palmer
No, not because of his broken beak. It's that Cincy is breaking camp with an iffy running game and two stud receivers with little nagging (Housh) and possibly season-ending (Chad) injuries. Palmer has little else to throw to. Doesn't bode well for a guy who lobbed 20 picks last season. Maybe it's just my ever-growing gut talking, but the Bengals scare the hell out of me this year.

Rashard Mendenhall, RB, Steelers
"Huzzah!" Steeler fans cried when Mendenhall was drafted last April. "We've finally got our best power back since the Bus!" And all fantasy owners (except Willie Parker's dynasty owners) salivated at the thought of Mendenhall getting goal line carries on a potent offense. But not so fast, folks. His pre-season fumbilitis ? so bad that WR/motivational coach Hines Ward gave Mendenhall a football to carry at all times and offered $100 to any teammate who could strip it -- and the presence of FB Carey Davis are, for the time being, reducing his value.

Ronnie Brown, RB, Dolphins
Yes, he had a nice final pre-season game (12 carries, 47yds, TD against the Saints) and has gotten fantasy owners giddy about him again. But take a cold shower here, fellas ? name one running back who's come back to top form within a year of serious ACL surgery. (Crickets . . . crickets . . . ). I'm rooting for him, since he started off last year in epic form, but it's Brown's 4th/5th round draft position that sours me, considering it was typically a couple rounds before committee mate and "starter" [URL="http://fantasyfootball.usatoday.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=NFL&id=1312"]Ricky Williams[/URL]. Translation? Brown represents bad value since many predict them both finishing at 700-800ish yards and 5 TDs apiece. www.miamidolphins.ws

Deion Branch, WR, Seahawks
If the Eagles WR corps is merely banged up, then Seattle's resembles Antietam post-battle pictures from Ken Burns' Civil War series. Bodies strewn everywhere. Dogs picking at loose flesh. And the stench?oh, the stench. Optimistic souls think Branch will be back for Week 1. I am not an optimistic soul and wouldn't count on anything from Branch until Week 6, if that.

Chris Cooley
Like Ward, it's only one game, but man this was painful for Cooley owners to watch. One target last night. Not just one catch, but one target. That's only one more than you or I had, and neither one of us play professional football for the NFL's Washington Redskins. Methinks the departure of tight end guru Al Saunders ? he's got Kellen Winslow, Sr., Tony Gonzalez and last year's Cooley on his resume ? will hurt. (Side note: it's why we need to bump Randy McMichael's value this year. Saunders starting tight ends have averaged 72 catches/ 900 yards/ 6 TDs. Would you take that from a guy who often goes un-drafted? I would.)

Tatum Bell, Thief, Between Jobs
When you're cut to make room for a guy whose hammys are frayed rubber bands . . . and then you steal from that guy . . . and then you get caught on video stealing from that guy . . .well, your fantasy stock -- hell, your human being stock -- can't go much lower. Worse, he stole Rudi Johnson's underwear. My official list of people whose underwear I would least want to own: 1. Jack Black, 2. Rudi Johnson, 3. Liza Minelli.

This is just a sampler plate, considering we're in that short dead zone between fake play and real play. But it's a long year, player values fluctuate, and Fantasy Nation has a lot of love to give. So it's only a matter of time before we owners start to openly weep for joy at the mention of ____'s name, and get pissed off when someone throws an offensive lowball offer for them.

 

[Hache Man]

Re: Fantasy Football News 2008

Re: Fantasy Football News 2008

Week 1 Rankings Update

Deciding what early games to watch on Sunday 1PM is especially difficult in Week 1. I want to see if Chris Perry can hold up as a starting running back, especially against the Ravens. I want to see if this year's Patriots look like the '07 version; they certainly have the right matchup with Kansas City. I want to see if the Rams offensive line looks better, if the Texans passing game is as good as I think they are, if Chad Pennington can pull off the gut-wrenching upset for Jets fans that I expect.

Note: I'm chatting with Season Pass subscribers at 3PM Friday.

One major piece of advice I have for owners is to not overrate the matchups in Week 1. These teams are all drastically different than last year. Even the ones with similar rosters will play much differently. Do not expect much to carry over defensively. Early in the season, lean towards playing the best players, not the matchups.

Below are the rankings and updated notes for Week 1. I left the Giants and Redskins players in the rankings, plus their notes at the bottom of each position. The Rankings had a final update Friday evening after the injury report came out. The changes are explained on Pancake Blocks. We'll get on a regular schedule next week. Enjoy the games, no matter what one you decide to watch.

<TABLE width="100%"><TBODY><TR class=TableTopRed><TD>Rank</TD><TD>Player Name</TD><TD>Opponent</TD><TD>Notes</TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>1</TD><TD>Tom Brady</TD><TD>vs. KC</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>2</TD><TD>Tony Romo</TD><TD>at CLE</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>3</TD><TD>Donovan McNabb</TD><TD>vs. STL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>4</TD><TD>Peyton Manning</TD><TD>vs. CHI</TD><TD>Bears are bigger concern than knee</TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>5</TD><TD>Drew Brees</TD><TD>vs. TB</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>6</TD><TD>Ben Roethlisberger</TD><TD>vs. HOU</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>7</TD><TD>Carson Palmer</TD><TD>at BAL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>8</TD><TD>Derek Anderson</TD><TD>vs. DAL</TD><TD>All systems go </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>9</TD><TD>Kurt Warner</TD><TD>at SF</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>10</TD><TD>Matt Hasselbeck</TD><TD>at BUF</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>11</TD><TD>Jay Cutler</TD><TD>at OAK</TD><TD>Tough matchup on paper</TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>12</TD><TD>Eli Manning</TD><TD>vs. WAS</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>13</TD><TD>Matt Schaub</TD><TD>at PIT</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>14</TD><TD>Jon Kitna</TD><TD>at ATL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>15</TD><TD>Aaron Rodgers</TD><TD>vs. MIN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>16</TD><TD>David Garrard</TD><TD>at TEN</TD><TD>No Porter </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>17</TD><TD>Marc Bulger</TD><TD>at PHI</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>18</TD><TD>Brett Favre</TD><TD>at MIA</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>19</TD><TD>Vince Young</TD><TD>vs. JAC</TD><TD>Probable(hamstring)</TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>20</TD><TD>J.T. O'Sullivan</TD><TD>vs. ARZ</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>21</TD><TD>Jason Campbell</TD><TD>at NYG</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>22</TD><TD>Jeff Garcia</TD><TD>at NO</TD><TD>Probable(finger)</TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>23</TD><TD>Jake Delhomme</TD><TD>at SD</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>24</TD><TD>Philip Rivers</TD><TD>vs. CAR</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>25</TD><TD>Trent Edwards</TD><TD>vs. SEA</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>26</TD><TD>Tarvaris Jackson</TD><TD>at GB</TD><TD>Probable(knee)</TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>27</TD><TD>Chad Pennington</TD><TD>vs. NYJ</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>28</TD><TD>JaMarcus Russell</TD><TD>vs. DEN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>29</TD><TD>Matt Ryan</TD><TD>vs. DET</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>30</TD><TD>Kyle Orton</TD><TD>at IND</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>31</TD><TD>Brodie Croyle</TD><TD>at NE</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>32</TD><TD>Joe Flacco</TD><TD>vs. CIN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
</TBODY></TABLE>


QB Notes: It's impossible to predict what the Patriots will do on a weekly basis. But after a lame preseason and questions about Tom Brady's foot, I can see them being very aggressive in the passing game early against Kansas City to recapture their mojo and remind themselves what they are capable of. ? Cleveland's secondary is thin, and they will be forced to play man coverage on T.O. and Patrick Crayton. ? The Bucs' Cover 2 did a fine job keeping Drew Brees in check last season, limiting him to 439 yards and three scores over two games. You can't bench the every-week starter, especially in Week 1, but don't expect a huge game.

We'll get to see this week if Carson Palmer's struggles from the preseason were all personnel related. I suspect they were. With Housh and Chad Johnson back, this passing game should get back on track despite playing Baltimore. ? Kurt Warner will be someone to watch closely. It's not like he played particularly well in the preseason, and he still struggles with turnovers and pressure. Fantasy owners need to hope for a fast start by him. It's not like he has great job security if the Cardinals start losing. ? The Texans want to run the football, but the talent is in the passing game. They were in great rhythm in the preseason. On paper, the Steelers are more vulnerable through the air. Gary Kubiak's playcalling this week will be a good indication of how aggressive the team will be throwing the ball. With enough attempts, Matt Schaub will be a top-ten quarterback. ? If I wasn't so wary of overrating the matchup, Jon Kitna would be ranked even higher. The Falcons look terrible on paper, but funny things tend to happen to conventional wisdom in Week 1.

Jacksonville isn't healthy on the offensive line, which could cause problems against Tennessee's strong front seven. It will be an excellent test to see whether David Garrard's momentum can carry over into this season. ? I have been getting a lot of grief from Brett Favre supporters this season. If it was anyone else changing teams at his age, he'd be ranked a lot lower. Look for the Jets to have a conservative gameplan, keeping his stats down.

***

The Redskins may struggle to apply pressure on Eli Manning with their front seven. Losing defensive coordinator Gregg Williams was a huge blow. Jason Taylor may not be ready, and their defensive line is average at best. With time to throw, Manning's receivers can win one-on-one battles against Washington's man coverage. ? Washington's offensive line is healthier than last season, although they are benching stalwart Jon Jansen. Look for Campbell to get the ball out of his hands faster than last year, concentrating on shorter routes. The question is whether his smurfish group of receivers fit this system of slants. It could take a while to get the timing down; I'd expect mediocre numbers on Thursday.

Discuss your rankings and your lineup decisions in the Rotoworld football forums.

<!--RW-->[SIZE=+1]Week 1 Running Backs[/SIZE]

<TABLE width="100%"><TBODY><TR class=TableTopRed><TD>Rank</TD><TD>Player Name</TD><TD>Opponent</TD><TD>Notes</TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>1</TD><TD>LaDainian Tomlinson</TD><TD>vs. CAR</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>2</TD><TD>Adrian Peterson</TD><TD>at GB</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>3</TD><TD>Brian Westbrook</TD><TD>vs. STL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>4</TD><TD>Steven Jackson</TD><TD>at PHI</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>5</TD><TD>Frank Gore</TD><TD>vs. ARZ</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>6</TD><TD>Marshawn Lynch</TD><TD>vs. SEA</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>7</TD><TD>Marion Barber</TD><TD>at CLE</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>8</TD><TD>Joseph Addai</TD><TD>vs. CHI</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>9</TD><TD>Clinton Portis</TD><TD>at NYG</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>10</TD><TD>Brandon Jacobs</TD><TD>vs. WAS</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>11</TD><TD>Selvin Young</TD><TD>at OAK</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>12</TD><TD>Ryan Grant</TD><TD>vs. MIN</TD><TD>Probable(hamstring)</TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>13</TD><TD>Larry Johnson</TD><TD>at NE</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>14</TD><TD>Laurence Maroney</TD><TD>vs. KC</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>15</TD><TD>Maurice Jones-Drew</TD><TD>at TEN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>16</TD><TD>Michael Turner</TD><TD>vs. DET</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>17</TD><TD>Reggie Bush</TD><TD>vs. TB</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>18</TD><TD>Thomas Jones</TD><TD>at MIA</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>19</TD><TD>Earnest Graham</TD><TD>at NO</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>20</TD><TD>Willie Parker</TD><TD>vs. HOU</TD><TD>Moving up, Mendenhall not a threat?</TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>21</TD><TD>Matt Forte</TD><TD>at IND</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>22</TD><TD>Darren McFadden</TD><TD>vs. DEN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>23</TD><TD>Jamal Lewis</TD><TD>vs. DAL</TD><TD>Possible Game-Time Decision; ranked as if starting</TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>24</TD><TD>Chris Perry</TD><TD>at BAL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>25</TD><TD>LenDale White</TD><TD>vs. JAC</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>26</TD><TD>Kevin Smith</TD><TD>at ATL</TD><TD>Moved up</TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>27</TD><TD>Jonathan Stewart</TD><TD>at SD</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>28</TD><TD>DeAngelo Williams</TD><TD>at SD</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>29</TD><TD>Edgerrin James</TD><TD>at SF</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>30</TD><TD>Justin Fargas</TD><TD>vs. DEN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>31</TD><TD>Ricky Williams</TD><TD>vs. NYJ</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>32</TD><TD>Ray Rice</TD><TD>vs. CIN</TD><TD>Move him up ten spots if McGahee is out</TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>33</TD><TD>Chris Johnson</TD><TD>vs. JAC</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>34</TD><TD>Willis McGahee</TD><TD>vs. CIN</TD><TD>Probable, but game-time decision</TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>35</TD><TD>Ronnie Brown</TD><TD>vs. NYJ</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>36</TD><TD>Fred Taylor</TD><TD>at TEN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>37</TD><TD>Maurice Morris</TD><TD>at BUF</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>38</TD><TD>Julius Jones</TD><TD>at BUF</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>39</TD><TD>Steve Slaton</TD><TD>at PIT</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>40</TD><TD>Ahman Green</TD><TD>at PIT</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>41</TD><TD>Kenny Watson</TD><TD>at BAL</TD><TD>Probable(hamstring)</TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>42</TD><TD>Chester Taylor</TD><TD>at GB</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>43</TD><TD>Felix Jones</TD><TD>at CLE</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>44</TD><TD>Ahmad Bradshaw</TD><TD>vs. WAS</TD><TD>Probable(-)</TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>45</TD><TD>Jerious Norwood</TD><TD>vs. DET</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>46</TD><TD>Rashard Mendenhall</TD><TD>vs. HOU</TD><TD>10-15 snaps?</TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>47</TD><TD>Rudi Johnson</TD><TD>at ATL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>48</TD><TD>Andre Hall</TD><TD>at OAK</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>49</TD><TD>Tim Hightower</TD><TD>at SF</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>50</TD><TD>Fred Jackson</TD><TD>vs. SEA</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>51</TD><TD>Sammy Morris</TD><TD>vs. KC</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>52</TD><TD>Warrick Dunn</TD><TD>at NO</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>53</TD><TD>Jerome Harrison</TD><TD>vs. DAL</TD><TD>Move him up 36 if Lewis is out</TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>54</TD><TD>Chris Taylor</TD><TD>at PIT</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>55</TD><TD>Brandon Jackson</TD><TD>vs. MIN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>56</TD><TD>Ladell Betts</TD><TD>at NYG</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>57</TD><TD>Dominic Rhodes</TD><TD>vs. CHI</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>58</TD><TD>Pierre Thomas</TD><TD>vs. TB</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>59</TD><TD>DeShaun Foster</TD><TD>vs. ARZ</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>60</TD><TD>Kevin Jones</TD><TD>at IND</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>61</TD><TD>Deuce McAllister</TD><TD>vs. TB</TD><TD>Questionable(knee)</TD></TR>
</TBODY></TABLE>


RB Notes: Look for most rookies to worked into the mix slowly. Rashard Mendenhall is only expected to get 10-15 snaps, leaving Willie Parker to his normal role. Felix Jones isn't expected to be too active, which is a surprise after watching Hard Knocks. My guess is he'll be involved plenty. Chris Johnson should be the lesser half of a committee in Tennessee. Even Kevin Smith may give up some carries to Rudi Johnson right away.

One rookie that should get involved right away is Darren McFadden. The Raiders are going to run on a higher percentage of plays than perhaps anyone in the league, especially when the game is close. They can get both Justin Fargas and McFadden 15 touches with a little luck. ? Ryan Grant isn't 100%, but the Packers are expected to give him a full load against the twin towers of Williams power in Minnesota. Unless you are truly loaded at running back, I can't imagine benching one of the few safe bets for 20 touches. Who are you going to bench him for? The truly safe bets stop after the top-ten.

Andre Hall has been getting a lot of good press, but we don't know much about what Mike Shanahan will do until it happens. I expect Selvin Young to dominate the touches, which makes him almost impossible to sit against the Raiders. ? Keep an eye on Jamal Lewis and any reports about his hamstring. ? It sounds like Willis McGahee and Ray Rice could split carries Sunday. That makes both of them flex plays against the Bengals, rather than RB2s. Cincy will be able to stack the box and cover the Ravens man-to-man on the outside with Joe Flacco at quarterback. ? I won't love Michael Turner and Kevin Smith every week, but this game sets up well for both players. Regardless of what we've read, Rudi Johnson is unlikely to have a big role this week. That should leave plenty of carries for Smith. The Falcons will do their best to showcase Turner, their high-price free agent acquisition. Detroit's defensive front looks perilously thin.

Ronnie Brown should be just active enough to damage Ricky Williams' day. After a strong couple weeks, the coaching staff will want to see what both players can do against the Jets. Look for a very conservative game-plan by Miami, which should mean lots of rushing attempts. ? Jonathan Stewart is more likely to score than DeAngelo Williams, so I'd go with the rookie if I had to choose. And I do.

***

There has been a lot of speculation about how the Giants backfield will be used this season. While Derrick Ward and Ahman Bradshaw's roles are to be determined, it's safe to pencil in 15-20 carries from Brandon Jacobs. Since he's always a good bet to score, the train cannot be benched. I still expect Bradshaw to have plenty of stand alone value as a fantasy reserve. ? The Redskins plan to keep Clinton Portis on the field as much as Joe Gibbs did, if not more. Ladell Betts is a true backup, not a committee partner.

[SIZE=+1]Week 1 Wide Receivers[/SIZE]

<TABLE width="100%"><TBODY><TR class=TableTopRed><TD>Rank</TD><TD>Player Name</TD><TD>Opponent</TD><TD>Notes</TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>1</TD><TD>Randy Moss</TD><TD>vs. KC</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>2</TD><TD>Terrell Owens</TD><TD>at CLE</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>3</TD><TD>Andre Johnson</TD><TD>at PIT</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>4</TD><TD>Larry Fitzgerald</TD><TD>at SF</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>5</TD><TD>Braylon Edwards</TD><TD>vs. DAL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>6</TD><TD>Reggie Wayne</TD><TD>vs. CHI</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>7</TD><TD>Marques Colston</TD><TD>vs. TB</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>8</TD><TD>T.J. Houshmandzadeh</TD><TD>at BAL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>9</TD><TD>Torry Holt</TD><TD>at PHI</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>10</TD><TD>Anquan Boldin</TD><TD>at SF</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>11</TD><TD>Chad Ocho Cinco</TD><TD>at BAL</TD><TD>Probable(shoulder)</TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>12</TD><TD>Roy Williams</TD><TD>at ATL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>13</TD><TD>Santonio Holmes</TD><TD>vs. HOU</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>14</TD><TD>Plaxico Burress</TD><TD>vs. WAS</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>15</TD><TD>Jerricho Cotchery</TD><TD>at MIA</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>16</TD><TD>Wes Welker</TD><TD>vs. KC</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>17</TD><TD>Marvin Harrison</TD><TD>vs. CHI</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>18</TD><TD>Calvin Johnson</TD><TD>at ATL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>19</TD><TD>Greg Jennings</TD><TD>vs. MIN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>20</TD><TD>Lee Evans</TD><TD>vs. SEA</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>21</TD><TD>Dwayne Bowe</TD><TD>at NE</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>22</TD><TD>Roddy White</TD><TD>vs. DET</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>23</TD><TD>Laveranues Coles</TD><TD>at MIA</TD><TD>Should play, but listed as questionable</TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>24</TD><TD>Joey Galloway</TD><TD>at NO</TD><TD>Questionable(groin)</TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>25</TD><TD>Donald Driver</TD><TD>vs. MIN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>26</TD><TD>Santana Moss</TD><TD>at NYG</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>27</TD><TD>Patrick Crayton</TD><TD>at CLE</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>28</TD><TD>Antonio Bryant</TD><TD>at NO</TD><TD>Check pregame status, should start</TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>29</TD><TD>Chris Chambers</TD><TD>vs. CAR</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>30</TD><TD>Hines Ward</TD><TD>vs. HOU</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>31</TD><TD>Ronald Curry</TD><TD>vs. DEN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>32</TD><TD>Vincent Jackson</TD><TD>vs. CAR</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>33</TD><TD>Bernard Berrian</TD><TD>at GB</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>34</TD><TD>Donte' Stallworth</TD><TD>vs. DAL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>35</TD><TD>Drew Bennett</TD><TD>at PHI</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>36</TD><TD>D.J. Hackett</TD><TD>at SD</TD><TD>Probable(toe)</TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>37</TD><TD>Anthony Gonzalez</TD><TD>vs. CHI</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>38</TD><TD>Nate Burleson</TD><TD>at BUF</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>39</TD><TD>Courtney Taylor</TD><TD>at BUF</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>40</TD><TD>Isaac Bruce</TD><TD>vs. ARZ</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>41</TD><TD>Sidney Rice</TD><TD>at GB</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>42</TD><TD>DeSean Jackson</TD><TD>vs. STL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>43</TD><TD>Kevin Walter</TD><TD>at PIT</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>44</TD><TD>Amani Toomer</TD><TD>vs. WAS</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>45</TD><TD>Eddie Royal</TD><TD>at OAK</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>46</TD><TD>Darrell Jackson</TD><TD>at OAK</TD><TD></TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>47</TD><TD>Mark Clayton</TD><TD>vs. CIN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>48</TD><TD>Javon Walker</TD><TD>vs. DEN</TD><TD>Questionable(hamstring)</TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>49</TD><TD>David Patten</TD><TD>vs. TB</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>50</TD><TD>Ted Ginn Jr.</TD><TD>vs. NYJ</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>51</TD><TD>Matt Jones</TD><TD>at TEN</TD><TD>Surprise Start </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>52</TD><TD>Justin Gage</TD><TD>vs. JAC</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>53</TD><TD>Bryant Johnson</TD><TD>vs. ARZ</TD><TD>Splitting with Morgan?</TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>54</TD><TD>Derrick Mason</TD><TD>vs. CIN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>55</TD><TD>Hank Baskett</TD><TD>vs. STL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>56</TD><TD>Arnaz Battle</TD><TD>vs. ARZ</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>57</TD><TD>Josh Morgan</TD><TD>vs. ARZ</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>58</TD><TD>Reggie Williams</TD><TD>at TEN</TD><TD>Probable(hamstring)</TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>59</TD><TD>Muhsin Muhammad</TD><TD>at SD</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>60</TD><TD>Rashied Davis</TD><TD>at IND</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>61</TD><TD>Jabar Gaffney</TD><TD>vs. KC</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
</TBODY></TABLE>

WR Notes: Larry Fitzgerald benefits from having Kurt Warner under center more than Anquan Boldin. Warner can throw it deep. ? If the NFL is going to recognize Chad Ocho Cinco, we might as well too. The name will be changed in the Friday evening rankings update. And if you own Mr. Cinco, you have to play him until he proves he's unworthy, shoulder injury or not. ? Since receiver scoring tends to fluctuate much less than other positions depending on the matchup, these rankings are somewhat similar to our year-long ranks. One person taking a big leap in both this week was Antonio Bryant. Jon Gruden always manages to squeeze out yards, and Bryant is talented enough to challenge Joey Galloway for the team lead in yardage. That only makes him a WR3, but he's someone worth owning.

Patrick Crayton is a player I loved going into last season. He came through as a WR3, but was frustratingly inconsistent. It's easy to forget how far he's come as a player, and the lack of options behind him makes a great play this week. The difference between him and Jabar Gaffney is that the Patriots will get all their receivers involved in the game. Gaffney is still on the team primarily to block, although Chad Jackson's release certainly helps his chances for his best season. ? Marvin Harrison is a player to watch closely Sunday. The Bears generally do a good job taking away big plays, Harrison's speciality. They have an excellent cornerback group. If Harrison and the Colts are humming Sunday night, his owners may have drafted one of the values of the season.

With Javon Walker at less than 100% and Drew Carter out for the season, I expect Ronald Curry to lead the Raiders in receiving. Of course that may not mean a huge fantasy day. ? It's easy to see the Rams falling behind early, which could mean plenty of targets for Drew Bennett and Torry Holt. St. Louis is another team with poor receiver depth, which helps the starters. ? Using the Vikings receivers scares me this week. Tarvaris Jackson is shaky enough at 100%.

***

The Redskins put a lot of pressure on their cornerbacks to play man coverage. If they can't generate pressure, the Giants could expose them. Still, it's hard to pick Amani Toomer or [URL="http://fantasyfootball.usatoday.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=NFL&id=4227"]Steve Smith[/URL]. The team will go four wide and get tight end Kevin Boss involved, so the pie is split up too many ways. Plaxico Burress is an every-week play until proven otherwise. ? Santana Moss will play flanker this season, which should increase the amount of short passes he says. While that should help his consistency, it also increases his chance for injury. He could really use some development from the young Washington receivers to take pressure off.

<!--RW-->[SIZE=+1]Week 1 Tight Ends[/SIZE]

<TABLE width="100%"><TBODY><TR class=TableTopRed><TD>Rank</TD><TD>Player Name</TD><TD>Opponent</TD><TD>Notes</TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>1</TD><TD>Jason Witten</TD><TD>at CLE</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>2</TD><TD>Kellen Winslow</TD><TD>vs. DAL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>3</TD><TD>Antonio Gates</TD><TD>vs. CAR</TD><TD>Probable(foot)</TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>4</TD><TD>Tony Gonzalez</TD><TD>at NE</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>5</TD><TD>Jeremy Shockey</TD><TD>vs. TB</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>6</TD><TD>Chris Cooley</TD><TD>at NYG</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>7</TD><TD>Vernon Davis</TD><TD>vs. ARZ</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>8</TD><TD>Todd Heap</TD><TD>vs. CIN</TD><TD>Probable(knee)</TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>9</TD><TD>Owen Daniels</TD><TD>at PIT</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>10</TD><TD>Dallas Clark</TD><TD>vs. CHI</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>11</TD><TD>Tony Scheffler</TD><TD>at OAK</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>12</TD><TD>Heath Miller</TD><TD>vs. HOU</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>13</TD><TD>Zach Miller</TD><TD>vs. DEN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>14</TD><TD>Greg Olsen</TD><TD>at IND</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>15</TD><TD>Alge Crumpler</TD><TD>vs. JAC</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>16</TD><TD>L.J. Smith</TD><TD>vs. STL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>17</TD><TD>Ben Utecht</TD><TD>at BAL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>18</TD><TD>Randy McMichael</TD><TD>at PHI</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>19</TD><TD>Marcedes Lewis</TD><TD>at TEN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>20</TD><TD>Donald Lee</TD><TD>vs. MIN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>21</TD><TD>Desmond Clark</TD><TD>at IND</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>22</TD><TD>Kevin Boss</TD><TD>vs. WAS</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>23</TD><TD>Dustin Keller</TD><TD>at MIA</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>24</TD><TD>Anthony Fasano</TD><TD>vs. NYJ</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>25</TD><TD>Chris Baker</TD><TD>at MIA</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
</TBODY></TABLE>

[SIZE=+1]Week 1 Team Defense[/SIZE]

<TABLE width="100%"><TBODY><TR class=TableTopRed><TD>Rank</TD><TD>Player Name</TD><TD>Opponent</TD><TD>Notes</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>1</TD><TD>Patriots Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>vs. KC</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>2</TD><TD>Chargers Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>vs. CAR</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>3</TD><TD>Seahawks Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>at BUF</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>4</TD><TD>Vikings Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>at GB</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>5</TD><TD>Giants Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>vs. WAS</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>6</TD><TD>Colts Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>vs. CHI</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>7</TD><TD>Packers Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>vs. MIN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>8</TD><TD>Cowboys Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>at CLE</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>9</TD><TD>Steelers Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>vs. HOU</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>10</TD><TD>Eagles Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>vs. STL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>11</TD><TD>Buccaneers Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>at NO</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>12</TD><TD>Bengals Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>at BAL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>13</TD><TD>Broncos Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>at OAK</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>14</TD><TD>Jaguars Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>at TEN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>15</TD><TD>Titans Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>vs. JAC</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>16</TD><TD>Texans Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>at PIT</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>17</TD><TD>Bears Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>at IND</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>18</TD><TD>Ravens Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>vs. CIN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>19</TD><TD>Cardinals Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>at SF</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>20</TD><TD>Bills Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>vs. SEA</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>21</TD><TD>Jets Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>at MIA</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>22</TD><TD>Panthers Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>at SD</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>23</TD><TD>Raiders Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>vs. DEN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>24</TD><TD>Dolphins Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>vs. NYJ</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>25</TD><TD>Redskins Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>at NYG</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>26</TD><TD>Lions Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>at ATL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>27</TD><TD>Saints Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>vs. TB</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>28</TD><TD>Fortyniners Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>vs. ARZ</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>29</TD><TD>Falcons Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>vs. DET</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>30</TD><TD>Browns Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>vs. DAL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>31</TD><TD>Rams Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>at PHI</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>32</TD><TD>Chiefs Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>at NE</TD><TD>- </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

Notes: This is a great test for the Giants team defense in the post-Strahan era. This is a matchup in which they should be able to force mistakes

[SIZE=+1]Week 1 Kickers[/SIZE]

<TABLE width="100%"><TBODY><TR class=TableTopRed><TD>Rank</TD><TD>Player Name</TD><TD>Opponent</TD><TD>Notes</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>1</TD><TD>Stephen Gostkowski</TD><TD>vs. KC</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>2</TD><TD>Nick Folk</TD><TD>at CLE</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>3</TD><TD>Nate Kaeding</TD><TD>vs. CAR</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>4</TD><TD>Josh Scobee</TD><TD>at TEN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>5</TD><TD>Josh Brown</TD><TD>at PHI</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>6</TD><TD>Ryan Longwell</TD><TD>at GB</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>7</TD><TD>Mason Crosby</TD><TD>vs. MIN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>8</TD><TD>Shayne Graham</TD><TD>at BAL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>9</TD><TD>Adam Vinatieri</TD><TD>vs. CHI</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>10</TD><TD>Rob Bironas</TD><TD>vs. JAC</TD><TD>Sidelined(groin)</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>11</TD><TD>Phil Dawson</TD><TD>vs. DAL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>12</TD><TD>Robbie Gould</TD><TD>at IND</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>13</TD><TD>Neil Rackers</TD><TD>at SF</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>14</TD><TD>Jason Hanson</TD><TD>at ATL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>15</TD><TD>David Akers</TD><TD>vs. STL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>16</TD><TD>Matt Bryant</TD><TD>at NO</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>17</TD><TD>Matt Stover</TD><TD>vs. CIN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>18</TD><TD>John Kasay</TD><TD>at SD</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>19</TD><TD>Joe Nedney</TD><TD>vs. ARZ</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>20</TD><TD>Kris Brown</TD><TD>at PIT</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>21</TD><TD>Jeff Reed</TD><TD>vs. HOU</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>22</TD><TD>Martin Gramatica</TD><TD>vs. TB</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>23</TD><TD>Sebastian Janikowski</TD><TD>vs. DEN</TD><TD>Sidelined(hamstring)</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>24</TD><TD>Jason Elam</TD><TD>vs. DET</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>25</TD><TD>Rian Lindell</TD><TD>vs. SEA</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>26</TD><TD>Shaun Suisham</TD><TD>at NYG</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>27</TD><TD>Mike Nugent</TD><TD>at MIA</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>28</TD><TD>Dan Carpenter</TD><TD>vs. NYJ</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>29</TD><TD>Matt Prater</TD><TD>at OAK</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>30</TD><TD>Olindo Mare</TD><TD>at BUF</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>31</TD><TD>Nick Novak</TD><TD>at NE</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>32</TD><TD>John Carney</TD><TD>vs. WAS</TD><TD>- </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

 

[Hache Man]

Re: Fantasy Football News 2008

Re: Fantasy Football News 2008

Bowe Poses Mismatch for Pats

Dwayne Bowe put up numbers uncommon for a rookie wideout in 2007. His 70-995-14.2-5 stat line was easily the best among all first-year receivers, with Calvin Johnson (48-756-15.8-5) and James Jones (47-676-14.4-2) a distant second and third. Bowe turned in this spectacular debut despite missing a big chunk of training camp due to a holdout. Clearly, the big fella was ready for the NFL.

Players usually take their biggest mental and physical leaps in year two. Bowe didn't waste this spring prepping for the Combine or the Senior Bowl he dominated in 2007. The season Bowe is coming off didn't ridiculously extend into the first week of January after an over five-week layoff between games like his senior year at LSU. For the first time as a pro, Bowe is fresh and ready.

The Chiefs visit Foxborough Sunday in a 1PM ET game. Herm Edwards and coordinator Chan Gailey's game plan will undoubtedly involve establishing the run, but New England's weakness this year will be defending the pass. Replacing Asante Samuel as the team's new "No. 1 corner," Ellis Hobbs is coming off two surgeries (shoulder, sports hernia). Strong safety Rodney Harrison is going on 36, and after last Saturday's surprise cut of Fernando Bryant, the Pats' new left cornerback is rookie Terrence Wheatley.

While Harrison and FS James Sanders will be responsible for Tony Gonzalez and run stopping, Wheatley and Hobbs each figure to spend a lot of time guarding Bowe. Bowe (6'2/227) has a serious physical edge on New England's bantam duo of 5'9 corners. On Wheatley, he has five inches and 50 pounds. On Hobbs, five inches and about 35 lbs. With a good amount of single coverage likely as the Pats account for Gonzo and keep an extra defender in the box to stop Larry Johnson, Bowe should get open and out-muscle his man all day. www.kansascitychiefs.ws

The Chiefs will have to do a fair amount of passing Sunday to stay with New England's high-octane offense. As much as Gailey and Edwards would love to run it 50 times, Brodie Croyle is more likely to attempt 35-40 passes. But can Croyle get Bowe the ball? If Croyle showed anything in his winless 2007 season, it's that he'll force Bowe the rock. A safe bet would give Bowe 10-12 targets and 7-9 catches. Throw in his nasty after-the-catch ability and luck out with a few red-zone targets, and Bowe could turn those 7-9 grabs into 80-100 yards and 1-2 scores.

While you contemplate why you wouldn't start Dwayne Bowe in Week 1, here is an update on key fantasy injury situations around the league...


Note: You can get the weekly stat projections of all these players mentioned in our Rotoworld.com Season Pass. For those new to this site, it has a nifty tool called the Rotoworld Oracle, which takes in the stat projections, your league's custom scoring and roster configuration, and advices you on exactly who to start each week. It's less than a $1 a week, and it's only one of the many tools and content in the package. Click here to check it out, might be the best money you ever spent.

[SIZE=+1]Important Week 1 Game-Time Decisions[/SIZE]

Arms
Tom Brady, Peyton Manning - Tom Brady and Peyton Manning? They're playing.

Backs
Ryan Grant - He's probable and likely to start, but faces NFC's best run defense. www.greenbaypackers.ws
Jamal Lewis - I'd bet on him playing, but he could be 'limited' in a hard matchup. www.clevelandbrowns.ws
Willis McGahee - Ray Rice is likely to start, see bulk of the workload on Sunday. www.baltimoreravens.ws
Deuce McAllister - Practiced all week, but his role could be minimal in opener.
Kenny Watson - Probable, but he's only a small threat to Chris Perry's workload.
Aaron Stecker - Questionable and unlikely to play after missing practice Friday.
Maurice Hicks - Listed as doubtful; Aundrae Allison to return kicks for the Vikes.

Wides
Laveranues Coles - Thigh injury is unlikely to prevent Coles from facing Miami. www.newyorkjets.ws
Joey Galloway - Groin injury is still bugging Galloway, but he should be in pads. www.tampabaybuccaneers.ws
Reggie Brown - Doubtful, could be in danger of losing job to DeSean Jackson.
Antonio Bryant - Named a starter this week, but is a risky Week 1 fantasy bet.
James Jones - Doubtful; Packers could use frequent two-TE sets Monday night.
Reggie Williams - He's probable and will start, but could be in a snaps rotation.
Javon Walker - Walker won't start on Monday if he misses Saturday's practice.
Isaiah Stanback - Fully expected to play, serve as Dallas' third receiver @ CLE.
Michael Clayton - Bucs' third receiver is uncertain to play against New Orleans.
Will Franklin, Maurice Price - Neither is expected to be active in Foxborough.
Joshua Cribbs - High ankle sprain seems likely to prevent Cribbs from playing.

Ends
Antonio Gates - Gates is virtually certain to start after practicing fully all week. www.sandiegochargers.ws
Todd Heap - Listed as probable; Heap may be Joe Flacco's go-to target early on.
Ben Watson - Look for David Thomas to be Patriots' starting TE against Chiefs.
Ben Patrick - Cards' No. 2 tight end ready to resume role behind Leonard Pope.

Legs
Phil Dawson - Limited in Friday's practice, but Dawson will start against Dallas.

[SIZE=+1]Already Ruled Out for Week 1[/SIZE]

Arms
Kyle Boller, Troy Smith - Todd Bouman will back up Joe Flacco on opening day.

Backs
Ryan Torain - Broncos pray other injuries don't force Torain to be placed on I.R.
Carnell Williams - On PUP and won't play before Week 7, if he does at all in '08.
Chris Brown - Went on injured reserve; Ahman Green to start season for Texans.
Jesse Chatman - Jets will roll with two tailbacks until he comes off suspension.
Anthony Alridge - Rookie impressed in training camp, but is out for the season.

Wides
Brandon Marshall - Will return in Week 2 to face Chargers CB Antonio Cromartie.
[URL="http://fantasyfootball.usatoday.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=NFL&id=4227"]Steve Smith[/URL] (Panthers) - He is suspended for the first two games of the season.
[URL="http://fantasyfootball.usatoday.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=NFL&id=378"]Kevin Curtis[/URL] - Sports hernia surgery could keep Curtis sidelined until midseason.
Deion Branch - Don't count on Branch being a fantasy asset until Week 5 at best.
Jerry Porter - Matt Jones picks up a start in his place; Porter may return in Week 2.
Bobby Engram - Could contribute as a slot receiver after Seahawks' Week 4 bye.
[URL="http://fantasyfootball.usatoday.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=NFL&id=4226"]Chris Henry[/URL] - Will come off suspension in Week 5 to steal looks from Ben Utecht.
Sam Hurd, Miles Austin - With these two out, Jason Witten will see more targets.
Ben Obomanu - In case you haven't heard, Obomanu has been lost for the year.
Drew Carter - Shelved for the season; Ashley Lelie is now Raiders' third receiver.
Joe Jurevicius - On PUP list to start the year, but don't expect him to contribute.
David Clowney - Jets kept him on the team, but Clowney's return date is unclear.
Donnie Avery - First wideout drafted in April is unlikely to make a sizable impact.

Ends
None of significance.

Legs
None of significance.

<!--RW-->

[SIZE=+1]Week 1 Matchups to Exploit/Avoid[/SIZE]

Lions RB Kevin Smith @ Falcons
Time: 1:00PM ET

There may not be a better week to play Smith for the rest of the season, as the rookie's carries could be cut into heavily going forward with Rudi Johnson aboard. Coordinator Jim Colletto hinted Thursday that Rudi may play some in Sunday's opener, but he's had less than a week to digest the playbook and is transitioning to a new running scheme. The Bengals used power running, and Rudi's never ran behind zone blocks. Colletto is striving for a balanced attack and Smith is a good bet for 20 touches. With their passing game humming, the Lions shouldn't face a seven-man front all day as Atlanta retreats in a Cover 2 zone, so Smith will have lanes. On the Georgia Dome turf, Smith's mid-4.4 speed should be accentuated. He's a high-upside flex start who could be prime sell-high trade bait heading to Week 2.

Patriots RB Laurence Maroney vs. Chiefs
Time: 1:00PM ET

The Patriots' decision to keep five ball carriers (Maroney, Sammy Morris, Kevin Faulk, LaMont Jordan, and Heath Evans) on the roster may not bode well for Maroney's chances of being a feature back. While Faulk is suspended for Week 1 and New England projects to be successful on the ground against a mediocre K.C. front seven, Maroney could be headed for an early-season committee role not unlike 2007. Jordan has already been tabbed as the primary back in hurry-up situations and Morris remains a decent bet for goal-line carries. It doesn't help that the Pats lost possibly their best guard, Stephen Neal, to PUP and RT Ryan O'Callaghan to injured reserve. Gregg Rosenthal predicts a very aggressive game plan from coordinator Josh McDaniels in Week 1. Maroney looks like a risky RB2 play.

Eagles TE L.J. Smith vs. Rams
Time: 1:00PM ET

Everyone's talking about rookie receiver DeSean Jackson, but the biggest beneficiary of [URL="http://fantasyfootball.usatoday.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=NFL&id=378"]Kevin Curtis[/URL] and Reggie Brown's injuries could be the Eagles' franchise player. Smith, who's healthier than ever and in a contract year, gets a great matchup against a Rams defense that's never been great in tight end coverage. Smith will be guarded by first-year starting SAM linebacker Quinton Culberson on first and second downs, and 32-year-old strong safety Corey Chavous in obvious passing situations. St. Louis forgot to bring in offseason competition for Chavous, who's been a liability since signing in 2006. The Eagles have installed multiple plays aimed at getting Smith the rock in red-zone packages and he'll be a fair bet to score on Sunday.

Bengals RB Chris Perry @ Ravens
Time: 1:00PM ET

In theory, a matchup against Baltimore is never attractive. But age is catching up with the unit, and that doesn't mesh well with an offense that will struggle to sustain drives and keep the defense fresh. The secondary is in shambles, with FS Ed Reed nursing a shoulder injury that could end his season at any point, and starting CBs Samari Rolle and Chris McAlister both over 31 and coming off injuries of their own. Baltimore could be in a nickel defense all Sunday to give these wounded parts support. Also, DT Kelly Gregg (knee) is unlikely to play, and he is the key to Baltimore's inside run defense. Perry, who's taken over as the Bengals' every-down back, appears primed for a big Game 1 in a season that could see this Ravens defense fall off a cliff.

Chargers WR Vincent Jackson vs. Panthers
Time: 4:15PM ET

The biggest mismatch in Week 1 of the NFL is set to take place at Qualcomm Stadium. The Bolts are minus LT Marcus McNeill (neck), and will replace him with 32-year-old former guard L.J. Shelton. He'll square off against Julius Peppers, a contract-year right end whose athleticism dwarfs Shelton's. Don't expect Philip Rivers to have much time to pass, which could negate any deep-route running by the Chargers. Vincent Jackson's main role in Norv Turner's offense is stretching the field, but Jackson could end up mostly blocking. Antonio Gates' return also doesn't help Jackson's cause. Look for San Diego's game plan to be run heavy and Gates and Chris Chambers to dominate the available targets, but I wouldn't expect Rivers to attempt more than 25 passes.

Panthers RBs @ San Diego
Time: 4:15PM ET

In the same game, it'd be a good idea to watch Carolina's backfield rather than invest in it for fantasy purposes. The matchup against San Diego's stout front seven is already poor, and we don't know for sure how the Panthers will divide carries between starter DeAngelo Williams and first-round pick Jonathan Stewart. The local beat believes it'll be a 16:12 split in Williams' favor, but Williams is unlikely to get goal-line carries and would be a low-upside flex start. This is a game to watch and learn from if you're a Panthers running back owner, not gamble on.

Vikings WR Bernard Berrian @ Packers
Time: 7:00PM ET Monday night

If you've considered starting Bernard Berrian in Monday night's contest, think again. Not only is he coming off turf toe and his inaccurate quarterback a knee injury, the Packers' press corners have Berrian's number. In the two games he played against Green Bay as a member of the Bears last season, Berrian managed stat lines of just 1-10-0 (in Week 5) and 1-14-0 (in Week 16). The 185-pound deep threat always has the potential to go the distance, but that's highly unlikely as Charles Woodson and Al Harris jam the heck out of Berrian at the line of scrimmage and Tarvaris Jackson misses him deep. Jackson was by far the league's worst long passer in 2007, completing a measly four of his 36 attempts of 20 yards or longer. And with squatty guard <A href="http://fantasyfootball.usatoday.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=NFL&id=724" a <Artis Hicks<>taking suspended LT Bryant McKinnie's place on Jackson's blind side, you can bet that the young signal caller will struggle to drop back more than two steps all night Monday.

[SIZE=+1]Reply Absolutely Not to the Following Questions[/SIZE]

> Does Fred Smoot have good hands?

> Is Lou Holtz sane?

> Does that make him any less cool?

> Should Eagles MLB Stewart Bradley be on your IDP waiver wire?

> Is this exchange normal?

> Would Shaun Alexander be a good pickup for Cincinnati?

 

[Hache Man]

Re: Fantasy Football News 2008

Re: Fantasy Football News 2008

A Season Changed
A game can change in an instant

One of the reasons we love football is its suddenness. There is an immediacy involved when any play can alter the course of the game. When Tom Brady's knee buckled under Kansas City safety Bernard Pollard's hit, the Patriots-Chiefs game abruptly turned into a slugfest. New England quickly changed from a highly aggressive aerial assault to a conservative-run based attack. The Patriots were lucky to get a 17-10 win at home against the Chiefs. The record setting Patriots of 2007 were dead. They were replaced by an outfit reminiscent of New England's efficient 2001 team; the season Brady replaced the team's injured star quarterback early in the season.

A season can change in an instant

Immediately Patriots, players, coaches, season ticket holders, and Brady owners feared the worst. And their fears were realized by 7:15 ET, when Michael Silver of Yahoo! Sports broke the news. Torn ACL, with more ligament damage possible. Brady's season was over. Suddenly the Patriots were just another team hoping to claw for a playoff spot. Suddenly Randy Moss and Wes Welker were just another pair of awesome receiver talents who could be held back by shaky quarterback play. Moss goes from the clear-cut number one receiver to something less. An every week fantasy starter, a WR1, but one filled with uncertainty. Will Moss stay as well behaved under Matt Cassel? Welker figures to get hurt more than anyone. His timing with Brady was practically telepathic. Welker had five targets in the first two drives with Brady, then only five more the rest of the game. He and Cassel appeared to miscommunicate on a pair of attempts. One of the steadiest players in fantasy last season, Welker now looks closer to an excellent WR3 rather than a possible top-15 wideout.

Brady was supposed to be the "safe pick" in fantasy leagues, but we should know by now there is no such thing. His owners have almost no choice but to pick up Matt Cassel. There is good reason to doubt Cassel's competence ? he hasn't started a game since high school ? but he played well in relief Sunday. His snazzy 8.4 yards-per-attempt average actually bested Brady's first quarter work. Considering the weapons at Cassel's disposal, he can be a top-15 quarterback or greater. There is plenty of boom-or-bust to him, though. He could flame out or provide sneaky yardage on a team built to pass first. Even risk-taking owners of other shaky QB2s like Jason Campbell, Vince Young, and Jeff Garcia should consider Cassel.

The Patriots will run the football more. The first eight offensive plays were passes Sunday. When Brady left, their pass:run ratio was 11:4. After he left, the ratio was 17:27.

Brady is part of our Week 1 Injury analysis recap on Season Pass.

Make no mistake; the Patriots should be able to run well. Logan Mankins is as fierce a run blocker as there is in the game. Even without Kevin Faulk available Sunday, the Patriots used their backfield depth with Sammy Morris, LaMont Jordan, and Heath Evans getting into the mix. As any Laurence Maroney owner will bemoan, Morris actually played more than the Patriots starter. Morris, in fact, is nearly as good a pickup as Cassel depending on your team needs. He should be owned in all leagues. Maroney owners shouldn't consider this injury a positive. No Patriot fantasy owners should. The team will score less, which doesn't help. New England may run more, but it's clear they will spread the ball around their backfield. Maroney's workload seems likely to be inconsistent and he'll be a dicey RB2. He had three carries in the first half against the Chiefs.

The Patriots didn't wait until the end of the day to call Chris Simms in for a tryout. Like the Patriots, Brady owners must quickly move on. The pity party ends Monday. Fantasy football teams have won countless championships with average quarterbacks. It's an easier spot to fill running back. Evaluate if the hole on your roster would best be filled through a trade or waivers. Then act quickly, because the fantasy football season is short.

A career can change in an instant

Ten minutes of NFL game action ago, Brady led the Patriots on a sure-to-be-timeless drive. It was a 12-play march into the teeth of a ferocious Giants defense that was capped by a Randy Moss touchdown. Who else? It was to be the postcard picture from a perfect season.

Such a short time later, it's fair to wonder if we will ever see the same Tom Brady again. When the 2007 MVP returns, he will be 32 years old and coming off major reconstructive surgery. We were never likely to see anything close to fifty touchdowns again from Brady anyhow.

Keeper and dynasty league owners doubly feel Brady's pain because their untouchable asset now looks fragile. Sure, he'll probably play at a high level again. But would you rather own Brady in a keeper league or Tony Romo? How about Peyton Manning? How about (gasp) Jay Cutler? The solid-but-unspectacular numbers Brady put up before 2007 seem like a reasonable goal for Brady in a post-surgery world.

A league can change in an instant

The sooner you forget about 2007, the better. The Colts and Chargers lost at home to NFC teams who missed last year's playoffs. Michael Turner and Jerious Norwood gained 282 more yards Sunday than Maurice Jones-Drew and Fred Taylor. Willie Parker is a touchdown-scoring machine again. Matt Cassel is at the controls of the former greatest offense of all time.

If you are a true football fan, Tom Brady's injury was tough to swallow. But with that disappointment comes the knowledge that this season will be irrevocably different than the last. It is new, it is wide open and unpredictable; it will change in an instant again and again. And that's not all bad.

 

[Hache Man]

Re: Fantasy Football News 2008

Re: Fantasy Football News 2008

The Morning After

We've covered the Brady fallout. Now let's get right into our weekly look around the league in the Morning After.

[SIZE=+1]The Kids are all right[/SIZE]

1. [URL="http://fantasyfootball.usatoday.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=NFL&id=4743"]Chris Johnson[/URL] is the truth; just ask Rotoworld writer Chris Wesseling any moment of the day. If Johnson stays on the field, the kid is golden. Some cramps forced him off in the fourth quarter Sunday against the Titans, which evened up his carry split with LenDale White. But Johnson dominated the workload and production until then, when White scored a touchdown that saved his afternoon. The most impressive part of Johnson's 127 total yards was that he did it without any gains over 20 yards. The big gains are coming. www.tennesseetitans.ws

"There's going to be different Sundays where (White's) going and I'm not," Johnson said, "and he is going to get more opportunities than I am." Perhaps. The Titans may have to keep this split close to keep Johnson fresh, but it's clear they'd prefer him to lead the way.

2. Watching my man Matt Forte pick, dodge, squeeze, and jump through holes Sunday night, I was reminded of one player: Fred Taylor. And I mean the healthy Fred Taylor, in the highest compliment possible. Forte could be better in the receiving game, which makes up for lesser top-end speed. As long as the Bears don't run him into the ground, owners have a good-looking RB2 option.

3. So Joe Flacco and Matt Ryan only had 290 passing yards between them. But they're competent! Ryan made Michael Jenkins look like a deep threat, a trick five Falcons quarterbacks before him couldn't pull off. Flacco limited the Ravens offense, as expected, but who knew he had a 38-yard touchdown run in him? All rookie quarterback struggle, it's a matter of degree. Perhaps these two can keep their heads above water for a while.

[SIZE=+1]Don't Panic[/SIZE]

1. It's hard to overstate how poorly Cincinnati looked. Baltimore deserves most of the credit, but the amount of broken plays and miscommunications between Carson Palmer and his receivers was unacceptable. You could blame it on the lack of time together in August ... except similar mistakes happened last season. Marvin Lewis was also way too eager to run on fourth down to terrible results. (While Chris Perry will have his days, the Ravens defense will make most runners look poor.)

But these are the Bengals. They are Colts Light. Carson Palmer, T.J. Houshmandzadeh, and Chad Johnson are among the most consistent fantasy assets of the last five years. They usually put up numbers in bad times. I'll hit the panic button if they struggle against a normal defense. Too bad they are stuck facing Tennessee's fearsome squad next.

2. Braylon Edwards had more drops than catches. Derek Anderson was out of synch. But this Cleveland team is too talented not to score and they had a very difficult Week 1 draw. Only panic with Anderson if this Browns team has a losing record halfway through the season. Then the calls for Brady Quinn will pick up. Anderson could use some help from his defense. www.clevelandbrowns.ws

3. There are lots of ways to look at the Colts offensive effort Sunday night.

The good: Peyton Manning looked healthy, even if he was very rusty. He put up 257 yards and a touchdown even in a shaky performance. Reggie Wayne and Marvin Harrison caught 18 passes between them on a slow night. That's why we love the Colts. www.indianapoliscolts.ws

The bad: Indy's offensive line, short their starting guards and center from last season, got pushed around. Joseph Addai had no room to run. It took injury-prone Dallas Clark less than a half to go become a walking questionable tag again.

I'll take the optimistic approach. Manning will get his legs underneath him in time. Anthony Gonzalez is a more than capable replacement for Clark on the field, with Wayne moving to the slot. The offensive line remains a big concern, but line coach Howard Mudd always manages to find a way.

[SIZE=+1]Some Panic is Acceptable[/SIZE]

1. Maurice Morris and Nate Burleson are now hurt, along with Bobby Engram and Deion Branch. Hasselbeck completed 17-of-41 passes coming off a back injury. Julius Jones had one yard on seven carries before garbage time against the Bills. Buffalo's defense is better than people think, but the consistent Seahawks offense looked to be in trouble before the opener. They definitely do now.

2. I suspect Jeff Garcia is on a short leash this season. And his performance Sunday (41 attempts, 221 yards) didn't make it any longer. Neither does his ankle injury. Brian Griese, anyone? www.tampabaybuccaneers.ws

3. The Jaguars have lost their starting center, both starting guards, and a key reserve at tackle. Their top reserve at guard may also be hurt. Their offense was built on the strength of the offensive line. Now it's a huge question mark. David Garrard, Fred Taylor, and Maurice Jones-Drew are talented enough to overcome some issues, but that is a lot of carnage to deal with. www.jacksonvillejaguars.ws

4. Robert Meachem was a healthy scratch, people. He's behind Lance Moore on the depth chart. He's not a sleeper and is a waste of fantasy roster space.

[SIZE=+1]Preaseason Carryover?[/SIZE]

1. Calvin Johnson kept the preseason hype going, leading the Lions with seven catches and 107 yards. Both numbers are career highs. It will be interesting to see if [URL="http://fantasyfootball.usatoday.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=NFL&id=35"]Roy Williams[/URL] leads the way next time or if this is a trend that will continue. www.detroitlions.ws

2. The Rams offense looked like a 2007 carryover. Torry Holt vanished, [URL="http://fantasyfootball.usatoday.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=NFL&id=1663"]Steven Jackson[/URL] was stuffed, Drew Bennett got hurt, and Marc Bulger continued to make us forget about the guy we saw two years ago. The Eagles defense has a chance to be dominant, though. Give the Rams some time to learn Al Saunders' offense.

[SIZE=+1]See, the preseason is phony! [/SIZE]

The Lions were 4-0 in the preseason, and then got blasted by a Falcons team starting a rookie quarterback.

[SIZE=+1]Injury Ward[/SIZE]

Here are some of the players mentioned in our Season Pass injury column:

LaDainian Tomlinson
Maurice Morris
Brodie Croyle
Marion Barber
Vince Young
Todd Heap
Jamal Lewis

Also in Season Pass on Monday: Our exclusive target report, workload report, and game analysis recaps with fantasy tips from our staff of writers. So, uh, check it out. Or I might have to get a real job someday.

<!--RW-->
[SIZE=+1]Yeah, this might work[/SIZE]

1. Michael Turner rightfully got the headlines with 220 yards and two touchdowns, but don't forget about his backup. Jerious Norwood also put together a top-ten performance with 14 carries, 99 total yards, and a touchdown. The Falcons might resemble the '07 Raiders, running often and effectively despite a poor passing attack. Now if only they could play the Lions 15 more times. Detroit's star-making rush defense heads home to host Ryan Grant.

2. The second-year version of Trent Edwards looks promising. The threw 30 composed attempts against a strong Seattle pass defense, which is a great sign for Lee Evans owners. In a contract push, this could be the season we get some consistency from Evans. And the two plays over 30 yards for Evans helps quiet concerns that Edwards can't hit the big play.

3. Brett Favre magic traveled to his new uniform. While the Jets played conservatively, Favre still put up solid numbers and an 8.8 YPA in his first start for Gang Green. If he does it against the Pats on Sunday, I'll officially be convinced he's a fantasy starter again.

4. Reggie Bush has teased us before, so he'll have to prove he can stay consistent. After all, he only posted a 3.6 YPC Sunday. But PPR owners don't really care if he can continue his crazy mojo in the passing game. Maybe all those puff pieces about his "rededication" worked. Or maybe it's Kardashian power.

5. It's the system in Philadelphia, not the receivers. How else to explain DeSean Jackson, Greg Lewis, and Baskett going over 100 yards? Oh yeah, it's the quarterback too.

[SIZE=+1]Committee Report[/SIZE]

1. Miami: Ronnie Brown had nine touches for 51 yards. [URL="http://fantasyfootball.usatoday.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=NFL&id=1312"]Ricky Williams[/URL] had 14 touches for 39 yards. This doesn't let all the air out of the Ricky sleeper balloon, but it's a good sign for Brown owners that he's on his way back. Look for this split to remain close for a while.

2. Carolina: DeAngelo Williams had 18 carries to ten for Jonathan Stewart. Both were very effective, but Williams didn't come out of the game near the goal line.

3. Tampa: The worst fears of Earnest Graham owners were realized ? almost. Graham only had ten carries to nine for Warrick Dunn. But Graham played so well, he still topped 100 total yards.

4. New Orleans: Pierre Thomas, not Deuce McAllister or Aaron Stecker, split carries with Reggie Bush. Thomas finished with 63 effective total yards. The Saints can call Deuce injured to save face, but the reality is he was benched. You can drop him.

5. Dallas: Felix Jones is the best-looking 40-year-old looking rookie I've ever seen. He could also be the most talented rookie runner in this class, which is saying a lot. But don't get too carried away with his nine carries. He didn't have any in the first half when the game was close and Marion Barber was healthy. Of course Barber might not stay healthy for long at this rate.

[SIZE=+1]Offensive minefield[/SIZE]

Offenses are more consistent year-to-year than defense. That's one reason why so many quarterbacks started to go early in fantasy drafts. It's only a week, but the consistent offenses in New Orleans, Philadelphia, and Pittsburgh are on the right track. And owners of Drew Brees, Donovan McNabb, and Ben Roethlisberger are glad they dodged Sunday's minefield.

[SIZE=+1]Fluky Week 1 tight ends[/SIZE]

Each Week 1, a few fluky tight end performances seem to pop up. Then it's my job as a fantasy writer to tell you not to overreact. Chris Baker, [URL="http://fantasyfootball.usatoday.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=NFL&id=3147"]Alex Smith[/URL], and Courtney Anderson's efforts in 2005 come to mind.

This year, a slew of candidates emerged. The top-five tight ends in PPR leagues Sunday were Anthony Fasano, Donte Rosario, Robert Royal, Bo Scaife, and David Martin. (Chad Pennington loves his tight ends.) Proving once again, we know nothing.

They aren't all flukes, though. Royal doesn't have the talent to keep it up. Scaife and Martin aren't true starters. Fasano and Rosario have the talent to keep it up.

Rosario is a serious athlete, a player I couldn't believe as I watched in the preseason. He can be a fine TE2 with potential for more. Fasano has less upside, but could put up workmanlike stats as a fantasy reserve. Randy McMichael is another player with a strong start worth a look for the needy. Tight ends six-through-eight were Winslow, Witten, and Gates. Gates owners can breathe easy. The toe looks just fine.

Anyone looking for waiver picks ? I'll put up a ranking in Pancake Blocks Monday afternoon.

[SIZE=+1]The More Things Change ?[/SIZE]

Lions coach Rod Marinelli talked all off-season about Establishing The Run. But an early deficit forced Detroit to go pass wacky. They called 35 pass plays to 19 runs, and only gained 62 yards on the ground. It's like Mike Martz never left.

[SIZE=+1]Speaking of Martz[/SIZE]

Across the country in San Francisco, Martz was finally calling the running plays Marinelli always wanted. In the first half of San Francisco's game against the Cardinals, the 49ers ran 14 times and passed 14 times. J.T. O'Sullivan threw only 20 passes all game! Frank Gore wound up with 18 touches (for 151 total yards and a score) despite an absurdly low amount of team plays (44) and time of possession (22:55). The 49ers did manage to squeeze in six turnovers in their limited time. Now that sounds like a Mike Martz team.

[SIZE=+1]Lucky Break?[/SIZE]

Dwayne Bowe had two catches and twenty yards with Brodie Croyle under center for two and a half quarters. The Chiefs had three points when Croyle left. In the 18 minutes Damon Huard was in, Bowe had three grabs, 29 yards, a touchdown, and an unforgivable drop that would have tied the game. The Chiefs don't want to hear it, but their passing game, Bowe included, is better off with Huard in the lineup.

[SIZE=+1]What the ? [/SIZE]

All the Ravens questions I received on Fantasy Fix Live were about Willis McGahee vs. Ray Rice. Who knew that LeRon McClain would outshine them both with 21 touches? The converted fullback looks more like a third tailback now that Lorenzo Neal is on the roster, but we still wouldn't pick him up. He'll go back to third on the depth chart next week.

 

[Hache Man]

Re: Fantasy Football News 2008

Re: Fantasy Football News 2008

Rookie Runners
One of my favorite subplots for this season is the banner crop of rookie running backs. Eleven backs went in the first three rounds of April's draft?compared to an average of just eight in the previous three years?and even beyond their draft position it's an incredibly promising long-term group with the potential to make an immediate fantasy impact.

While skipping my usual Daily Dose routine for just one day, let's take a look at how Week 1 treated the top 11 runners ?

No. 4 overall: Darren McFadden, Raiders www.oaklandraiders.ws
McFadden and Justin Fargas started together Monday night and rotated carries throughout a blowout loss before McFadden left with a shoulder injury late. Averaging over five yards per carry is impressive and McFadden also added an 11-yard catch, but just 10 touches for the No. 4 overall pick is disappointing and the injury is a concern until we know more. With Fargas in the picture, McFadden's value is limited.

No. 13 overall: Jonathan Stewart, Panthers www.carolinapanthers.ws
DeAngelo Williams got the Week 1 start, but Stewart saw significant action in the first half and looked good with 44 yards on seven carries. Unfortunately he took a clear backseat after halftime, touching the ball just three times while Williams was featured extensively. Stewart surprisingly also returned kickoffs in his debut, which shows that he's definitely viewed as a backup rather than Williams' equal.

No. 22 overall: Felix Jones, Cowboys
Jones didn't play much early, but took over once Marion Barber bruised his ribs and ended up with 62 yards on nine carries, including an 11-yard score. Barber is expected to play in Week 2, so Jones will continue to have a limited role. He's incredibly explosive, but it's tough to be a consistent fantasy asset on 10 touches per game. Of course, if Barber ever goes down for long he's immediately a RB2.

No. 23 overall: Rashard Mendenhall, Steelers
Mendenhall got a solid-looking 10 carries in his debut, but it's important to note that all but one of them came with the Steelers up big in the second half. Willie Parker dominated the workload when the game was on the line and even scored twice from short range, which along with Mewelde Moore coming in to catch and block on passing downs leaves Mendenhall without a clear role.

No. 24 overall: [URL="http://fantasyfootball.usatoday.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=NFL&id=4743"]Chris Johnson[/URL], Titans www.tennesseetitans.ws
Gregg Rosenthal and Chris Wesseling spent months hyping Johnson to no end, doing such a fine job touting his upside that he's on several of my keeper teams. Hopefully you bought into the hype too, as he debuted by starting over LenDale White, dominating the workload until cramping late, and totaling 127 yards on 18 touches. As Rosenthal put it in "The Morning After": Johnson is the truth.

No. 44 overall: Matt Forte, Bears
While Johnson was impressive without hitting a home run, Forte was impressive largely because of a 50-yard touchdown run that included just about everything you'd want to see from a back. He totaled 141 yards on 26 touches and is clearly already an every-down option, although backup Kevin Jones did get 13 carries. If the Bears avoid big deficits and Forte stays healthy, he'll get 300 touches.

No. 55 overall: Ray Rice, Ravens www.baltimoreravens.ws
Willis McGahee remaining on the sidelines with a knee injury gave Rice a great opportunity and he came through with 83 total yards on 25 touches. Of course, he also shared snaps with backup LeRon McClain, who was even better with 110 total yards on 21 touches. McGahee is due back as the Week 2 starter and Rice should hold off McClain to be his backup, but don't expect another 25 touches.

No. 64 overall: Kevin Smith, Lions www.detroitlons.ws
Smith's debut was far less impressive than most of the other top rookie runners, but he did get 20 touches to quiet concerns about Rudi Johnson stealing snaps. Smith had little room to run behind a shaky offensive line, but picked up some nice gains in the passing game while Johnson looked slow and touched the ball just three times. It looks like it may be more about quantity than quality for Smith.

No. 69 overall: Jacob Hester, Chargers www.sandiegochargers.ws
Hester saw extensive preseason action, but played behind LaDainian Tomlinson, Darren Sproles, and Mike Tolbert in Week 1. Being able to slide back and forth between fullback and tailback is likely enough versatility to keep Hester active on game days even in a limited role, but barring a Tomlinson injury there's no room for him to make a fantasy impact.

No. 73 overall: Jamaal Charles, Chiefs www.kansascitychiefs.ws
Kolby Smith's back injury led to Charles debuting as Larry Johnson's backup and he totaled 34 yards on seven touches, but also missed the third-down block that left Brodie Croyle with a separated shoulder. Despite the costly mistake in pass protection Charles played often in a variety of packages Sunday, but with Smith set to return in Week 2 he may be relegated to the bench.

No. 89 overall: Steve Slaton, Texans
Ahman Green started for the Texans, but Slaton got as many touches in the first half (seven) and then took over late when Green sprained his ankle. Between the injury and a big early deficit it's tough to get a good read on how the Texans' backfield will shake out going forward, but Slaton has definitely already claimed a big role and looks likely to at worst split snaps in the near future.

 

[Hache Man]

Re: Fantasy Football News 2008

Re: Fantasy Football News 2008

The Best Laid Plans
The best laid plans of Tom Brady owners went horribly awry in the first quarter of the first game of the season. If yesterday's NFL Chat is any indication, Brady owners are going to dominate the waiver wire this week. Before you rush out to grab Matt Cassel in a flailing attempt at a season savior, a word of advice: go ahead and put in for Cassel, but work the email lines for a trade as your first line of defense.

Matt Cassel hasn't started a meaningful football game since high school, and he was inches away from getting chopped from the final 53-man roster a couple of weeks ago. As he's nobody's idea of a legit NFL starting quarterback, he shouldn't be yours either. But there are plenty of intriguing QB2s riding the pine on your fellow owners' benches. So instead of handing Cassel the keys to your franchise, try selling high on some of your Week 1 wonders and turn to more appetizing options:

a. Go the reliable veteran route by trading for Kurt Warner, Brett Favre, Jake Delhomme, or Jon Kitna. All are better bets for sustained fantasy success this season.

b. Buy low on high upside QB2s coming off of Week 1 letdowns, such as Matt Schaub, Derek Anderson, Marc Bulger, or David Garrard.

On to the waiver wire, where we'll see if we can strike gold again like we did last week with [URL="http://fantasyfootball.usatoday.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=NFL&id=4743"]Chris Johnson[/URL], Eddie Royal, DeSean Jackson, and Matt Jones. Here's how I rank the likely targets at each position this week. Full writeups of each player are below.

QUARTERBACKS

1. J.T. O'Sullivan
2. Trent Edwards
3. Matt Cassel
4. Kerry Collins
5. Damon Huard

RUNNING BACKS
1. Pierre Thomas
2. Steve Slaton
3. Sammy Morris
4. Felix Jones
5. Tim Hightower
6. Derrick Ward
7. Andre Hall/Michael Pittman
8. Kenny Watson
9. Justin Forsett

WIDE RECEIVERS
1. DeSean Jackson
2. Eddie Royal
3. Matt Jones
4. Bryant Johnson
5. Courtney Taylor
6. Hank Baskett
7. Logan Payne

TIGHT ENDS
1. Randy McMichael
2. Anthony Fasano
3. Donte Rosario
4. Bo Scaife

***

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QUARTERBACKS

J.T. O'Sullivan, 49ers - I recommended grabbing O'Sullivan last week, and while his numbers were less than impressive on the surface, he actually fared well. In a game where the Cardinals dominated the time of possession battle, JTO completed 70 percent of his passes at almost 10 yards per attempt. Better games are in store.

Recommendation: Should be owned in 12-team leagues

Trent Edwards, Bills - Edwards isn't going to blow up for 300 yards and a couple of touchdowns, but he's a mature young quarterback in an improved offense. There's not a ton of upside, but he makes for a reliable low-end QB2.

Recommendation: Should be owned in 12-team leagues

Matt Cassel, Patriots - You know how I feel about Cassel: there are better options out there for the industrious fantasy owner. That said, as long as he has Randy Moss blazing down the sidelines, he's worth of a roll of the dice as a backup with a bit of upside in the Patriots offense. Don't assume he's your savior, but feel free to grab him for depth.

Recommendation: Worth a look in 12-team leagues

Kerry Collins, Titans - It's true that the Titans wide receivers can't get separation and have no extra gear to blow by defenders. It's also true that the group tends to perform much better when Collins replaces Vince Young.

Young is out two-to-four weeks with a sprained knee, but the more engrossing story is his "refusal" to enter the game at one point in the fourth quarter before his knee injury Sunday. Young said it was simply hamstring tightness, but there's more to this story than meets the eye. There's more of a chance than you might think that this is Collins' job for a good portion of the season.

Recommendation: Worth a look in 12-team leagues

Damon Huard, Chiefs - And the Dwayne Bowe, Tony Gonzalez, and Larry Johnson owners breathe a sigh of relief. The Chiefs are quite possibly the worst team in the NFL with Brodie Croyle under center, but Huard immediately injects legitimacy into a stagnant offense.

Even with a poor offensive line, Huard can find Gonzalez and Bowe enough to put up QB2 numbers for as long as Croyle is sidelined with a bum shoulder.

Recommendation: Worth a look in 12-team leagues


RUNNING BACKS

Pierre Thomas, Saints - We advised grabbing Thomas last week as Reggie Bush's backfield partner while Deuce McAllister remains a shell of his former self. Bush stole the headlines with a fine all-around performance, so Thomas may still be flying under the radar.

Keep in mind, however, that it was Thomas who led the Saints in rushing yards Sunday. As long as he remains the No. 2 to Bush, he's worth owning in an explosive offense. He's awfully close to being worthy of a weekly flex play.

Recommendation: Should be owned in all leagues

Steve Slaton, Texans - Slaton was recommended last week along with Chris Taylor, but Taylor didn't receive a single carry. Meanwhile, nominal starter Ahman Green came down with an ankle injury (shocking, I know) that has the team scrambling for depth. Slaton remains the best bet for carries in the short-term.

Recommendation: Should be owned in all leagues

Sammy Morris, Patriots - Last week we talked about the "whims of Mike Shanahan" in the Andre Hall write-up, but the whims of Bill Belichick are just as strong. There has been no indication that Laurence Maroney will ever be a three-down back in New England, and Morris is the clear No. 2.

He led the team in rushing yards and garnered the lone ground game touchdown Sunday against the Chiefs. Morris should remain the goal-line back going forward.

Recommendation: Should be owned in 12-team leagues

Felix Jones, Cowboys - As a highly touted rookie, Jones is owned in most leagues. If you play a shallow league, be sure to grab him in case Marion Barber's ribs become a nagging issue. Most likely, Jones will continue to have a limited role, but his obvious explosiveness makes him an intriguing stash.

Recommendation: Should be owned in 12-team leagues

Tim Hightower, Cardinals - Another back we recommended last week, Hightower continues to work his way into the backfield picture for the Cardinals. In addition to short-yardage work, Hightower has already grabbed J.J. Arrington's third-down passing game role. www.arizonacardinals.ws

Recommendation: Should be owned in 12-team leagues

Derrick Ward, Giants - The backfield picture was hazy all preseason, but Week 1 showed us that Ward is the clear No. 2 to Jacobs. He's worth a handcuff with Jacobs' injury history, but there's a good possibility of splitting time with Ahmad Bradshaw under that scenario. www.newyorkgiants.ws

Recommendation: Should be owned in 12-team leagues

Andre Hall/Michael Pittman, Broncos - This backfield is a mess. Selvin Young was supposed to be the starter with Hall getting short-yardage and red zone work. Instead, Hall led the team in attempts while Pittman took over the short-yardage role. Pittman may be worth a look in TD-heavy scoring leagues, but Hall is the backup to own here.

Recommendation: Should be owned in 12-team leagues

Kenny Watson, Bengals - Chris Perry had a disappointing opener, but let's face it: the Ravens run defense is murderous. It doesn't get any easier with the Titans coming to town, and Watson is waiting in the wings should injury or poor play necessitate a larger role.

Recommendation: Should be owned in 12-team leagues

Justin Forsett, Seahawks - The destitute man's Maurice Jones-Drew had an impressive preseason and could carve out a role the next few weeks while Maurice Morris is out with a knee sprain.

Recommendation: Worth a look in deeper leagues

Shaun Alexander/Cedric Benson, Free Agents - The NFL has moved on from Shaun Alexander, and so should you. Benson was in Houston for a look-see from the desperate Texans, but he remains a longshot at value. Bottom line: you're not likely to be kicking yourself later for failing to pick up either one of these backs.

Recommendation: Pass


WIDE RECEIVERS

DeSean Jackson, Eagles - Jackson was our No. 1 recommendation at receiver last week, so here's hoping you picked him up before he tortured Rams corner Tye Hill repeatedly in the opener. He should be at the top of your waiver options in PPR leagues and is worth adding in basic scoring leagues as well.

Recommendation: Should be owned in all leagues

Eddie Royal, Broncos - Another receiver from last week's Waiver Wired, Royal exploded onto the scene on national TV Monday night. He's going to take a back seat to Brandon Marshall the rest of the season, but the talent and the faith of his quarterback and head coach were on full display.

Don't expect these blow-ups with regularity, but do expect a solid No. 2 receiver for the Broncos. Astute Tom Brady owners with Royal on their rosters will want to package the rookie after his sell-high performance for an upgrade at quarterback.

Recommendation: Should be owned in 12-team leagues

Matt Jones, Jaguars - After leading the team in receiving all pre-season, Jones was clearly the Jags best option in the opener as well. As the only receiver making a difference in Jacksonville, he could very well keep his starting job even when Jerry Porter returns. I may be a glutton for punishment, but I think Jones is the best bet to lead the Jags receivers in fantasy points this season. www.jacksonvillejaguars.ws

Recommendation: Should be owned 12-team leagues

Bryant Johnson, 49ers - Rookie Josh Morgan stole the hype and veteran Isaac Bruce was the assumed favorite target, but Johnson may be the best bet to emerge as the Niners top fantasy receiver. Feel free to grab him as a No. 5 wide receiver if you have an opening.

Recommendation: Worth a look in 12-team leagues

Courtney Taylor, Seahawks - We hyped Taylor last week only to see him open with a disappointing performance against Buffalo. Nevertheless, attrition has taken its toll on the Seahawks receiving corps and has left Taylor as the last man standing for the No. 1 spot. There's no guarantee of success after Sunday's performance, but he gets an "A+" for opportunity

Recommendation: Worth a look in 12-team leagues

Hank Baskett, Eagles - Baskett isn't going to be highly targeted, but his big play ability may be worth a roll of the dice for as long as Reggie Brown and [URL="http://fantasyfootball.usatoday.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=NFL&id=378"]Kevin Curtis[/URL] remain out.

Recommendation: Worth a look in deeper leagues

Logan Payne, Seahawks - A Gregg Rosenthal and Seattle front office favorite, Payne may be battling backup quarterback Seneca Wallace for the Week 2 starting spot opposite Courtney Taylor. Payne is the better bet for a high catch total.

Dynasty leaguers may want to look Jordan Kent's way in hopes that the raw athlete catches lightning in a bottle while the veterans occupy the M.A.S.H. unit.

Recommendation: Worth a look in deeper leagues

TIGHT ENDS

Randy McMichael, Rams- It speaks well to McMichael's '08 value that he was able to haul in five passes for 77 yards in a game where the rest of the offense sputtered and fell flat. Offensive coordinator Al Saunders promised a prominent pass-catching role for his tight end, and he delivered.

Recommendation: Should be owned in 12-team leagues

Anthony Fasano, Dolphins - Fasano was featured here last week, but an eight-catch performance exceeded our expectations. Chad Pennington completed 26 passes Sunday with 12 of them going to tight ends, so it's safe to say Fasano will continue to be featured in Dan Henning's offense. The former second round draft pick makes for a high ceiling TE2 in PPR leagues. www.miamidolphins.ws

Recommendation: Should be owned in 12-team leagues

Donte Rosario, Panthers - Teams often talk about a backup player emerging during the preseason, but it's not often that the talk turns to action so quickly. The Panthers have been trying to tell us about Rosario and his emerging role in the offense, but fantasy owners remained skeptical.

He's a legit talent, so Dynasty leaguers especially should not chalk this up to a fluky performance. Keep an eye on his day-to-day foot sprain, but he's worth targeting as a TE2.

Recommendation: Worth a look in 12-team leagues

Bo Scaife, Titans - Despite newcomer Alge Crumpler's status as the starter, it was Scaife who led the Titans in receiving Sunday with 105 yards on six catches. Expect Crumpler to emerge and Week 1 to be Scaife's high water mark.

Recommendation: Pass


TEAM DEFENSE

Titans - The best defense I saw all day Sunday was Tennessee's. The Jags' normally dominant rushing game was overwhelmed with Albert Haynesworth & Co. storming the backfield on a regular basis. If the Titans went undrafted in your league, don't hesitate to add them; they're elite.
www.tennesseetitans.ws

Bills - With Rosoe Parrish in the return game and an improved defense led by former Jags All-Pro Marcus Stroud, the Bills defense is worth a look if you accidentally fell for the Colts hype on draft day. www.buffalobills.ws

Eagles - The Eagles defense smothered the Rams all game, but they won't have it that easy every week. They do, however, have an explosive return man in DeSean Jackson.

 

[Hache Man]

Re: Fantasy Football News 2008

Re: Fantasy Football News 2008

Tough Times for VY10
Vince Young tried to take himself out of Sunday's game, either due to hamstring soreness or being upset at the home crowd booing him following an interception, depending on which account you believe. Coach Jeff Fisher convinced him to go back in and moments later Young suffered a sprained left knee that's expected to keep him sidelined for at least 2-4 weeks.

While that series of events is plenty interesting, it pales in comparison to what has gone on since. According to the Nashville Tennessean, he initially balked at undergoing an MRI exam and then went off the grid Monday night, at which point police spent several hours searching for him at the Titans' request. Young then met with a psychologist, who expressed concerns about his mindset and safety.

According to one of his friends Young was simply hanging out at his house and watching Monday Night Football while police searched for him, but Young's mom painted a more concerning picture Tuesday. "Vince has gone through a whole lot as a young person," Felicia Young said. "It's hard, all he's going through right now. He's hurting inside and out."

She added that Young "will be fine if people are prayerful and help my baby out" because "he just needs a lot of love and support" instead of "being ridiculed and persecuted and talked about and not being treated very well." From the events of Monday night to Young's mother hinting that he may not want to play football any longer, there's obviously a lot more to this story than meets the eye.

What's clear right now is that Young won't be playing for at least 2-4 weeks and the Titans are preparing for life without him by signing Chris Simms to back up veteran Kerry Collins. There's speculation that Young won't have a job to reclaim once healthy, but that seems wildly premature at this point, especially given how unlikely it is that Collins thrives in his absence.

While Young's story hopefully has a happy ending whether or not he gets back on the field next month, here are some other notes from around football ?

* Rotoworld football czar and Fred Savage impersonator Gregg Rosenthal drove the Jay Cutler bandwagon during the offseason, calling him "the next great NFL quarterback" and placing him higher in the Rotoworld Draft Guide rankings than nearly every other publication. It's only one game, of course, but so far at least the Cutler hype looks warranted and then some.

Rosenthal's favorite breakout candidate threw for 299 yards and two touchdowns Monday night against a Raiders defense that was actually quite good against the pass last season. Not only did Cutler average a robust 12.5 yards per throw, he did all that damage without stud wideout Brandon Marshall, who caught a higher percentage of his team's passes than any other receiver in football last season.

With rookie Eddie Royal torching DeAngelo Hall for 146 yards on nine catches in NFL his debut and Marshall now back from his one-game suspension, Cutler has some serious weapons at his disposal. Plus, while Tony Scheffler remains stuck in the doghouse because of his weak blocking, he's still among the best pass-catching tight ends in football.

Toss in Brandon Stokley and pass-first play-calling to go along with what figures to be a solid running game, and Cutler is set up perfectly for success. His early schedule is relatively tough, with matchups against the Chargers, Bucs, Jaguars, and Patriots in the next six weeks, but following a Week 8 bye Cutler has a string of favorable on-paper opponents that set him up for a huge fantasy impact.

* Ryan Grant looked good Monday night against Minnesota's normally stout run defense, averaging 7.7 yards per carry and breaking a 57-yard gain after battling hamstring problems during the preseason. However, he was limited to just 12 touches in a close game and coach Mike McCarthy revealed Tuesday that Grant was "very sore" at halftime.

Grant's big run came in the second half, but he was caught from behind near the goal line and sat out Green Bay's final drive. For now it sounds like he'll play in Week 2, which is excellent news given the extremely favorable matchup against Detroit's awful run defense, but another relatively light workload seems likely and Brandon Jackson should again see plenty of action. Consider Grant a RB2.

* Maurice Morris started Sunday, but exited in the third quarter with a knee injury and said Tuesday that he expects to miss "a couple weeks." His injury and the team's decision to release preseason standout Justin Forsett opens the door for Julius Jones to get a big workload. With only T.J. Duckett and Leonard Weaver around to steal snaps, Jones should get 15-20 touches against the 49ers.

Two-Minute Drill: [URL="http://fantasyfootball.usatoday.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=NFL&id=1312"]Ricky Williams[/URL] had 14 touches versus nine for Ronnie Brown in Week 1 and coach Tony Sparano said Monday that he anticipates the split being "kind of even" in the future ? It should come as no surprise that fantasy nation villain Mike Shanahan had Selvin Young, Andre Hall, and Michael Pittman split snaps Monday night, with Pittman taking goal-line duties ? Jon Gruden said Monday that he wants Earnest Graham to get more touches after letting Warrick Dunn steal too many snaps in Week 1 ? A strained foot has taken some of the air out of Dante Rosario's breakout season opener, but he's definitely someone to keep a close eye on ? Backup quarterback Seneca Wallace returned punts Sunday and could see extended action at wideout with Seattle's receiving corps ravaged by injuries ? Coach Sean Payton said Monday that Robert Meachem is unlikely to be a healthy scratch every week, but he's not close to emerging with a big role ? Ernest Wilford was also a healthy Week 1 scratch, but Sparano said Monday that the Dolphins "will try to find some spots" for him ? Bernard Pollard will not be fined for the hit that caused Tom Brady's season-ending knee injury.

Red Zone: Darren McFadden has been diagnosed with a shoulder stinger after leaving Monday night's game in the fourth quarter, but there's no indication that the injury is considered serious ? After toughing it out for one game, Shawne Merriman has opted for the season-ending knee surgery that multiple doctors recommended last month ? Ben Roethlisberger hurt his shoulder Sunday when Mario Williams slammed him down on a sack, but he's expected to be fine for Week 2 ? LaDainian Tomlinson said after Sunday's game that he has turf toe, but doesn't anticipate missing any time ? Coach John Harbaugh said Monday that he's "very confident" Willis McGahee (knee) will play in Week 2 ? Signed to a ridiculous contract this offseason, Javon Walker (hamstring) began his Raiders career by being inactive Monday night ? With Drew Bennett likely to miss 4-6 weeks after fracturing his foot, the Rams brought back Eddie Kennsion ? Coach Andy Reid said Monday that [URL="http://fantasyfootball.usatoday.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=NFL&id=378"]Kevin Curtis[/URL] (hernia) may return before the team's Week 7 bye ? Damon Huard is set to make at least two starts, but coach Herm Edwards said Monday that Brodie Croyle (shoulder) "is not done for the year."

 

[Hache Man]

Re: Fantasy Football News 2008

Re: Fantasy Football News 2008

MCI Index: Risers and Fallers
Welcome back to the Man-Crush Index. I can only say two things after this past weekend: "Thank you, Jessica" and "I love/hate Las Vegas."

Re: Jessica If Tony Romo weren't dating Jessica Simpson, he might not have had extra motivation to keep playing after being violently driven into the Dawg Pound turf, causing my heart to literally stop beating. See, like many of you, I'm a Romo owner ? had just drafted him in a high stakes Vegas league ? and all worst case scenarios flooded my mind. Dislocated shoulder, broken collarbone, crushed rib cage, ruptured spleen, scurvy?

But if you were going home to a bombshell like Jessica, wouldn't you want to at least pretend that you're a man's man? Show her you're tougher than Brady Quinn, Sage Rosenfels or those other backups calling her day and night, urging her to dump you? Matt Cassel was probably texting her at halftime. So Romo got up.

Therein lies the dumb luck of football. Anything can happen. Romo gets pancaked by 1,000 pounds of man beef named Shaun Rogers, Robaire Smith and Willie McGinest, yet gets up and throws for 320 yards and a TD. Tom Brady, meanwhile, gets nicked by some spaz crawling on his hands and knees and he's out for the season . . . and this is a guy with an even hotter girlfriend! Makes no sense. (As Tom lay there cringing on the Gillette turf, cut to me in a Vegas sports book, a lone tear trickling down my cheek as Coldplay's "Fix You" plays in the background.)

Simply put, it's not worth stewing over your players' health or going Brandon Marshall on your TV if one gets hurt. I'm a lifelong Pats fan and even I'm not going bezerk because (A) the Pats will still win the weakling East at 10-6 and (B) Brady's injury is even beyond the control of all-powerful, heroic, omniscient fantasy football writers. (It helps that I'm still medicated and in denial. I can't wait to see him and Favre duel in the Meadowlands next week. Gonna be awesome.)

Re: love/hate Vegas Yes, I was out in Vegas for kickoff weekend. But sadly, I fell into the most hare-brained, Gambling 101 trap there is ? losing at the tables; bet more aggressively; epic amounts of bad luck (how many times can one man start with 3's, 4's and 5's?!); inhaled the free booze; frequently hit the crazy fee ATMs. (Warning: if you're married, and have a joint checking account, this is a terrible, terrible idea.) In seconds, I was down a moronic, astronomical $1,000. A grand. Wasn't my daughter's college fund or anything, but it was enough to make me feel like puking. Trust me, I'm not hauling in Harry Potter money for my books.

I was doomed. If I returned home to my wife $1,000 short, I'd be writing this column in intensive care, holding the pen in my mouth with what's left of my teeth. Now divorced and homeless, I'd become one of those scraggly cadavers you see at casino sports books, stealing half-smoked butts from ashtrays and limping over to drop their last $20 on Guatemalan harness racing.

But early Sunday morning, after consulting my pals/spread gurus Big Dog and Shug on some possible combos, and adding one key hunch of my own, I gloomily dropped my last crumpled bills on a five-team parlay.

(Fast forward several hours?)

Seconds after a healthy Romo and Dallas closed out Cleveland (cue Phil Savage calling Joe Horn's agent in 3?2?1?) there I was, doing back handsprings across the Hilton casino. The Steelers, Eagles, Saints, Cowboys and -- my aforementioned gut call and new favorite team -- Titans over the Jags (tough defense at home against a division rival with O-line issues? C'mon.) I was practically shaking as I cashed out and netted ? drumroll -- $1,063 bucks!

Yes, in 24 hours, I'd gone from feeling about as crappy as a man possibly can ? on the "Vegas rock bottom scale" losing huge blackjack money is second only to being hopped on vodka-Red Bulls and marrying an underage tranny hooker at 4 a.m ? to finishing $63 bucks in the black. My wife, who's about the most patient woman on earth, was still livid -- and deservedly so, 'cause she realized she married an imbecile ? but I was at least still married. To my wife. Not the hooker.

My rollercoaster Vegas ride proves that you gotta roll with Lady Luck this season. Don't guzzle Draino during the lows. Don't gloat during the highs. It's only been one week. And with that, here are my Risers and Fallers.

RISERS

Matt Cassel Talk about a "penny stock-to-Enron circa 2000" value explosion. But while Cassel's now in control of a potent offense, don't expect 30 TDs. Still, Cassel knows this system and it's his job to lose. Simms and Rattay didn't even lace up the cleats, Culpepper isn't happening, so he's worth a shot for Brady owners. Or, if you're set at QB and have someone you can drop (Burleson?), pick Cassel up and trade him to the Brady owner in your league

Michael Turner: Holy Jim Brown-meets-Barry Sanders! Just wrecked the Lions. But two key words here: "the" and "Lions." Not to diminish Turner's dominance ? has he been injecting Botox and/or cinderblocks into his thighs since San Diego? ? but the Lions have a putrid run D (318 total yards to Turner and Jerious Norwood; poor tackling is an understatement; bad idea trading Shaun Rogers). www.atlantafalcons.ws

And the Falcon's O-line, which ain't exactly the Redskins Hogs, will face tougher challenges, starting next week facing the Bucs and Monte Kiffin. If you're deep at RB but hurtin' at QB (Brady owner?), maybe target a RB-starved team and package the "220 yard" Turner & a lesser QB for a stud QB, e.g. Turner and Delhomme/Rivers for Romo.

DeSean Jackson/Eddie Royal: Apologies to Brian Westbrook, but Jackson was the most dynamic player on the field. His only value knock is McNabb also spread the love to Greg Lewis, Hank Baskett, L.J. Smith, Jason Avant, Harold Carmichael, and Mike Quick. But Jackson is here to stay. As for Royal, he's also got competition for catches (Marshall back this week) but he's going to be a big part of that offense. If you're deep at WR, sell high on these guys' monster weeks and make a run at Braylon, Housh, Santonio or another stud WR who had a down week. Never hurts to prey on your fellow owners' frustrations. (And for the record, I think Jackson's stock stays higher than Royal's.)

Randy McMichael: Someone I mentioned almost as an aside in my "risers" section last week. Even in the Rams trainwreck offense ? every time I looked at that game, Bulger was wildly backpedaling and dumping "passes" four yards behind [URL="http://fantasyfootball.usatoday.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=NFL&id=1663"]Steven Jackson[/URL]'s feet -- McMichael hauled in 5 catches/77 yards. Maybe this Al Saunders fella knows something about stud-ifying tight ends, eh? McMike is no fluke, so if you drafted him as a backup to a Heap/Dallas Clark, congrats. If you have a Cooley-type starting, trade Cooley on his bigger name value for an upgrade elsewhere.

Aaron Rodgers: The kid looked poised and effective Monday night, zinging some tough throws under pressure (the first TD to Korey Hall was, well, Favre-esque). You probably drafted him as a QB2. Keep it that way, but a few more solid games and he might let you trade your QB1 or package him in a deal to a QB-starved team. www.greenbaypackers.ws

Julius Jones, RB, SEA: Don't get excited, Julius . . . it's nothing you did. It's just that your RBBC mate, Mo Morris, is out now, meaning you get the carries. Woo-hoo. Another reason not to get excited? Your offense blows, your QB has a balky back and your new WR1 is maybe the tenth best "Taylor" in the NFL. But hey, a non-RBBC back is rare, and that Holmgren's talking to Joe Horn's people says the passing game is not exactly on the rise.

Reggie Bush: Now that's the Reggie Bush that everyone ripped the Texans for passing on! A dervish out of the backfield, Bush looked elusive and displayed his great hands, all to the tune of about 1,038 total yards. And now that Colston is out at least a month, his PPR numbers should soar.

Fast Willie: That was indeed fast. Parker topped his 2007 TD total (2) in one game, logging three scores. The Steelers looked legit, especially the running game, and especially considering the Texans had one of the rising sleeper D's in the league (Mario, DeMeco, et al). Flip side, this bodes well for Andre Johnson (10 catches/112 yards) if the Houston D is weaker than expected.
<!--RW-->
FALLERS

Nate Burleson: This message brought to you by the Department of the Ridiculously Obvious.

Jeff Garcia: Even before his ankle injury, Brian Griese was lurking in the shadows. Griese looks set to start this weekend and keep the job unless he completely tanks. www.tampabaybuccaneers.ws

Wes Welker: This one hurts. Welker was my biggest man-crush last season. But he's now lost Brady and that precise, accurate timing on Welker's bread-and-butter slants. Maybe Cassel can step in. But the jury's out, so Welker -- not Moss -- figures to be the WR most affected by Brady's loss because Cassel can always pull a Culpepper and just huck it up for Moss, who'll simply out-jump everyone. Hold him for now, of course, but watch closely.

LaDainian Tomlinson: Dear LT, don't take yourself out at the goal line. Don't run three yards and fall down into a pile when you have the talent to fly over said pile or any other obstacle on the field. Not panicking on you, and your 97 yards and 4.6 YPC was ohhhhkay, but just sayin' . . . wasn't the most confidence-inspiring debut for owners who considered A.P. or Westbrook at #1. www.sandiegochargers.ws

Matt Hasselbeck:</B> The only way this season could have started worse for Seattle fans is if they (A) got dominated by the Bills, (B) had to shoot up their QB's bad back before the game, (C) lost their "top" receiver, (D) a rich, Oklahoma City hillbilly stole their hoops team, and (E) their baseball team went from AL West favorite to bumbling doormat. Oh, wait. All that stuff happened. Hasselbeck has little trade value right now, but if you have a decent backup, or can take a flier on one of the QBs Chris Wesseling suggests in Waiver Wired, unload Hass for a mid-level WR or RB. It's gonna get a lot worse in Seattle.

Marques Colston: Torn thumb ligament. Out 4-6 weeks. 'Nuff said. Guy to watch as a possible riser this situation (besides Jeremy Shockey and Bush, of course), is Robert Meacham. Fantasy Nation was put off by his inactive status last week, but it was only because he doesn't play special teams. Now? Patten slides into the #1 role and Meacham likely starts getting some snaps alongside Devery Henderson and Lance Moore. And Meacham is the most talented. This bears watching?.

Joseph Addai: [URL="http://fantasyfootball.usatoday.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=NFL&id=1663"]Steven Jackson[/URL] owners might disagree, but Addai has "biggest bust of 2008" potential?and that's not even one-week panic talking. The loss of Jeff Saturday, the quasi-rustiness of Peyton Manning, the injury to Dallas Clark, and Addai's concussion, and Indy's tough schedule all add up to some potential rough times ahead. Can't trade him yet, but monitor closely. www.indianapoliscolts.ws

 

[Hache Man]

Re: Fantasy Football News 2008

Re: Fantasy Football News 2008

Thumb Down for Colston
My first "live chat" of the season went very well last week?aside from the people complaining that Seinfeld references and Gregg Rosenthal jokes out-numbered "sit or start?" questions?so we're making it a regular Thursday afternoon thing. Today's chat begins at 3:00 p.m. EST, so start thinking about potential excuses for skipping work/class/life and join me by clicking here.

While the Rotoworld bosses ponder my offer to quit writing columns and focus exclusively on a live-chatting reality show that runs 24/7?think Big Brother, but without all the excitement?here are some notes from around football ?

* New Orleans' passing attack looked fantastic in Week 1, with Jeremy Shockey joining Marques Colston and Reggie Bush to give Drew Brees a trio of explosive targets. Unfortunately, Colston suffered a torn thumb ligament in the opener and underwent surgery Wednesday, knocking him out for 4-6 weeks. He caught more passes through his first two seasons than anyone in NFL history, so it's a huge loss.

However, considering that the Saints threw 10 percent more than any other team last year there's zero doubt that coach Sean Payton will continue to have Brees chuck it early and often. He should be able to maintain upper-level QB1 status with or without Colston, although his stats will certainly take a hit. While Devery Henderson will be a popular pickup, David Patten figures to gain more targets.

* Coach Tony Sparano said earlier this week that the carry split between Ronnie Brown and [URL="http://fantasyfootball.usatoday.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=NFL&id=1312"]Ricky Williams[/URL] would remain "kind of even" going forward, but Brown worked ahead of Williams at practice Wednesday after taking a relative backseat in Week 1. For now they'll likely continue splitting work, but the situation is worth watching given that Brown's ceiling as a featured back is higher. www.miamidolphins.ws

* Third-round rookie Steve Slaton basically split snaps in his debut, but will get a full workload in Week 2 now that Ahman Green has been ruled out with an ankle injury. Slaton is a good bet for 20-plus touches after 13 carries and three grabs in Week 1, but a very tough matchup against the Ravens will make it difficult to post decent numbers. He's a nice FLEX option, but that's about it for now.

* Despite playing through a sprained ankle in the season opener, Jeff Garcia has been ruled out for Week 2 and the Bucs will turn to Brian Griese in his place as the local media starts fanning the quarterback controversy flame. While it seems unlikely that Garcia has lost his job, it wouldn't be shocking if he was on thin ice and Griese has an excellent matchup against the Falcons. He's a low-end QB2. www.tampabaybuccaneers.ws

* Dallas Clark left Sunday night's game in the second quarter with a knee injury and the Indianapolis Star reports that he's unlikely to play in Week 2 after sitting out Wednesday's practice. While officially a tight end, Clark often lines up at slot receiver for the Colts and is a huge factor near the goal line, so his absence is a big one. If Clark sits versus Minnesota, Anthony Gonzalez will get a nice boost.

* Damon Huard is back to starting for the Chiefs after Brodie Croyle's separated shoulder, but coach Herm Edwards said Wednesday that Tyler Thigpen will also see action. It's unclear if he's planning a true two-QB system, but Huard's job is obviously far from secure and the Chiefs appear see lots of potential in Thigpen after claiming the seventh-round pick off waivers from the Vikings last season.

Two-Minute Drill: Offensive coordinator Al Saunders explained Torry Holt's paltry two Week 1 targets by saying that the Eagles "doubled him quite a bit" ? Devin Hester played just 21 of 61 offensive snaps in Week 1, which is a workload that'll make it very tough for him to be a fantasy asset ? Asked why second-round rookie Limas Sweed was a healthy scratch in Week 1, coach Mike Tomlin said: "We're trying to win games, Dallas Baker is better right now" ? Chris Baker and the Jets agreed Wednesday to a three-year extension that includes $12.2 million in new money ? Cut loose by the Seahawks, preseason standout Justin Forsett was claimed off waivers by the Colts ? David Anderson officially moved past Andre' Davis on the depth chart and is the Texans' slot receiver ? According to coach Ken Whisenhunt, rookie cornerback Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie seeing action at wide receiver is "a definite possibility" ? Further weakening an already suspect run defense, the Colts quickly released starting defensive tackle Ed Johnson following his Wednesday morning arrest for marijuana possession.

Red Zone: LaDainian Tomlinson missed practice Wednesday, saying that resting his injured toe was "probably the smartest thing to do" ? Coach Mike Holmgren said Wednesday that Bobby Engram (shoulder) and Deion Branch (knee) aren't expected back before Week 5, making life difficult for Matt Hasselbeck ? Willis McGahee (knee) was limited in practice Wednesday, but the Ravens have hinted that he's likely to suit up in Week 2 ? Despite leaving Monday night's game with a neck stinger, Darren McFadden is not on the Week 2 injury report ? According to coach Mike Tomlin, there's "little doubt" Ben Roethlisberger (shoulder, knee) will play this week ? Javon Walker (hamstring) looks ready to make his Raiders debut after putting in a full practice Wednesday ? Chris Cooley (quadriceps) sat out practice Wednesday for the first time in his five-season career, but indicated that he's in no danger of missing Week 2 ? Ben Watson (knee) looks unlikely to play this week after sitting out Wednesday's practice ?Jerry Porter (hamstring) practiced fully Wednesday and could make his Jaguars debut this week ? [URL="http://fantasyfootball.usatoday.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=NFL&id=3147"]Alex Smith[/URL]'s season and 49ers career are both likely over due to a fractured shoulder.

 

[Hache Man]

Re: Fantasy Football News 2008

Re: Fantasy Football News 2008

Week 2 Rankings

As FootballOutsiders points out, it's National Jump to Conclusions week. The Bengals offense is dead, Michael Turner is the messiah, and Marc Bulger has forever morphed into the late career Drew Bledsoe.

The question every owner must answer: How much truly changes in a week?

I was in a draft that took place Wednesday night that opened my eyes to how quickly perceptions can change. (Our annual NBC league was delayed as people got back from the Olympics, so we were forced to start late). Within today's ranking notes, I'll mention some of the draft results to highlight what players legitimately saw their value change in Week 1 (Selvin Young, Philip Rivers) and which performances were a mirage. Fantasy owners love action and transactions, but don't forget that staying the course is often our best move.

For projections of all the rankings below, head to Season Pass. I'll also be chatting there with subscribers on Friday afternoon.

[SIZE=+1]Week 2 Quarterbacks[/SIZE]

<TABLE width="100%"><TBODY><TR class=TableTopRed><TD>Rank</TD><TD>Player Name</TD><TD>Opponent</TD><TD>Notes</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>1</TD><TD>Tony Romo</TD><TD>vs. PHI</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>2</TD><TD>Donovan McNabb</TD><TD>at DAL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>3</TD><TD>Peyton Manning</TD><TD>at MIN</TD><TD>Give him a mulligan</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>4</TD><TD>Ben Roethlisberger</TD><TD>at CLE</TD><TD>Keep an eye on practice</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>5</TD><TD>Drew Brees</TD><TD>at WAS</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>6</TD><TD>Jay Cutler</TD><TD>vs. SD</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>7</TD><TD>Kurt Warner</TD><TD>vs. MIA</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>8</TD><TD>Eli Manning</TD><TD>at STL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>9</TD><TD>Aaron Rodgers</TD><TD>at DET</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>10</TD><TD>Carson Palmer</TD><TD>vs. TEN</TD><TD>It has to get better ? right?</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>11</TD><TD>Derek Anderson</TD><TD>vs. PIT</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>12</TD><TD>David Garrard</TD><TD>vs. BUF</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>13</TD><TD>Brett Favre</TD><TD>vs. NE</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>14</TD><TD>Philip Rivers</TD><TD>at DEN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>15</TD><TD>Matt Schaub</TD><TD>vs. BAL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>16</TD><TD>Brian Griese</TD><TD>vs. ATL</TD><TD>Decent emergency fill-in</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>17</TD><TD>Matt Hasselbeck</TD><TD>vs. SF</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>18</TD><TD>Jon Kitna</TD><TD>vs. GB</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>19</TD><TD>Jake Delhomme</TD><TD>vs. CHI</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>20</TD><TD>Matt Cassel</TD><TD>at NYJ</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>21</TD><TD>Marc Bulger</TD><TD>vs. NYG</TD><TD>How the mighty have fallen</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>22</TD><TD>Jason Campbell</TD><TD>vs. NO</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>23</TD><TD>J.T. O'Sullivan</TD><TD>at SEA</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>24</TD><TD>Tarvaris Jackson</TD><TD>vs. IND</TD><TD></TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>25</TD><TD>Chad Pennington</TD><TD>at ARZ</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>26</TD><TD>Trent Edwards</TD><TD>at JAC</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>27</TD><TD>Kerry Collins</TD><TD>at CIN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>28</TD><TD>Damon Huard</TD><TD>vs. OAK</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>29</TD><TD>Kyle Orton</TD><TD>at CAR</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>30</TD><TD>JaMarcus Russell</TD><TD>at KC</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>31</TD><TD>Matt Ryan</TD><TD>at TB</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>32</TD><TD>Joe Flacco</TD><TD>at HOU</TD><TD>- </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

QB Notes: Let's start with Bulger, who quarterbacked an incomparably terrible Rams offense Sunday. The play that summed up the effort for me on tape, other than the six false starts, was on a first half play in which the Rams max protected Bulger. Three Eagles landed on top of him anyway. With Torry Holt double teamed, the Rams wideouts just didn't create any separation. In the draft last night, Bulger went 171st! This was after Trent Edwards and Matt Ryan. After all the good times Bulger has given fantasy owners, I felt guilty, like I should call him to apologize. Bulger is not that bad and he should have gone way before the young guys. You can't play him this week against a strong Giants defensive line, but he's still a top-20 quarterback. ? I was confident Donovan McNabb was a top-seven quarterback all along, but it was nice to see his young receivers perform so well. The second year after ACL surgery is a beautiful thing. ? Ben Roethlisberger should play this week and he's got a great matchup. With Sean Jones out for Cleveland, the Browns are going to struggle preventing big plays.

Jay Cutler went with the 47th pick in our draft, a leap that was understandable. With Tom Brady out for the season, my top two tiers of quarterbacks are down to six and there is a huge drop-off after Cutler. Some of the QB options after the drop (Vince Young, Matt Hasselbeck, David Garrard) have legitimate concerns, making this top six more valuable. ? Garrard fell to the 114th pick, which was too far. All the offensive line injuries will hurt the Jaguars, but they are strong enough to stay solid. I expect all the injuries to effect the running game more.

One player whose season-long value did change in Week 1 was Philip Rivers. I didn't expect him to look so strong coming off ACL surgery. It wasn't just his numbers, but his amazing movement and confidence in the pocket. The pass rush didn't bother him. In fact, he avoided many hits and threw on the run. He still must prove he can be consistent (a problem in the past), but I'm far less concerned about his post-surgery accuracy. He was far more comfortable than Carson Palmer, Daunte Culpepper, or Donovan McNabb after their surgery.

Matt Hasselbeck's value is legitimately lower than it was a week ago. Until the team has Bobby Engram and Deion Branch back, he'll do well to be a solid QB2. He's a matchup play.
Some players I wouldn't jump to conclusions on:

Carson Palmer: The Ravens will make a lot of quarterbacks look terrible Unfortunately, so will the Titans.

Jake Delhomme: It was very surprising to see the Panthers go so pass-wacky. But Delhomme was still erratic for much of the game.

Derek Anderson: The concern here is that the Browns defense will keep losing games, and Brady Quinn chants will start. But D.A. will bounce back because of the weapons around him.

Matt Schaub: Like Carson Palmer, he faces a brutal early start. But he's still a long-term QB1/2. 25-of-33 for 202 yards, one touchdown, and two interceptions are the stats you want when a quarterback struggles.
<!--RW-->
[SIZE=+1]Week 2 Running Backs[/SIZE]

<TABLE width="100%"><TBODY><TR class=TableTopRed><TD>Rank</TD><TD>Player Name</TD><TD>Opponent</TD><TD>Notes</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>1</TD><TD>LaDainian Tomlinson</TD><TD>at DEN</TD><TD>Fully expected to start</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>2</TD><TD>[URL="http://fantasyfootball.usatoday.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=NFL&id=4169"]Adrian Peterson[/URL]</TD><TD>vs. IND</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>3</TD><TD>Brian Westbrook</TD><TD>at DAL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>4</TD><TD>Frank Gore</TD><TD>at SEA</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>5</TD><TD>[URL="http://fantasyfootball.usatoday.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=NFL&id=1663"]Steven Jackson[/URL]</TD><TD>vs. NYG</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>6</TD><TD>Marshawn Lynch</TD><TD>at JAC</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>7</TD><TD>Marion Barber</TD><TD>vs. PHI</TD><TD>Probable(ribs)</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>8</TD><TD>Brandon Jacobs</TD><TD>at STL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>9</TD><TD>Ryan Grant</TD><TD>at DET</TD><TD>Lions incompetence > hamstring injury</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>10</TD><TD>Joseph Addai</TD><TD>at MIN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>11</TD><TD>Clinton Portis</TD><TD>vs. NO</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>12</TD><TD>Willie Parker</TD><TD>at CLE</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>13</TD><TD>Larry Johnson</TD><TD>vs. OAK</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>14</TD><TD>Reggie Bush</TD><TD>at WAS</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>15</TD><TD>Michael Turner</TD><TD>at TB</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>16</TD><TD>Matt Forte</TD><TD>at CAR</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>17</TD><TD>Thomas Jones</TD><TD>vs. NE</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>18</TD><TD>Jamal Lewis</TD><TD>vs. PIT</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>19</TD><TD>Earnest Graham</TD><TD>vs. ATL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>20</TD><TD>[URL="http://fantasyfootball.usatoday.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=NFL&id=4743"]Chris Johnson[/URL]</TD><TD>at CIN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>21</TD><TD>Maurice Jones-Drew</TD><TD>vs. BUF</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>22</TD><TD>Selvin Young</TD><TD>vs. SD</TD><TD>Don't give up ? yet</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>23</TD><TD>Laurence Maroney</TD><TD>at NYJ</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>24</TD><TD>DeAngelo Williams</TD><TD>vs. CHI</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>25</TD><TD>Edgerrin James</TD><TD>vs. MIA</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>26</TD><TD>Darren McFadden</TD><TD>at KC</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>27</TD><TD>Willis McGahee</TD><TD>at HOU</TD><TD>Role uncertain</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>28</TD><TD>LenDale White</TD><TD>at CIN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>29</TD><TD>Chris Perry</TD><TD>vs. TEN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>30</TD><TD>Justin Fargas</TD><TD>at KC</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>31</TD><TD>Ronnie Brown</TD><TD>at ARZ</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>32</TD><TD>Steve Slaton</TD><TD>vs. BAL</TD><TD>Expected to start</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>33</TD><TD>Jonathan Stewart</TD><TD>vs. CHI</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>34</TD><TD>Julius Jones</TD><TD>vs. SF</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>35</TD><TD>[URL="http://fantasyfootball.usatoday.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=NFL&id=1312"]Ricky Williams[/URL]</TD><TD>at ARZ</TD><TD>Coming off bench?</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>36</TD><TD>Kevin Smith</TD><TD>vs. GB</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>37</TD><TD>Fred Taylor</TD><TD>vs. BUF</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>38</TD><TD>Ray Rice</TD><TD>at HOU</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>39</TD><TD>Pierre Thomas</TD><TD>at WAS</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>40</TD><TD>Felix Jones</TD><TD>vs. PHI</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>41</TD><TD>Jerious Norwood</TD><TD>at TB</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>42</TD><TD>Andre Hall</TD><TD>vs. SD</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>43</TD><TD>Sammy Morris</TD><TD>at NYJ</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>44</TD><TD>Chester Taylor</TD><TD>vs. IND</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>45</TD><TD>Warrick Dunn</TD><TD>vs. ATL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>46</TD><TD>Brandon Jackson</TD><TD>at DET</TD><TD>Keep eye on concussion</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>47</TD><TD>Rashard Mendenhall</TD><TD>at CLE</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>48</TD><TD>Chris Taylor</TD><TD>vs. BAL</TD><TD>Should backup Slaton </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>49</TD><TD>Tim Hightower</TD><TD>vs. MIA</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>50</TD><TD>Kenny Watson</TD><TD>vs. TEN</TD><TD></TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>51</TD><TD>Fred Jackson</TD><TD>at JAC</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>52</TD><TD>Kevin Jones</TD><TD>at CAR</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>53</TD><TD>Jamaal Charles</TD><TD>vs. OAK</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>54</TD><TD>Rudi Johnson</TD><TD>vs. GB</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>55</TD><TD>Leon Washington</TD><TD>vs. NE</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>56</TD><TD>Ahmad Bradshaw</TD><TD>at STL</TD><TD></TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>57</TD><TD>Ladell Betts</TD><TD>vs. NO</TD><TD>- </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

RB Notes: Willie Parker was undervalued by fantasy writers and owners alike because we expected Rashard Mendenhall to develop faster. 7 of Mendenhall's ten carries came in the final 18 minutes against Houston when the game was out of reach. The question remains how undervalued was Parker? He certainly wasn't worth the tenth overall pick in our draft last night. I'd argue he still wasn't worth a top-30 pick. Willie Parker will not score 48 touchdowns this year and his lack of receiving skills remains a problem. He could be a good sell high candidate after this week. But Parker's early success around the stripe will get him more chances, making him a legitimate mid-level RB2 who has emerged from the third and fourth round running back morass of a few weeks back.

Michael Turner's huge week looks like a bigger mirage. The Lions will make a lot of running backs look like Hall of Famers, and defenses will quickly catch up to Matt Ryan. After one week, we still consider Turner a solid RB2. If you can get better value than that for him, go right ahead and deal. (Turner went 17th overall and 15th at running back in our draft. More receivers should have gone before him.) www.atlantafalcons.ws

Sammy Morris is another player who rocketed up our office draft after a strong Week 1, going 64th overall, ahead of backs like Jonathan Stewart, Steve Slaton, Chris Perry, LenDale White, and DeAngelo Williams. This was too far a leap. Morris is a nice pickup, but the Patriots backfield will be split three-ways and Morris' touches will remain inconsistent. He's a flex option that will mostly be useful when bye weeks hit. I expected Laurence Maroney to take a bigger hit in our draft, but he still went early. I've been carping all off-season that the Patriots will try to keep Maroney fresh with relatively little work early in the season. That remains likely, despite Tom Brady's injury. I've heard the argument that Brady's injury helps Maroney because the team will run more, but I don't buy it. It will be harder to run and the team will score less. ? Jamal Lewis eased some concerns for Browns fans and fantasy owners against the Cowboys despite average numbers. He ran hard and looked healthy.

Selvin Young's value legitimately changed in Week 1. I'm not ready to give up on him as a RB2 option, but he's not a plug-and-play guy after watching Michael Pittman and Andre Hall have such big roles in Week 1. The mid-season return of Ryan Torain looms too. Just don't assume the Denver rotation will remain consistent. Young will get the chance to start again, and he could very well get 20 carries and enjoys a big day against the Chargers. The leader of an effective Denver rotation has plenty of value. Perhaps just not as much as we thought a week ago.

Don't jump to conclusions on:

Jonathan Stewart: He fell to the 68th pick in our draft, which is a nice value. While he didn't get the goal-line carries in Week 1, he looked great when he was on the field. He's still a great long-term RB3. www.carlolinapanthers.ws

Matt Forte: I love the kid and he'll be a great RB2. But he still plays for the Bears and should not have gone with the 18th overall pick in our draft last night.

Joseph Addai: Still a safe bet for 12 scores. Of course. He's only ranked so low this week because of the matchup and concern the Colts will play it safe with him after a head injury. www.indianapoliscolts.ws

Chris Perry: He was a matchup-type play going into the season, and he remains so. He just happens to have started with two brutal matchups.

Reggie Bush: Seeing Bush truly step up would make me very happy. But he's had excellent games before. Let's see it for a month.

Their draft value should change after Week 1:

I never put [URL="http://fantasyfootball.usatoday.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=NFL&id=1312"]Ricky Williams[/URL] higher than Ronnie Brown, but his value is limited if he's already being passed on the depth chart. www.miamidolphins.ws

The Titans aren't waiting to get [URL="http://fantasyfootball.usatoday.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=NFL&id=4743"]Chris Johnson[/URL] more touches than LenDale White. If the split is 60-40 in favor of Johnson already, he's a RB2.

[SIZE=+1]Week 2 Wide Receivers[/SIZE]

<TABLE width="100%"><TBODY><TR class=TableTopRed><TD>Rank</TD><TD>Player Name</TD><TD>Opponent</TD><TD>Notes</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>1</TD><TD>Terrell Owens</TD><TD>vs. PHI</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>2</TD><TD>Larry Fitzgerald</TD><TD>vs. MIA</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>3</TD><TD>Randy Moss</TD><TD>at NYJ</TD><TD>Keep eye on back injury</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>4</TD><TD>Andre Johnson</TD><TD>vs. BAL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>5</TD><TD>Reggie Wayne</TD><TD>at MIN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>6</TD><TD>Brandon Marshall</TD><TD>vs. SD</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>7</TD><TD>Braylon Edwards</TD><TD>vs. PIT</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>8</TD><TD>Plaxico Burress</TD><TD>at STL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>9</TD><TD>Santonio Holmes</TD><TD>at CLE</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>10</TD><TD>Anquan Boldin</TD><TD>vs. MIA</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>11</TD><TD>Jerricho Cotchery</TD><TD>vs. NE</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>12</TD><TD>T.J. Houshmandzadeh</TD><TD>vs. TEN</TD><TD></TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>13</TD><TD>Chad Ocho Cinco</TD><TD>vs. TEN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>14</TD><TD>Marvin Harrison</TD><TD>at MIN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>15</TD><TD>Torry Holt</TD><TD>vs. NYG</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>16</TD><TD>Greg Jennings</TD><TD>at DET</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>17</TD><TD>Calvin Johnson</TD><TD>vs. GB</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>18</TD><TD>[URL="http://fantasyfootball.usatoday.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=NFL&id=35"]Roy Williams[/URL]</TD><TD>vs. GB</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>19</TD><TD>Lee Evans</TD><TD>at JAC</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>20</TD><TD>Wes Welker</TD><TD>at NYJ</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>21</TD><TD>Joey Galloway</TD><TD>vs. ATL</TD><TD></TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>22</TD><TD>Dwayne Bowe</TD><TD>vs. OAK</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>23</TD><TD>Donald Driver</TD><TD>at DET</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>24</TD><TD>Hines Ward</TD><TD>at CLE</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>25</TD><TD>Patrick Crayton</TD><TD>vs. PHI</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>26</TD><TD>Santana Moss</TD><TD>vs. NO</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>27</TD><TD>Laveranues Coles</TD><TD>vs. NE</TD><TD></TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>28</TD><TD>Roddy White</TD><TD>at TB</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>29</TD><TD>Chris Chambers</TD><TD>at DEN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>30</TD><TD>Antonio Bryant</TD><TD>vs. ATL</TD><TD></TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>31</TD><TD>Anthony Gonzalez</TD><TD>at MIN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>32</TD><TD>D.J. Hackett</TD><TD>vs. CHI</TD><TD></TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>33</TD><TD>Eddie Royal</TD><TD>vs. SD</TD><TD>Can he repeat?</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>34</TD><TD>DeSean Jackson</TD><TD>at DAL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>35</TD><TD>Vincent Jackson</TD><TD>at DEN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>36</TD><TD>Ronald Curry</TD><TD>at KC</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>37</TD><TD>Bernard Berrian</TD><TD>vs. IND</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>38</TD><TD>Sidney Rice</TD><TD>vs. IND</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>39</TD><TD>Donte' Stallworth</TD><TD>vs. PIT</TD><TD>Questionable(quadriceps)</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>40</TD><TD>Jerry Porter</TD><TD>vs. BUF</TD><TD>Questionable(hamstring)</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>41</TD><TD>Amani Toomer</TD><TD>at STL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>42</TD><TD>Courtney Taylor</TD><TD>vs. SF</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>43</TD><TD>Bryant Johnson</TD><TD>at SEA</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>44</TD><TD>Matt Jones</TD><TD>vs. BUF</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>45</TD><TD>Kevin Walter</TD><TD>vs. BAL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>46</TD><TD>Derrick Mason</TD><TD>at HOU</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>47</TD><TD>David Patten</TD><TD>at WAS</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>48</TD><TD>Mark Clayton</TD><TD>at HOU</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>49</TD><TD>Isaac Bruce</TD><TD>at SEA</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>50</TD><TD>Hank Baskett</TD><TD>at DAL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>51</TD><TD>Antwaan Randle El</TD><TD>vs. NO</TD><TD></TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>52</TD><TD>Muhsin Muhammad</TD><TD>vs. CHI</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>53</TD><TD>Ted Ginn Jr.</TD><TD>at ARZ</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>54</TD><TD>Javon Walker</TD><TD>at KC</TD><TD>Expected to play ? for now</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>55</TD><TD>Arnaz Battle</TD><TD>at SEA</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>56</TD><TD>Logan Payne</TD><TD>vs. SF</TD><TD>- </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

WR Notes: Tom Brady's injury had a huge effect on the top of our draft at receiver. Terrell Owens was the first receiver drafted, and Randy Moss went second at No. 23. That sounds about right. Moss would still be in my top-five wideouts, possibly top-three, but the gap between him and the others has been erased. ? Andre Johnson quietly got off to a good start in Week 1 and could fill the Moss gap at the top of the year-end receiver rankings. ? Torry Holt went fortieth in our draft, which includes a lot of Eagles fans that watched Holt get only one target in Week 1. On one hand, I know not to overreact to the opener. The Rams will pass, and someone has to get the numbers. On the other hand, I choose Holt as one of the most likely veteran players to fall off a cliff in a segment for NBCSports.com. He must prove he has the speed to create separation, especially if he's going to be double-teamed often. He'll get his numbers eventually and be better in fantasy than reality, but they need to start forcing the ball to him.

DeSean Jackson and Eddie Royal were two of the toughest players to rank this week. The instinct is to call their games flukes ? but 100-yard games in rookie debuts just don't happen. Only one other player in the last 13 seasons have topped 100 yards: Anquan Boldin. (He topped 200). The top eleven debuts for wideouts over that span is littered with stars: Randy Moss, Larry Fitzgerald, Marvin Harrison, Plaxico Burress, Andre Johnson, and Deion Branch. The only name that sticks out is Tulane alum JaJuan Dawson, who had a career-defining injury the following week. Jackson and Royal are here to stay as fantasy factors. They play in excellent systems and with Pro Bowl caliber quarterbacks. Royal runs routes like a veteran. Jackson caught some deep passes in traffic. Both are undersized, and thus not ready to be true number one guys. But they can be quality WR3 options who help teams all season. Royal went ninetieth and Jackson at No. 105, by an Eagles fan. But that's a spot after 30 wideouts are off the board, and the placement passed my smell test.

Ted Ginn needs to earn the right to be put in any fantasy roster. Ranking him at all here is kind. ? Courtney Taylor and Logan Payne have a great opportunity over the next three weeks, but they must prove they can capitalize before inserting them into lineups. At least Taylor got nine targets. ? Two players getting a shocking amount of targets were Muhsin Muhammad and D.J. Hackett. Moose struggled badly despite getting so much attention. Jake Delhomme forced balls to him. Hackett looked like the best wideout on the team, but that isn't saying much. He's a reasonable WR3 play this week. ? Anthony Gonzalez is a much better play this week if Dallas Clark is out.

Don't jump to conclusions on:

Chad Johnson, T.J. Houshmandzadeh, and Braylon Edwards: Top tier wideouts in their prime may have off games, but they rarely have off seasons.

Wes Welker: Matt Cassel won't help, of course, but that doesn't mean he goes back to his Dolphins numbers.

Laveranues Coles: Something tells me the Jets will force the ball to him this week to keep him happy.

Matt Jones: It remains to be seen what his role will be when Jerry Porter is at full strength.
<!--RW-->
[SIZE=+1]Week 2 Tight Ends[/SIZE]

<TABLE width="100%"><TBODY><TR class=TableTopRed><TD>Rank</TD><TD>Player Name</TD><TD>Opponent</TD><TD>Notes</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>1</TD><TD>Jason Witten</TD><TD>vs. PHI</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>2</TD><TD>Kellen Winslow</TD><TD>vs. PIT</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>3</TD><TD>Antonio Gates</TD><TD>at DEN</TD><TD></TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>4</TD><TD>Tony Gonzalez</TD><TD>vs. OAK</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>5</TD><TD>Jeremy Shockey</TD><TD>at WAS</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>6</TD><TD>Chris Cooley</TD><TD>vs. NO</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>7</TD><TD>Vernon Davis</TD><TD>at SEA</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>8</TD><TD>Dallas Clark</TD><TD>at MIN</TD><TD>Questionable(knee)</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>9</TD><TD>Owen Daniels</TD><TD>vs. BAL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>10</TD><TD>Todd Heap</TD><TD>at HOU</TD><TD></TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>11</TD><TD>Tony Scheffler</TD><TD>vs. SD</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>12</TD><TD>Heath Miller</TD><TD>at CLE</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>13</TD><TD>L.J. Smith</TD><TD>at DAL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>14</TD><TD>Zach Miller</TD><TD>at KC</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>15</TD><TD>Greg Olsen</TD><TD>at CAR</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>16</TD><TD>Randy McMichael</TD><TD>vs. NYG</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>17</TD><TD>Dante Rosario</TD><TD>vs. CHI</TD><TD>Keep eye on foot injury</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>18</TD><TD>Alge Crumpler</TD><TD>at CIN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>19</TD><TD>Ben Utecht</TD><TD>vs. TEN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>20</TD><TD>Marcedes Lewis</TD><TD>vs. BUF</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>21</TD><TD>Anthony Fasano</TD><TD>at ARZ</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>22</TD><TD>Donald Lee</TD><TD>at DET</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>23</TD><TD>John Carlson</TD><TD>vs. SF</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>24</TD><TD>Desmond Clark</TD><TD>at CAR</TD><TD>Probable(knee)</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>25</TD><TD>Bo Scaife</TD><TD>at CIN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>26</TD><TD>Kevin Boss</TD><TD>at STL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>


TE Notes: Tight ends fell in our draft, with my team kicking off a run by taking Jason Witten with the No. 52 pick. Two rounds later, Anthony Fasano was off the board. Now that's a one week jump! That insane pick aside, Fasano would be worth drafting if in any league today ? as a TE2. L.J. Smith also moved up after getting a lot of targets this week. The "problem" at tight end is that it's too easy to fill your starting spot. Quality options like Fasano and Alge Crumpler don't sniff the top-15. The difference between the sixth-ranked tight end this week (Cooley) and the No. 21 option (Fasano) is relatively small. Dante Rosario and Fasano both lined up in the slot quite a bit. That surprised me with Fasano, who isn't exactly fleet of foot, but he knows how to find soft spots in coverage. ? While plenty of tight ends have seen short-term boosts, I don't see any major tight end starter who has seen his value decline. Todd Heap couldn't stay healthy for a game, but he's already practicing again. Tony Scheffler came off the bench, but he uncorked a 77-yard play and had a target in the end zone. Dallas Clark is hurt again, but I never had him in the top ten to begin with. Injuries are part of his package. The position is stronger at the top and deeper than ever before.
[SIZE=+1]Week 2 Kickers[/SIZE]

<TABLE width="100%"><TBODY><TR class=TableTopRed><TD>Rank</TD><TD>Player Name</TD><TD>Opponent</TD><TD>Notes</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>1</TD><TD>Nick Folk</TD><TD>vs. PHI</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>2</TD><TD>Mason Crosby</TD><TD>at DET</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>3</TD><TD>Stephen Gostkowski</TD><TD>at NYJ</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>4</TD><TD>Josh Scobee</TD><TD>vs. BUF</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>5</TD><TD>Nate Kaeding</TD><TD>at DEN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>6</TD><TD>Rob Bironas</TD><TD>at CIN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>7</TD><TD>Ryan Longwell</TD><TD>vs. IND</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>8</TD><TD>Shayne Graham</TD><TD>vs. TEN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>9</TD><TD>Josh Brown</TD><TD>vs. NYG</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>10</TD><TD>Adam Vinatieri</TD><TD>at MIN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>11</TD><TD>Neil Rackers</TD><TD>vs. MIA</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>12</TD><TD>Robbie Gould</TD><TD>at CAR</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>13</TD><TD>Jeff Reed</TD><TD>at CLE</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>14</TD><TD>David Akers</TD><TD>at DAL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>15</TD><TD>Matt Bryant</TD><TD>vs. ATL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>16</TD><TD>Phil Dawson</TD><TD>vs. PIT</TD><TD>Probable(-)</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>17</TD><TD>Matt Stover</TD><TD>at HOU</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>18</TD><TD>Martin Gramatica</TD><TD>at WAS</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>19</TD><TD>John Kasay</TD><TD>vs. CHI</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>20</TD><TD>Olindo Mare</TD><TD>vs. SF</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>21</TD><TD>Joe Nedney</TD><TD>at SEA</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>22</TD><TD>Kris Brown</TD><TD>vs. BAL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>23</TD><TD>Jason Hanson</TD><TD>vs. GB</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>24</TD><TD>Jason Elam</TD><TD>at TB</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>25</TD><TD>Rian Lindell</TD><TD>at JAC</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>26</TD><TD>Matt Prater</TD><TD>vs. SD</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>27</TD><TD>Sebastian Janikowski</TD><TD>at KC</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>28</TD><TD>Jay Feely</TD><TD>vs. NE</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>29</TD><TD>John Carney</TD><TD>at STL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>30</TD><TD>Shaun Suisham</TD><TD>vs. NO</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>31</TD><TD>Dan Carpenter</TD><TD>at ARZ</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>32</TD><TD>Nick Novak</TD><TD>vs. OAK</TD><TD>- </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

[SIZE=+1]Week 2 Team Defense[/SIZE]



<TABLE width="100%"><TBODY><TR class=TableTopRed><TD>Rank</TD><TD>Player Name</TD><TD>Opponent</TD><TD>Notes</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>1</TD><TD>Bears Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>at CAR</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>2</TD><TD>Giants Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>at STL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>3</TD><TD>Patriots Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>at NYJ</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>4</TD><TD>Buccaneers Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>vs. ATL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>5</TD><TD>Colts Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>at MIN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>6</TD><TD>Seahawks Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>vs. SF</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>7</TD><TD>Packers Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>at DET</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>8</TD><TD>Titans Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>at CIN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>9</TD><TD>Chargers Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>at DEN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>10</TD><TD>Ravens Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>at HOU</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>11</TD><TD>Vikings Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>vs. IND</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>12</TD><TD>Texans Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>vs. BAL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>13</TD><TD>Cowboys Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>vs. PHI</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>14</TD><TD>Steelers Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>at CLE</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>15</TD><TD>Bills Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>at JAC</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>16</TD><TD>Chiefs Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>vs. OAK</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>17</TD><TD>Bengals Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>vs. TEN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>18</TD><TD>Cardinals Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>vs. MIA</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>19</TD><TD>Eagles Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>at DAL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>20</TD><TD>Jaguars Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>vs. BUF</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>21</TD><TD>Panthers Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>vs. CHI</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>22</TD><TD>Broncos Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>vs. SD</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>23</TD><TD>Raiders Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>at KC</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>24</TD><TD>Jets Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>vs. NE</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>25</TD><TD>Saints Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>at WAS</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>26</TD><TD>Fortyniners Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>at SEA</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>27</TD><TD>Redskins Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>vs. NO</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>28</TD><TD>Dolphins Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>at ARZ</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>29</TD><TD>Browns Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>vs. PIT</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>30</TD><TD>Falcons Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>at TB</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>31</TD><TD>Lions Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>vs. GB</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>32</TD><TD>Rams Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>vs. NYG</TD><TD>- </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

 

[Hache Man]

Re: Fantasy Football News 2008

Re: Fantasy Football News 2008

Toe Tripping Tomlinson
My weekly Thursday live chat drew 5,195 questions from 2,067 people yesterday afternoon and even setting aside the 1,195 or so times someone submitted "why aren't you answering my question?!" as a question, tackling all the other 4,000 or so queries is beyond my ability as a human. For people who hung out in the chat and were disappointed not to have their questions answered, you're in luck!

Gregg Rosenthal is hosting a much more exclusive, intimate live chat for Season Pass subscribers this afternoon. He'll answer a much higher percentage of the questions submitted and probably won't waste as much time making jokes about Gregg Rosenthal, so check it out. Also, for those of you who had a "sit or start?" question ignored by me, as usual Goal Line Stand has all the answers.

While we learn that Tony Romo is far nicer than he probably has any right to be at this point, here are some notes from around football ?

* Vince Young spoke to the media Thursday and responded to reports about his mental state, saying that he was "never depressed" and remains committed to football. "Football, this is my life," Young said. "It's a blessing to play the game I love, and I'm having a good time playing it. Young said that he "didn't know how to handle" being booed for the first time, but wants everyone "to know I'm fine."

Even setting aside Young's potentially serious off-field issues for a moment, he's going to miss at least a few weeks with a sprained knee. Kerry Collins will start in his place and there's plenty of speculation that Young won't be guaranteed the job once healthy again, although that seems far-fetched assuming that his knee and mind are both right. Collins figures to be a low-end QB2 in the meantime.

* With Deion Branch, Bobby Engram, and Nate Burleson all sidelined by injuries, fantasy nation has been trying to figure out which receivers will step up for the Seahawks. Courtney Taylor and Logan Payne will likely see the most action this week, with backup quarterback Seneca Wallace also in the mix, but rookie tight end John Carlson may benefit most from the banged-up receiving corps.

A second-round pick out of Notre Dame, Carlson quickly moved past Will Heller and Jeb Putzier on the depth chart and hauled in every ball thrown his way in the season opener, totaling 52 yards on four grabs. A solid all-around tight end with reliable hands, Carlson should get at least 6-8 targets this week and is capable of emerging as a low-end TE1 option until Engram and Branch get healthy.

* Coach Mike McCarthy indicated Thursday that Ryan Grant will be a game-time decision this week because of a hamstring injury, but Grant said: "I don't see it as a question." Normally it'd be smart to plan for life without a banged-up runner, but Grant's matchup against the Lions is so juicy that he could easily put up RB1 numbers on just 15 touches. Double-check his status before setting your lineup.

* LaDainian Tomlinson tried to brush off concerns about his toe injury earlier this week, but it's definitely a major issue now that he's missed two straight practices. Adam Schefter of NFL Network reports that Tomlinson is legitimately in danger of missing Week 2, which makes grabbing backup Darren Sproles an even better idea than usual for his owners. Check back on his injury report status Friday. www.sandiegochargers.ws

Two-Minute Drill: After hauling in just one Brett Favre www.newyorkjets.ws pass in the season opener, Laveranues Coles said Thursday that he doesn't yet "have a feel for him" going into a Week 2 matchup versus the Patriots ? Offensive coordinator Al Saunders blamed himself Thursday for abandoning the running game when the Rams fell behind in Week 1, but with another potential blowout on the horizon against the Giants getting [URL="http://fantasyfootball.usatoday.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=NFL&id=1663"]Steven Jackson[/URL] consistent carries may be tough again ? Coach Tony Sparano said Thursday that Ted Ginn Jr. remains a starter, but added that the Dolphins "are still trying to find the right pieces to the puzzle" and "need to see some consistency come out of some of these guys" ? Meanwhile, Derek Hagan has been Miami's top receiver in practice this week ? With Ahman Green out, Chris Taylor will back up Steve Slaton in Week 2 while Darius Walker goes from practice squad to No. 3 running back ? According to coach Scott Linehan, newly signed Eddie Kennison will play "a role somewhat similar to what a No. 3 or No. 4 receiver would have" ? Sunday afternoon's Ravens-Texans game has been moved to Monday night because of Hurricane Ike.

Red Zone: Willis McGahee (knee) was limited in practice Thursday, once again making him at best a very risky RB2 option while giving backup Ray Rice decent RB3/FLEX value ? Marion Barber's ribs are no longer a big concern after he put in a full practice Thursday ? Donte' Stallworth (quadriceps) missed his second straight practice Thursday after injuring himself in pregame warm-ups last week and looks unlikely to play against the Steelers ? Reggie Brown (hamstring) was limited in practice Thursday and coach Andy Reid called him "questionable" for Monday night ? Dallas Clark (knee) sat out practice again Thursday, all but ruling him out for Week 2 ? Deuce McAllister (knee) practiced fully Thursday, but remains stuck behind Pierre Thomas on the depth chart ? A concussion looks likely to keep Albert Haynesworth from playing this week, which is a huge blow to the Titans' defense and a nice boost for Bengals skill players ? James Jones (knee) practiced fully Thursday and figures to resume his role as Green Bay's third receiver ? Jerry Porter's injured hamstring was healthy enough for him to put in a full practice Thursday, setting him for at least a part-time role.

 

[Hache Man]

Re: Fantasy Football News 2008

Re: Fantasy Football News 2008

Week 2 Rankings Update

These rankings were updated Friday evening

As FootballOutsiders points out, it's National Jump to Conclusions week. The Bengals offense is dead, Michael Turner is the messiah, and Marc Bulger has forever morphed into the late career Drew Bledsoe.

The question every owner must answer: How much truly changes in a week?

I was in a draft that took place Wednesday night that opened my eyes to how quickly perceptions can change. (Our annual NBC league was delayed as people got back from the Olympics, so we were forced to start late). Within today's ranking notes, I'll mention some of the draft results to highlight what players legitimately saw their value change in Week 1 (Selvin Young, Philip Rivers) and which performances were a mirage. Fantasy owners love action and transactions, but don't forget that staying the course is often our best move.

For projections of all the rankings below, head to Season Pass. I'll also be chatting there with subscribers on Friday afternoon.

[SIZE=+1]Week 2 Quarterbacks[/SIZE]

<TABLE width="100%"><TBODY><TR class=TableTopRed><TD>Rank</TD><TD>Player Name</TD><TD>Opponent</TD><TD>Notes</TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>1</TD><TD>Tony Romo</TD><TD>vs. PHI</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>2</TD><TD>Donovan McNabb</TD><TD>at DAL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>3</TD><TD>Peyton Manning</TD><TD>at MIN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>4</TD><TD>Ben Roethlisberger</TD><TD>at CLE</TD><TD>Will start</TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>5</TD><TD>Jay Cutler</TD><TD>vs. SD</TD><TD></TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>6</TD><TD>Drew Brees</TD><TD>at WAS</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>7</TD><TD>Kurt Warner</TD><TD>vs. MIA</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>8</TD><TD>Eli Manning</TD><TD>at STL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>9</TD><TD>Aaron Rodgers</TD><TD>at DET</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>10</TD><TD>Carson Palmer</TD><TD>vs. TEN</TD><TD>Shaky option?</TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>11</TD><TD>Derek Anderson</TD><TD>vs. PIT</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>12</TD><TD>David Garrard</TD><TD>vs. BUF</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>13</TD><TD>Brett Favre</TD><TD>vs. NE</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>14</TD><TD>Philip Rivers</TD><TD>at DEN</TD><TD>Regaining mobility</TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>15</TD><TD>Matt Schaub</TD><TD>vs. BAL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>16</TD><TD>Brian Griese</TD><TD>vs. ATL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>17</TD><TD>Matt Hasselbeck</TD><TD>vs. SF</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>18</TD><TD>Jon Kitna</TD><TD>vs. GB</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>19</TD><TD>Jake Delhomme</TD><TD>vs. CHI</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>20</TD><TD>Matt Cassel</TD><TD>at NYJ</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>21</TD><TD>Marc Bulger</TD><TD>vs. NYG</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>22</TD><TD>Jason Campbell</TD><TD>vs. NO</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>23</TD><TD>J.T. O'Sullivan</TD><TD>at SEA</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>24</TD><TD>Tarvaris Jackson</TD><TD>vs. IND</TD><TD>Probable(knee)</TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>25</TD><TD>Chad Pennington</TD><TD>at ARZ</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>26</TD><TD>Trent Edwards</TD><TD>at JAC</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>27</TD><TD>Kerry Collins</TD><TD>at CIN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>28</TD><TD>Damon Huard</TD><TD>vs. OAK</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>29</TD><TD>Kyle Orton</TD><TD>at CAR</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>30</TD><TD>JaMarcus Russell</TD><TD>at KC</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>31</TD><TD>Matt Ryan</TD><TD>at TB</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>32</TD><TD>Joe Flacco</TD><TD>at HOU</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
</TBODY></TABLE>

QB Notes: Let's start with Bulger, who quarterbacked an incomparably terrible Rams offense Sunday. The play that summed up the effort for me on tape, other than the six false starts, was on a first half play in which the Rams max protected Bulger. Three Eagles landed on top of him anyway. With Torry Holt double teamed, the Rams wideouts just didn't create any separation. In the draft last night, Bulger went 171st! This was after Trent Edwards and Matt Ryan. After all the good times Bulger has given fantasy owners, I felt guilty, like I should call him to apologize. Bulger is not that bad and he should have gone way before the young guys. You can't play him this week against a strong Giants defensive line, but he's still a top-20 quarterback. ? I was confident Donovan McNabb was a top-seven quarterback all along, but it was nice to see his young receivers perform so well. The second year after ACL surgery is a beautiful thing. ? Ben Roethlisberger should play this week and he's got a great matchup. With Sean Jones out for Cleveland, the Browns are going to struggle preventing big plays.

Jay Cutler went with the 47th pick in our draft, a leap that was understandable. With Tom Brady out for the season, my top two tiers of quarterbacks are down to six and there is a huge drop-off after Cutler. Some of the QB options after the drop (Vince Young, Matt Hasselbeck, David Garrard) have legitimate concerns, making this top six more valuable. ? Garrard fell to the 114th pick, which was too far. All the offensive line injuries will hurt the Jaguars, but they are strong enough to stay solid. I expect all the injuries to effect the running game more.

One player whose season-long value did change in Week 1 was Philip Rivers. I didn't expect him to look so strong coming off ACL surgery. It wasn't just his numbers, but his amazing movement and confidence in the pocket. The pass rush didn't bother him. In fact, he avoided many hits and threw on the run. He still must prove he can be consistent (a problem in the past), but I'm far less concerned about his post-surgery accuracy. He was far more comfortable than Carson Palmer, Daunte Culpepper, or Donovan McNabb after their surgery.

Matt Hasselbeck's value is legitimately lower than it was a week ago. Until the team has Bobby Engram and Deion Branch back, he'll do well to be a solid QB2. He's a matchup play.
Some players I wouldn't jump to conclusions on:

Carson Palmer: The Ravens will make a lot of quarterbacks look terrible Unfortunately, so will the Titans.

Jake Delhomme: It was very surprising to see the Panthers go so pass-wacky. But Delhomme was still erratic for much of the game.

Derek Anderson: The concern here is that the Browns defense will keep losing games, and Brady Quinn chants will start. But D.A. will bounce back because of the weapons around him.

Matt Schaub: Like Carson Palmer, he faces a brutal early start. But he's still a long-term QB1/2. 25-of-33 for 202 yards, one touchdown, and two interceptions are the stats you want when a quarterback struggles.
<!--RW-->
[SIZE=+1]Week 2 Running Backs[/SIZE]

<TABLE width="100%"><TBODY><TR class=TableTopRed><TD>Rank</TD><TD>Player Name</TD><TD>Opponent</TD><TD>Notes</TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>1</TD><TD>LaDainian Tomlinson</TD><TD>at DEN</TD><TD>Expected to start</TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>2</TD><TD>Adrian Peterson</TD><TD>vs. IND</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>3</TD><TD>Brian Westbrook</TD><TD>at DAL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>4</TD><TD>Frank Gore</TD><TD>at SEA</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>5</TD><TD>Steven Jackson</TD><TD>vs. NYG</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>6</TD><TD>Marshawn Lynch</TD><TD>at JAC</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>7</TD><TD>Marion Barber</TD><TD>vs. PHI</TD><TD>Probable(ribs)</TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>8</TD><TD>Brandon Jacobs</TD><TD>at STL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>9</TD><TD>Joseph Addai</TD><TD>at MIN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>10</TD><TD>Clinton Portis</TD><TD>vs. NO</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>11</TD><TD>Ryan Grant</TD><TD>at DET</TD><TD>Expected to start</TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>12</TD><TD>Willie Parker</TD><TD>at CLE</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>13</TD><TD>Larry Johnson</TD><TD>vs. OAK</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>14</TD><TD>Reggie Bush</TD><TD>at WAS</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>15</TD><TD>Michael Turner</TD><TD>at TB</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>16</TD><TD>Matt Forte</TD><TD>at CAR</TD><TD>Probable(ankle)</TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>17</TD><TD>Thomas Jones</TD><TD>vs. NE</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>18</TD><TD>Jamal Lewis</TD><TD>vs. PIT</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>19</TD><TD>Earnest Graham</TD><TD>vs. ATL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>20</TD><TD>Chris Johnson</TD><TD>at CIN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>21</TD><TD>Maurice Jones-Drew</TD><TD>vs. BUF</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>22</TD><TD>DeAngelo Williams</TD><TD>vs. CHI</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>23</TD><TD>Selvin Young</TD><TD>vs. SD</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>24</TD><TD>Laurence Maroney</TD><TD>at NYJ</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>25</TD><TD>Edgerrin James</TD><TD>vs. MIA</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>26</TD><TD>Darren McFadden</TD><TD>at KC</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>27</TD><TD>Willis McGahee</TD><TD>at HOU</TD><TD>Probable(knee)</TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>28</TD><TD>LenDale White</TD><TD>at CIN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>29</TD><TD>Chris Perry</TD><TD>vs. TEN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>30</TD><TD>Justin Fargas</TD><TD>at KC</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>31</TD><TD>Ronnie Brown</TD><TD>at ARZ</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>32</TD><TD>Jonathan Stewart</TD><TD>vs. CHI</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>33</TD><TD>Julius Jones</TD><TD>vs. SF</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>34</TD><TD>Steve Slaton</TD><TD>vs. BAL</TD><TD>Ready on day one?</TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>35</TD><TD>Ricky Williams</TD><TD>at ARZ</TD><TD>Already a backup?</TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>36</TD><TD>Kevin Smith</TD><TD>vs. GB</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>37</TD><TD>Fred Taylor</TD><TD>vs. BUF</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>38</TD><TD>Pierre Thomas</TD><TD>at WAS</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>39</TD><TD>Felix Jones</TD><TD>vs. PHI</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>40</TD><TD>Jerious Norwood</TD><TD>at TB</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>41</TD><TD>Ray Rice</TD><TD>at HOU</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>42</TD><TD>Andre Hall</TD><TD>vs. SD</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>43</TD><TD>Sammy Morris</TD><TD>at NYJ</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>44</TD><TD>Chester Taylor</TD><TD>vs. IND</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>45</TD><TD>Warrick Dunn</TD><TD>vs. ATL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>46</TD><TD>Brandon Jackson</TD><TD>at DET</TD><TD>Probable(concussion)</TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>47</TD><TD>Rashard Mendenhall</TD><TD>at CLE</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>48</TD><TD>Chris Taylor</TD><TD>vs. BAL</TD><TD>Could split with Slaton</TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>49</TD><TD>LeRon McClain</TD><TD>at HOU</TD><TD>May pass Rice?</TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>50</TD><TD>Tim Hightower</TD><TD>vs. MIA</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>51</TD><TD>Darren Sproles</TD><TD>at DEN</TD><TD>Added to list</TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>52</TD><TD>Kenny Watson</TD><TD>vs. TEN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>53</TD><TD>Fred Jackson</TD><TD>at JAC</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>54</TD><TD>Kevin Jones</TD><TD>at CAR</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>55</TD><TD>Jamaal Charles</TD><TD>vs. OAK</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>56</TD><TD>Rudi Johnson</TD><TD>vs. GB</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>57</TD><TD>Leon Washington</TD><TD>vs. NE</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>58</TD><TD>Ahmad Bradshaw</TD><TD>at STL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>59</TD><TD>Ladell Betts</TD><TD>vs. NO</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
</TBODY></TABLE>

RB Notes: Willie Parker was undervalued by fantasy writers and owners alike because we expected Rashard Mendenhall to develop faster. 7 of Mendenhall's ten carries came in the final 18 minutes against Houston when the game was out of reach. The question remains how undervalued was Parker? He certainly wasn't worth the tenth overall pick in our draft last night. I'd argue he still wasn't worth a top-30 pick. Willie Parker will not score 48 touchdowns this year and his lack of receiving skills remains a problem. He could be a good sell high candidate after this week. But Parker's early success around the stripe will get him more chances, making him a legitimate mid-level RB2 who has emerged from the third and fourth round running back morass of a few weeks back.

Michael Turner's huge week looks like a bigger mirage. The Lions will make a lot of running backs look like Hall of Famers, and defenses will quickly catch up to Matt Ryan. After one week, we still consider Turner a solid RB2. If you can get better value than that for him, go right ahead and deal. (Turner went 17th overall and 15th at running back in our draft. More receivers should have gone before him.)

Sammy Morris is another player who rocketed up our office draft after a strong Week 1, going 64th overall, ahead of backs like Jonathan Stewart, Steve Slaton, Chris Perry, LenDale White, and DeAngelo Williams. This was too far a leap. Morris is a nice pickup, but the Patriots backfield will be split three-ways and Morris' touches will remain inconsistent. He's a flex option that will mostly be useful when bye weeks hit. I expected Laurence Maroney to take a bigger hit in our draft, but he still went early. I've been carping all off-season that the Patriots will try to keep Maroney fresh with relatively little work early in the season. That remains likely, despite Tom Brady's injury. I've heard the argument that Brady's injury helps Maroney because the team will run more, but I don't buy it. It will be harder to run and the team will score less. ? Jamal Lewis eased some concerns for Browns fans and fantasy owners against the Cowboys despite average numbers. He ran hard and looked healthy.

Selvin Young's value legitimately changed in Week 1. I'm not ready to give up on him as a RB2 option, but he's not a plug-and-play guy after watching Michael Pittman and Andre Hall have such big roles in Week 1. The mid-season return of Ryan Torain looms too. Just don't assume the Denver rotation will remain consistent. Young will get the chance to start again, and he could very well get 20 carries and enjoys a big day against the Chargers. The leader of an effective Denver rotation has plenty of value. Perhaps just not as much as we thought a week ago.

Don't jump to conclusions on:

Jonathan Stewart: He fell to the 68th pick in our draft, which is a nice value. While he didn't get the goal-line carries in Week 1, he looked great when he was on the field. He's still a great long-term RB3.

Matt Forte: I love the kid and he'll be a great RB2. But he still plays for the Bears and should not have gone with the 18th overall pick in our draft last night.

Joseph Addai: Still a safe bet for 12 scores. Of course. He's only ranked so low this week because of the matchup and concern the Colts will play it safe with him after a head injury.

Chris Perry: He was a matchup-type play going into the season, and he remains so. He just happens to have started with two brutal matchups.

Reggie Bush: Seeing Bush truly step up would make me very happy. But he's had excellent games before. Let's see it for a month.

Their draft value should change after Week 1:

I never put [URL="http://fantasyfootball.usatoday.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=NFL&id=1312"]Ricky Williams[/URL] higher than Ronnie Brown, but his value is limited if he's already being passed on the depth chart.

The Titans aren't waiting to get [URL="http://fantasyfootball.usatoday.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=NFL&id=4743"]Chris Johnson[/URL] more touches than LenDale White. If the split is 60-40 in favor of Johnson already, he's a RB2.

[SIZE=+1]Week 2 Wide Receivers[/SIZE]

<TABLE width="100%"><TBODY><TR class=TableTopRed><TD>Rank</TD><TD>Player Name</TD><TD>Opponent</TD><TD>Notes</TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>1</TD><TD>Terrell Owens</TD><TD>vs. PHI</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>2</TD><TD>Larry Fitzgerald</TD><TD>vs. MIA</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>3</TD><TD>Randy Moss</TD><TD>at NYJ</TD><TD>Will start </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>4</TD><TD>Andre Johnson</TD><TD>vs. BAL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>5</TD><TD>Reggie Wayne</TD><TD>at MIN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>6</TD><TD>Brandon Marshall</TD><TD>vs. SD</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>7</TD><TD>Braylon Edwards</TD><TD>vs. PIT</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>8</TD><TD>Plaxico Burress</TD><TD>at STL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>9</TD><TD>Santonio Holmes</TD><TD>at CLE</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>10</TD><TD>Anquan Boldin</TD><TD>vs. MIA</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>11</TD><TD>Jerricho Cotchery</TD><TD>vs. NE</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>12</TD><TD>T.J. Houshmandzadeh</TD><TD>vs. TEN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>13</TD><TD>Chad Ocho Cinco</TD><TD>vs. TEN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>14</TD><TD>Marvin Harrison</TD><TD>at MIN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>15</TD><TD>Torry Holt</TD><TD>vs. NYG</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>16</TD><TD>Greg Jennings</TD><TD>at DET</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>17</TD><TD>Calvin Johnson</TD><TD>vs. GB</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>18</TD><TD>Roy Williams</TD><TD>vs. GB</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>19</TD><TD>Hines Ward</TD><TD>at CLE</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>20</TD><TD>Lee Evans</TD><TD>at JAC</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>21</TD><TD>Wes Welker</TD><TD>at NYJ</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>22</TD><TD>Joey Galloway</TD><TD>vs. ATL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>23</TD><TD>Dwayne Bowe</TD><TD>vs. OAK</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>24</TD><TD>Donald Driver</TD><TD>at DET</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>25</TD><TD>Patrick Crayton</TD><TD>vs. PHI</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>26</TD><TD>Santana Moss</TD><TD>vs. NO</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>27</TD><TD>Laveranues Coles</TD><TD>vs. NE</TD><TD>Questionable(thigh)</TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>28</TD><TD>Roddy White</TD><TD>at TB</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>29</TD><TD>Chris Chambers</TD><TD>at DEN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>30</TD><TD>Antonio Bryant</TD><TD>vs. ATL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>31</TD><TD>Anthony Gonzalez</TD><TD>at MIN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>32</TD><TD>D.J. Hackett</TD><TD>vs. CHI</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>33</TD><TD>Eddie Royal</TD><TD>vs. SD</TD><TD></TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>34</TD><TD>DeSean Jackson</TD><TD>at DAL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>35</TD><TD>Vincent Jackson</TD><TD>at DEN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>36</TD><TD>Ronald Curry</TD><TD>at KC</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>37</TD><TD>Amani Toomer</TD><TD>at STL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>38</TD><TD>David Patten</TD><TD>at WAS</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>39</TD><TD>Bernard Berrian</TD><TD>vs. IND</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>40</TD><TD>Sidney Rice</TD><TD>vs. IND</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>41</TD><TD>Jerry Porter</TD><TD>vs. BUF</TD><TD>Game-time Decision</TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>42</TD><TD>Courtney Taylor</TD><TD>vs. SF</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>43</TD><TD>Bryant Johnson</TD><TD>at SEA</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>44</TD><TD>Matt Jones</TD><TD>vs. BUF</TD><TD></TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>45</TD><TD>Kevin Walter</TD><TD>vs. BAL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>46</TD><TD>Derrick Mason</TD><TD>at HOU</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>47</TD><TD>Mark Clayton</TD><TD>at HOU</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>48</TD><TD>Isaac Bruce</TD><TD>at SEA</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>49</TD><TD>Hank Baskett</TD><TD>at DAL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>50</TD><TD>Antwaan Randle El</TD><TD>vs. NO</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>51</TD><TD>Muhsin Muhammad</TD><TD>vs. CHI</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>52</TD><TD>Ted Ginn Jr.</TD><TD>at ARZ</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>53</TD><TD>Javon Walker</TD><TD>at KC</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>54</TD><TD>Arnaz Battle</TD><TD>at SEA</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>55</TD><TD>Logan Payne</TD><TD>vs. SF</TD><TD>First NFL start</TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>56</TD><TD>Justin Gage</TD><TD>at CIN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
</TBODY></TABLE>

WR Notes: Tom Brady's injury had a huge effect on the top of our draft at receiver. Terrell Owens was the first receiver drafted, and Randy Moss went second at No. 23. That sounds about right. Moss would still be in my top-five wideouts, possibly top-three, but the gap between him and the others has been erased. ? Andre Johnson quietly got off to a good start in Week 1 and could fill the Moss gap at the top of the year-end receiver rankings. ? Torry Holt went fortieth in our draft, which includes a lot of Eagles fans that watched Holt get only one target in Week 1. On one hand, I know not to overreact to the opener. The Rams will pass, and someone has to get the numbers. On the other hand, I choose Holt as one of the most likely veteran players to fall off a cliff in a segment for NBCSports.com. He must prove he has the speed to create separation, especially if he's going to be double-teamed often. He'll get his numbers eventually and be better in fantasy than reality, but they need to start forcing the ball to him.

DeSean Jackson and Eddie Royal were two of the toughest players to rank this week. The instinct is to call their games flukes ? but 100-yard games in rookie debuts just don't happen. Only one other player in the last 13 seasons have topped 100 yards: Anquan Boldin. (He topped 200). The top eleven debuts for wideouts over that span is littered with stars: Randy Moss, Larry Fitzgerald, Marvin Harrison, Plaxico Burress, Andre Johnson, and Deion Branch. The only name that sticks out is Tulane alum JaJuan Dawson, who had a career-defining injury the following week. Jackson and Royal are here to stay as fantasy factors. They play in excellent systems and with Pro Bowl caliber quarterbacks. Royal runs routes like a veteran. Jackson caught some deep passes in traffic. Both are undersized, and thus not ready to be true number one guys. But they can be quality WR3 options who help teams all season. Royal went ninetieth and Jackson at No. 105, by an Eagles fan. But that's a spot after 30 wideouts are off the board, and the placement passed my smell test.

Ted Ginn needs to earn the right to be put in any fantasy roster. Ranking him at all here is kind. ? Courtney Taylor and Logan Payne have a great opportunity over the next three weeks, but they must prove they can capitalize before inserting them into lineups. At least Taylor got nine targets. ? Two players getting a shocking amount of targets were Muhsin Muhammad and D.J. Hackett. Moose struggled badly despite getting so much attention. Jake Delhomme forced balls to him. Hackett looked like the best wideout on the team, but that isn't saying much. He's a reasonable WR3 play this week. ? Anthony Gonzalez is a much better play this week if Dallas Clark is out.

Don't jump to conclusions on:

Chad Johnson, T.J. Houshmandzadeh, and Braylon Edwards: Top tier wideouts in their prime may have off games, but they rarely have off seasons.

Wes Welker: Matt Cassel won't help, of course, but that doesn't mean he goes back to his Dolphins numbers.

Laveranues Coles: Something tells me the Jets will force the ball to him this week to keep him happy.

Matt Jones: It remains to be seen what his role will be when Jerry Porter is at full strength.
<!--RW-->
[SIZE=+1]Week 2 Tight Ends[/SIZE]

<TABLE width="100%"><TBODY><TR class=TableTopRed><TD>Rank</TD><TD>Player Name</TD><TD>Opponent</TD><TD>Notes</TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>1</TD><TD>Jason Witten</TD><TD>vs. PHI</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>2</TD><TD>Kellen Winslow</TD><TD>vs. PIT</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>3</TD><TD>Antonio Gates</TD><TD>at DEN</TD><TD>Probable(hip)</TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>4</TD><TD>Tony Gonzalez</TD><TD>vs. OAK</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>5</TD><TD>Jeremy Shockey</TD><TD>at WAS</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>6</TD><TD>Chris Cooley</TD><TD>vs. NO</TD><TD>Probable(quadriceps)</TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>7</TD><TD>Vernon Davis</TD><TD>at SEA</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>8</TD><TD>Owen Daniels</TD><TD>vs. BAL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>9</TD><TD>Todd Heap</TD><TD>at HOU</TD><TD>Probable(back)</TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>10</TD><TD>Tony Scheffler</TD><TD>vs. SD</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>11</TD><TD>Heath Miller</TD><TD>at CLE</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>12</TD><TD>L.J. Smith</TD><TD>at DAL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>13</TD><TD>Dallas Clark</TD><TD>at MIN</TD><TD>Game-time Decision</TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>14</TD><TD>Zach Miller</TD><TD>at KC</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>15</TD><TD>Greg Olsen</TD><TD>at CAR</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>16</TD><TD>Randy McMichael</TD><TD>vs. NYG</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>17</TD><TD>Dante Rosario</TD><TD>vs. CHI</TD><TD>Questionable(foot)</TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>18</TD><TD>Alge Crumpler</TD><TD>at CIN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>19</TD><TD>Anthony Fasano</TD><TD>at ARZ</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>20</TD><TD>Ben Utecht</TD><TD>vs. TEN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>21</TD><TD>Marcedes Lewis</TD><TD>vs. BUF</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>22</TD><TD>Donald Lee</TD><TD>at DET</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>23</TD><TD>John Carlson</TD><TD>vs. SF</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>24</TD><TD>Desmond Clark</TD><TD>at CAR</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>25</TD><TD>Bo Scaife</TD><TD>at CIN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>26</TD><TD>Kevin Boss</TD><TD>at STL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
</TBODY></TABLE>

TE Notes: Tight ends fell in our draft, with my team kicking off a run by taking Jason Witten with the No. 52 pick. Two rounds later, Anthony Fasano was off the board. Now that's a one week jump! That insane pick aside, Fasano would be worth drafting if in any league today ? as a TE2. L.J. Smith also moved up after getting a lot of targets this week. The "problem" at tight end is that it's too easy to fill your starting spot. Quality options like Fasano and Alge Crumpler don't sniff the top-15. The difference between the sixth-ranked tight end this week (Cooley) and the No. 21 option (Fasano) is relatively small. Dante Rosario and Fasano both lined up in the slot quite a bit. That surprised me with Fasano, who isn't exactly fleet of foot, but he knows how to find soft spots in coverage. ? While plenty of tight ends have seen short-term boosts, I don't see any major tight end starter who has seen his value decline. Todd Heap couldn't stay healthy for a game, but he's already practicing again. Tony Scheffler came off the bench, but he uncorked a 77-yard play and had a target in the end zone. Dallas Clark is hurt again, but I never had him in the top ten to begin with. Injuries are part of his package. The position is stronger at the top and deeper than ever before.
[SIZE=+1]Week 2 Kickers[/SIZE]

<TABLE width="100%"><TBODY><TR class=TableTopRed><TD>Rank</TD><TD>Player Name</TD><TD>Opponent</TD><TD>Notes</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>1</TD><TD>Nick Folk</TD><TD>vs. PHI</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>2</TD><TD>Mason Crosby</TD><TD>at DET</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>3</TD><TD>Stephen Gostkowski</TD><TD>at NYJ</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>4</TD><TD>Josh Scobee</TD><TD>vs. BUF</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>5</TD><TD>Nate Kaeding</TD><TD>at DEN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>6</TD><TD>Rob Bironas</TD><TD>at CIN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>7</TD><TD>Ryan Longwell</TD><TD>vs. IND</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>8</TD><TD>Shayne Graham</TD><TD>vs. TEN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>9</TD><TD>Josh Brown</TD><TD>vs. NYG</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>10</TD><TD>Adam Vinatieri</TD><TD>at MIN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>11</TD><TD>Neil Rackers</TD><TD>vs. MIA</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>12</TD><TD>Robbie Gould</TD><TD>at CAR</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>13</TD><TD>Jeff Reed</TD><TD>at CLE</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>14</TD><TD>David Akers</TD><TD>at DAL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>15</TD><TD>Matt Bryant</TD><TD>vs. ATL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>16</TD><TD>Phil Dawson</TD><TD>vs. PIT</TD><TD>Probable(-)</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>17</TD><TD>Matt Stover</TD><TD>at HOU</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>18</TD><TD>Martin Gramatica</TD><TD>at WAS</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>19</TD><TD>John Kasay</TD><TD>vs. CHI</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>20</TD><TD>Olindo Mare</TD><TD>vs. SF</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>21</TD><TD>Joe Nedney</TD><TD>at SEA</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>22</TD><TD>Kris Brown</TD><TD>vs. BAL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>23</TD><TD>Jason Hanson</TD><TD>vs. GB</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>24</TD><TD>Jason Elam</TD><TD>at TB</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>25</TD><TD>Rian Lindell</TD><TD>at JAC</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>26</TD><TD>Matt Prater</TD><TD>vs. SD</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>27</TD><TD>Sebastian Janikowski</TD><TD>at KC</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>28</TD><TD>Jay Feely</TD><TD>vs. NE</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>29</TD><TD>John Carney</TD><TD>at STL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>30</TD><TD>Shaun Suisham</TD><TD>vs. NO</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>31</TD><TD>Dan Carpenter</TD><TD>at ARZ</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>32</TD><TD>Nick Novak</TD><TD>vs. OAK</TD><TD>- </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

[SIZE=+1]Week 2 Team Defense[/SIZE]



<TABLE width="100%"><TBODY><TR class=TableTopRed><TD>Rank</TD><TD>Player Name</TD><TD>Opponent</TD><TD>Notes</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>1</TD><TD>Bears Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>at CAR</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>2</TD><TD>Giants Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>at STL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>3</TD><TD>Patriots Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>at NYJ</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>4</TD><TD>Buccaneers Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>vs. ATL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>5</TD><TD>Colts Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>at MIN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>6</TD><TD>Seahawks Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>vs. SF</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>7</TD><TD>Packers Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>at DET</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>8</TD><TD>Titans Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>at CIN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>9</TD><TD>Chargers Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>at DEN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>10</TD><TD>Ravens Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>at HOU</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>11</TD><TD>Vikings Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>vs. IND</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>12</TD><TD>Texans Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>vs. BAL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>13</TD><TD>Cowboys Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>vs. PHI</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>14</TD><TD>Steelers Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>at CLE</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>15</TD><TD>Bills Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>at JAC</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>16</TD><TD>Chiefs Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>vs. OAK</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>17</TD><TD>Bengals Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>vs. TEN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>18</TD><TD>Cardinals Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>vs. MIA</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>19</TD><TD>Eagles Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>at DAL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>20</TD><TD>Jaguars Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>vs. BUF</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>21</TD><TD>Panthers Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>vs. CHI</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>22</TD><TD>Broncos Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>vs. SD</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>23</TD><TD>Raiders Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>at KC</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>24</TD><TD>Jets Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>vs. NE</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>25</TD><TD>Saints Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>at WAS</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>26</TD><TD>Fortyniners Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>at SEA</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>27</TD><TD>Redskins Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>vs. NO</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>28</TD><TD>Dolphins Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>at ARZ</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>29</TD><TD>Browns Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>vs. PIT</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>30</TD><TD>Falcons Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>at TB</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>31</TD><TD>Lions Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>vs. GB</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>32</TD><TD>Rams Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>vs. NYG</TD><TD>-</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

 

[Hache Man]

Re: Fantasy Football News 2008

Re: Fantasy Football News 2008

The Fall of Willis McGahee
It began months ago.

The Ravens hired no-nonsense Eagles secondary coach John Harbaugh as head coach on January 18. He assembled an all-star supporting staff, retaining defensive boss Rex Ryan and tabbing Cam Cameron as offensive coordinator. Well regarded former Bengals assistant Hue Jackson signed on to tutor the quarterbacks with former 49ers offensive coordinator Jim Hostler named receivers coach.

Cameron pledged to make McGahee an "every-down back" in the spring. Cam's track record with running backs (see LaDainian Tomlinson, Ronnie Brown's first half in 2007) was impressive and all signs pointed to McGahee getting another heavy workload in 2008, with possibly more involvement in the passing game than ever.

But McGahee didn't endear himself to the new regime right off the bat. He skipped virtually all "non-mandatory" offseason work, and when he finally did report in late May, McGahee was out of shape. Baltimore had used the 55th overall pick on Rutgers' Ray Rice and the rookie began running with the first-team offense early in training camp because McGahee was out with a "leg" injury.

On August 11 it was revealed that McGahee needed arthroscopic surgery on the same knee he had reconstructed several times due to a devastating college injury. He missed the entire preseason. In Week 1, McGahee was active against Cincinnati but did not get the football. The Ravens inserted Lorenzo Neal at fullback and switched LeRon McClain to tailback. McClain totaled 111 yards on 21 touches; Rice 85 on 25 touches.

All along, the clued-in Baltimore Sun beat dropped subtle hints that McGahee had fallen out of favor, at one point even suggesting he might not last the season on the roster. Friday's edition ran an alarming column entitled "McGahee falling out of the running." The story's first line is "In the Ravens' new running scheme, the joke could end up being on Willis McGahee." It goes on to essentially assert that a committee backfield is imminent and that McGahee may not even start Week 2 despite taking most of the practice reps all week and being listed as "probable."

Admittedly, it's hard to believe in McClain. He's a fullback. At the 2007 Combine, McClain ran a 4.86 forty. He's 260 pounds, but this isn't Brandon Jacobs we're talking about. Rice has good hands, tackle-breaking ability, and more potential long term, but he's small and fumbled in the opener.

Still, McGahee's outlook is bleak. Even in a Week 2 matchup against a Texans team that was gashed for 183 yards (4.7 YPC) on the ground and three rushing touchdowns in Week 1, and may not have had nose tackle Travis Johnson due to knee and ankle injuries, McGahee was a certain "sit" in fantasy leagues. With news now that the game may not be played until late October, any Texan or Raven should be removed from your fantasy lineup.

There is a decent enough chance that McGahee will get his job back because the Ravens' alternatives appear underwhelming at the moment. But losing goal-line carries to McClain and passing-down work to Rice would sap his value. A full blown three-headed monster would make McGahee near unplayable week-to-week even in the finest of matchups.

While you contemplate those thoughts and immediately remove members of either team from your starting roster, here are some key injury situations to distract your attention...

Note: You can get weekly stat projections for all these players via our Rotoworld.com Season Pass. For those new to this site, it has a nifty tool called the Rotoworld Oracle, which takes in the stat projections, your league's custom scoring and roster configuration, and advises exactly who to start each week. It's less than $1 a week, and only one of the many tools and content in the package. Click here to check it out; it might be the best weekly dollar you've ever spent.

[SIZE=+1]Important Game-Time Decisions[/SIZE]

Arms
Ben Roethlisberger - Big Ben practiced fully on Friday and will be in the starting l/u.

Wides
Reggie Brown - Called "questionable," but is closer to doubtful to make an impact.
Laveranues Coles - Coles is very likely to play against hurting Patriots secondary.
Jerry Porter - Should be active, but figures to rotate as he gets back to full strength.
Donte' Stallworth - Doubtful with no chance to play after missing practices all week.
Javon Walker - The Raiders say he'll be active, but Ashley Lelie could start over him.
Miles Austin - Expected to play, operate as Dallas' fourth receiving option on MNF.
Devin Hester - He'll play, but Hester saw minimal snaps on offense in Bears' opener.
Maurice Stovall - Bucs' fourth receiver is a game-time decision against the Falcons.
Jabar Gaffney - Long-shot chance at value evaporated with Tom Brady's torn ACL.
Joshua Cribbs - Figures to return from high ankle sprain Sunday night vs. Steelers.
Dennis Northcutt - Jags' slot receiver considered probable to play against the Bills.
Malcolm Kelly - Uncertain to play, but did run with Skins' first team a bit this week.
Demetrius Williams, Yamon Figurs ? Remove any Ravens, Texans from lineups.
Donnie Avery - Has earned no real value to Rams, and definitely fantasy leaguers.
Ruvell Martin - Replaced as Green Bay's third receiver by return of James Jones.

Backs
LaDainian Tomlinson - Expected to start in beautiful matchup against the Broncos.
Ryan Grant - Make sure he's active, but cannot be on benches in matchup @ DET.
Willis McGahee ? Remove immediately from your lineup.
Matt Forte - Has a "tight" ankle, but phenom is virtually certain to start at Carolina.
Brandon Jackson - Recovered from concussion, worth grabbing for Grant owners.
Deuce McAllister - Deuce's ceiling for Sunday's game is probably about 5 carries.

Ends
Antonio Gates - Probable, will start against Broncos team that struggles vs. TEs.
Chris Cooley - Will play in terrific on-paper matchup against ailing Saints defense.
Dallas Clark - Guessing he'll be inactive; Gijon Robinson is Clark's clear backup.
Donte Rosario - Is expected to play despite "questionable" listing on injury report.
Ben Watson - Knee healing, but Watson is still not a recommended fantasy play.

Legs
Jason Elam - If Falcons add a kicker Saturday, it's an indication Elam won't play.

[SIZE=+1]Already Ruled Out for Week 2[/SIZE]

Arms
Tom Brady - Placed on injured reserve; Matt Cassel should be owned in all leagues.
Vince Young - Has sprained MCL, Titans frighteningly have V.Y. on suicide watch.
Jeff Garcia - Has likely lost his starting job to Brian Griese, at least for time being.
Brodie Croyle - Separated throwing shoulder has thrust Damon Huard into QB job.
[URL="http://fantasyfootball.usatoday.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=NFL&id=3147"]Alex Smith[/URL] - Fractured throwing shoulder has Smith heading for Tim Couch status.
Michael Vick - Remains imprisoned, can safely be dropped in all re-draft formats.
Troy Smith - Smith remains out indefinitely following crippling bout with tonsillitis.

Wides
Marques Colston - Expected to miss 6 weeks after tearing ligament in his thumb.
[URL="http://fantasyfootball.usatoday.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=NFL&id=4227"]Steve Smith[/URL] (Panthers) - Will comes off suspension in Week 3 to face Minnesota.
[URL="http://fantasyfootball.usatoday.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=NFL&id=378"]Kevin Curtis[/URL] - Curtis claims he's healing well, but is unlikely to play before Week 7.
Deion Branch, Bobby Engram, Nate Burleson, Ben Obomanu - Wow this is bad.
Drew Bennett - Has broken foot; Dane Looker likely to start but rotate vs. Giants.
[URL="http://fantasyfootball.usatoday.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=NFL&id=4226"]Chris Henry[/URL] - Suspended Bengals third receiver comes off suspension in Week 5.
Sam Hurd - Still recovering from high ankle sprain; Hurd could be back in Week 3.
Joe Jurevicius - On the PUP list, but J.J. seems unlikely to play at all this season.
Troy Williamson - Prime chance at playing time has slid through his butter fingers.

Backs
Ahman Green - Steve Slaton would've started, but game has been postponed.
Maurice Morris - Julius Jones will serve as Seahawks' feature back against 49ers.
Ryan Torain - Due back around Week 9 and candidate for a significant role then.
Carnell Williams - On PUP with possible Week 7 return, but that seems unlikely.
Aaron Stecker - Deuce McAllister to be active Sunday, but may not play much.

Ends
Jacob Tamme - Rookie from Kentucky was ruled out Friday due to ankle injury.

Legs
Lawrence Tynes - Tynes remains out indefinitely; John Carney is filling the void.
Mike Nugent - Jay Feely stepping in as Jets' starter while Nugent's thigh heals.

<!--RW-->

[SIZE=+1]Week 2 Matchups to Exploit[/SIZE]

Packers RB Ryan Grant @ Lions
Time: 1PM ET

Grant is listed as questionable for Sunday with lingering hamstring soreness. However, he practiced fully on Friday and coach Mike McCarthy said afterwards the Grant "looked good" and "better than he did before the opener." Grant ran only 12 times, but for 92 yards last week against Minnesota. Because he's healthier now, a logical guess would give Grant 15-18 touches at Detroit. The Lions' run defense posted the NFC's worst yards-per-carry average in 2007 and Detroit traded its best run defender (Shaun Rogers) in the offseason. Makes sense. Be sure that Grant is active Sunday morning -- the guess here is he will be for a key division game -- but he should be confidently penciled into fantasy lineups.

Redskins TE Chris Cooley vs. Saints
Time: 1PM ET

The strong side of New Orleans' defense is reeling with SAM linebacker Scott Fujita (knee) and SS Roman Harper (hamstring) both ruled out for Sunday's contest. The Saints also lost Fujita's top backup, Mark Simoneau, to injured reserve on Friday. That means career special teamer Troy Evans will start at outside linebacker with journeyman Kevin Kaesviharn taking Harper's place in the back. Cooley started slow against the Giants with only one catch, but the Saints could have a hard time containing him in Week 2. Harper and Fujita are both 90-100 tackle players annually, so their absence upgrades Clinton Portis' matchup as well.

Seahawks WR Logan Payne vs. 49ers
Time: 4:05PM ET

Courtney Taylor drew all the preseason hype in Seattle's receiver corps because he was the first to claim a starting job. But Taylor floundered in Week 1, dropping several balls, and may have lost Matt Hasselbeck's trust. Payne, a 6'2/205-pound white guy who went undrafted in 2007 out of Minnesota, is the newest member of the starting lineup. Payne has vertical ability and will run downfield routes in Mike Holmgren's West Coast attack. He's consistently impressed the Seahawks' coaching staff in practice and is a candidate to lead the team in targets Sunday. Payne also draws the better matchup against 34-year-old 49ers RCB Walt Harris. Taylor will mostly see Nate Clements in coverage. If you're looking for a sleeper WR3, Payne is your guy.

Buccaneers WR Antonio Bryant vs. Falcons
Time: 4:05PM ET

There was a peculiar sudden outcry last week against Rotoworld for "overhyping" Antonio Bryant. But Bryant actually had a pretty promising first game, seeing eight targets and going for 43 yards in his first action with Jeff Garcia of either player's career. Bryant caught way more practice passes from Brian Griese during training camp while Garcia sat out all summer with a calf injury. Now that Griese's been promoted to the starting lineup, the duo could click. Against a Falcons defense that is weak in the secondary, Bryant is a highly recommended WR3 play. Bryant is likely to see a lot of former NFL Europa cornerback Brent Grimes in primary coverage Sunday. Grimes surrendered seven catches and 107 yards to Calvin Johnson last week.

[SIZE=+1]Week 2 Matchups to Avoid[/SIZE]

Falcons WR Michael Jenkins @ Buccaneers
Time: 4:05PM ET

Jenkins made highlight reels as the recipient of Matt Ryan's first NFL touchdown pass in Week 1. He is a starter over Laurent Robinson. But that was the only catch Jenkins had and Ryan tried just 13 passes all game. This week Ryan might even throw less. The Bucs' secondary is quite possibly the NFC's best unit and Atlanta's new coaching staff is of a strict ball-control mindset. The Falcons will hit the ground running against a relatively undersized Tampa front that may be minus WLB Derrick Brooks, who's questionable with a hamstring injury and didn't practice all week. Jenkins beat out Robinson because he's a vicious blocker and that's what he'll be doing on Sunday.

Dolphins RB [URL="http://fantasyfootball.usatoday.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=NFL&id=1312"]Ricky Williams[/URL] @ Cardinals
Time: 4:15PM ET

Fumbling in the opener appears to have cost Ricky his starting job. The Dolphins inserted Ronnie Brown as a first-teamer at Wednesday's practice and figure to keep the depth chart that way in Arizona. The Cardinals can be exploited against the run as long as nose tackle Gabe Watson is out of the lineup (he's expected to miss his second straight game this week), but Brown is the best bet to carry the bulk of the load. Williams recently signed an extension and should remain involved going forward, but a backup role and 10-12 carry per week ceiling with little receiving potential (Patrick Cobbs is ahead of him on third downs) would makes Ricky pretty unusable. Brown is a much better bet as a flex fantasy play.

Patriots RB Laurence Maroney @ Jets
Time: 4:15PM ET

Turning around a run defense typically doesn't happen overnight, but the Jets looked much improved in their opener against a Dolphins team whose strength was supposed to be on the ground. New York finally has a blocker occupying nose tackle in Kris Jenkins and a run-stopping inside linebacker in David Harris. Calvin Pace is a massive upgrade over Victor Hobson at LOLB, in every possible area. Maroney started Week 1, but Sammy Morris got more snaps and again has the "hot hand" and a firm grasp on goal-line carries. It could be a long season for Maroney owners, who should explore other options at RB2 this week. The theory that the Patriots will run more following Tom Brady's injury may prove true, but it doesn't by any means guarantee that Maroney will be more than a frustrating fantasy commodity.

 

[Hache Man]

Re: Fantasy Football News 2008

Re: Fantasy Football News 2008

Turf Tomlinson
Meet the new Patriots, same as the old Patriots. And when we say old, we mean 2001, not 2007. The unveiling of the [URL="http://fantasyfootball.usatoday.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=NFL&id=3237"][URL="http://fantasyfootball.usatoday.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=NFL&id=3237"]Matt Cassel[/URL][/URL] era was encouraging for Patriots fans, and discouraging for fantasy heads. [URL="http://fantasyfootball.usatoday.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=NFL&id=1655"][URL="http://fantasyfootball.usatoday.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=NFL&id=1655"]Randy Moss[/URL][/URL] owners do not want their first-round pick on a ball control offense.

Moss' first target of the game came just before halftime. He finished with three in all, one on a deep ball where Moss changed his route during the play, throwing up his arm in a sign that he was going deep. Cassel recognized the sight adjustment, heaved the ball, and watch it flutter high into the Meadowland breeze like a Pennington knuckleball. Moss stopped, came back for the underthrown pass, dropped it, and stared blankly, dreaming of Tom.

The Jets often slow down the Patriots, so let's not overreact. [URL="http://fantasyfootball.usatoday.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=NFL&id=2964"][URL="http://fantasyfootball.usatoday.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=NFL&id=2964"]Wes Welker[/URL][/URL] had a Welker-like seven catches for 72 yards. [URL="http://fantasyfootball.usatoday.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=NFL&id=1150"][URL="http://fantasyfootball.usatoday.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=NFL&id=1150"]Kevin Faulk[/URL][/URL] did his usual third-down thing. But a backfield that was full of questions before Sunday is a total mystery. New England's leading rusher by a large margin was [URL="http://fantasyfootball.usatoday.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=NFL&id=883"][URL="http://fantasyfootball.usatoday.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=NFL&id=883"]LaMont Jordan[/URL][/URL]! [URL="http://fantasyfootball.usatoday.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=NFL&id=3642"][URL="http://fantasyfootball.usatoday.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=NFL&id=3642"]Laurence Maroney[/URL][/URL] missed three quarters with a shoulder injury, but oddly returned for one play late. [URL="http://fantasyfootball.usatoday.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=NFL&id=1284"][URL="http://fantasyfootball.usatoday.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=NFL&id=1284"]Sammy Morris[/URL][/URL] scored a touchdown, but rushed for 0.00 yards. The Patriots may still win as a team, but the Greatest Offense Ever is slowly receding from the fantasy spotlight. Just like it's 2001.

[SIZE=+1]Don't Panic[/SIZE]

1. [URL="http://fantasyfootball.usatoday.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=NFL&id=561"][URL="http://fantasyfootball.usatoday.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=NFL&id=561"]LaDainian Tomlinson[/URL][/URL] has started slow before, but 40 total yards was his worst effort since Week 7 of 2005. He's had an injured toe before ? but he played well through that one. This certainly feels different because of the injury, but we've doubted LT2 before at our own peril. Tomlinson says he felt better after Sunday's game than he did after Week 1. He says he won't go see a doctor again. www.sandiegochargers.ws

That sounds great, but turf toes can be very tricky for running backs. They can linger, they can frustrate, they can result in games like the one Tomlinson had Sunday.

LT2's run has to end eventually, and those who invested their top pick on him are praying this isn't the year. But let's wait more than two weeks before shoveling dirt on his grave, shall we? Stay patient. And pick up [URL="http://fantasyfootball.usatoday.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=NFL&id=3221"][URL="http://fantasyfootball.usatoday.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=NFL&id=3221"]Darren Sproles[/URL][/URL]!

2. At 3PM ET Sunday, the Big Story looked like it was going to be the continued struggles of the Colts and Bengals offenses. These two AFC fantasy pillars were crumbling. While the Bengals didn't turn it around in the wind against Tennessee, [URL="http://fantasyfootball.usatoday.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=NFL&id=1493"][URL="http://fantasyfootball.usatoday.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=NFL&id=1493"]Peyton Manning[/URL][/URL] somehow rallied to respectability against a strong Vikings defense. www.indianapoliscolts.ws

Manning is right; the team doesn't have a running game. But Manning had thrown for over 300 yards by the end of Sunday. Despite all the scuffling, he's third in the league in yards through two games. An injury to left tackle [URL="http://fantasyfootball.usatoday.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=NFL&id=4208"][URL="http://fantasyfootball.usatoday.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=NFL&id=4208"]Tony Ugoh[/URL][/URL] is a big concern, but the passing game is surviving despite two tough matchups.

3. Nothing explains [URL="http://fantasyfootball.usatoday.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=NFL&id=3252"][URL="http://fantasyfootball.usatoday.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=NFL&id=3252"]Ryan Grant[/URL][/URL] rushing for 20 yards in 15 carries against the hapless Lions, especially when the final score is 48-25. So don't try to explain it. www.greenbaypackers.ws

[SIZE=+1]Possibly Overrated Summer Storylines[/SIZE]

1. The Ricky vs. Ronnie battle
2. Marshawn' Lynch's improving third down skills. [URL="http://fantasyfootball.usatoday.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=NFL&id=4506"][URL="http://fantasyfootball.usatoday.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=NFL&id=4506"]Fred Jackson[/URL][/URL] had seven catches Sunday; Lynch had one.
3. Who will play wide receiver at Seattle. How many guys have to get hurt for [URL="http://fantasyfootball.usatoday.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=NFL&id=4278"][URL="http://fantasyfootball.usatoday.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=NFL&id=4278"]Courtney Taylor[/URL][/URL] to catch more than two passes?
4. [URL="http://fantasyfootball.usatoday.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=NFL&id=3708"][URL="http://fantasyfootball.usatoday.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=NFL&id=3708"]Tarvaris Jackson[/URL][/URL]'s development and new receivers.
5. [URL="http://fantasyfootball.usatoday.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=NFL&id=1014"][URL="http://fantasyfootball.usatoday.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=NFL&id=1014"]Deuce McAllister[/URL][/URL]'s return

[SIZE=+1]Some Panic is Acceptable [/SIZE]

1. The aforementioned Bengals aren't right. Their offense has faced the toughest schedule in the league with the Ravens and the Titans. And we can't exactly fault [URL="http://fantasyfootball.usatoday.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=NFL&id=2550"][URL="http://fantasyfootball.usatoday.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=NFL&id=2550"]Carson Palmer[/URL][/URL] for struggling in 50 MPH winds, the worst I've ever seen for an NFL game. But that doesn't change the fact that [URL="http://fantasyfootball.usatoday.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=NFL&id=2311"][URL="http://fantasyfootball.usatoday.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=NFL&id=2311"]Kerry Collins[/URL][/URL]' Titans looked better passing the ball Sunday. The Bengals' formerly strong line is getting pushed around. The Bengals would probably be in the "Don't Panic" column, but two of their next three games are at the Giants and Cowboys. It's reasonable to think about benching Palmer for those matchups.

2. You can't run if you don't lead. [URL="http://fantasyfootball.usatoday.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=NFL&id=4638"][URL="http://fantasyfootball.usatoday.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=NFL&id=4638"]Kevin Smith[/URL][/URL] has 26 carries in two weeks for the Lions. www.detroitlions.ws

3. The Raiders called 47 runs to 17 passes Sunday. [URL="http://fantasyfootball.usatoday.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=NFL&id=4154"][URL="http://fantasyfootball.usatoday.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=NFL&id=4154"]JaMarcus Russell[/URL][/URL] is a long way from productive, which is going to drag down [URL="http://fantasyfootball.usatoday.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=NFL&id=4158"][URL="http://fantasyfootball.usatoday.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=NFL&id=4158"]Zach Miller[/URL][/URL], [URL="http://fantasyfootball.usatoday.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=NFL&id=788"][URL="http://fantasyfootball.usatoday.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=NFL&id=788"]Ronald Curry[/URL][/URL], and [URL="http://fantasyfootball.usatoday.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=NFL&id=1965"][URL="http://fantasyfootball.usatoday.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=NFL&id=1965"]Ashley Lelie[/URL][/URL]. It also won't help their third receiver [URL="http://fantasyfootball.usatoday.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=NFL&id=1741"][URL="http://fantasyfootball.usatoday.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=NFL&id=1741"]Javon Walker[/URL][/URL] get involved. And yes, you can safely drop Walker, who played intermittently Sunday. www.oaklandraiders.ws

4. I had [URL="http://fantasyfootball.usatoday.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=NFL&id=3233"][URL="http://fantasyfootball.usatoday.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=NFL&id=3233"]Derek Anderson[/URL][/URL] on our "Busts" list, but I still believe he will turn his stats around. Their schedule has been brutal and the offensive line will key efforts against easier competition. The problem for Anderson owners is that the Browns need to start winning fast, and the Browns defense may not allow it. The team heads to Baltimore next week. If they go to 0-3, the chances of seeing [URL="http://fantasyfootball.usatoday.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=NFL&id=4149"][URL="http://fantasyfootball.usatoday.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=NFL&id=4149"]Brady Quinn[/URL][/URL] this season rises. My guess is Cleveland needs to be 4-4 after eight games or D.A. is in big trouble. www.clevelandbrowns.ws

5. [URL="http://fantasyfootball.usatoday.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=NFL&id=4652"][URL="http://fantasyfootball.usatoday.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=NFL&id=4652"]Rashard Mendenhall[/URL][/URL] didn't have an offensive snap Sunday against Cleveland, but [URL="http://fantasyfootball.usatoday.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=NFL&id=77"][URL="http://fantasyfootball.usatoday.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=NFL&id=77"]Mewelde Moore[/URL][/URL] did. Any hopes of Mendenhall having a MJD-like rookie season is slipping away.

6. The Jaguars running game misses their linemen. [URL="http://fantasyfootball.usatoday.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=NFL&id=1483"][URL="http://fantasyfootball.usatoday.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=NFL&id=1483"]David Garrard[/URL][/URL] has more rushing yards than MJD through two weeks. www.jacksonvillejaguars.ws

7. [URL="http://fantasyfootball.usatoday.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=NFL&id=1315"][URL="http://fantasyfootball.usatoday.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=NFL&id=1315"]Larry Johnson[/URL][/URL] is panicking, so his owners may as well too. L.J. needs to calm down and realize he wasn't playing late in Sunday's game because he doesn't take snaps on passing downs often anymore. His owners need to worry that he's turning into [URL="http://fantasyfootball.usatoday.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=NFL&id=555"][URL="http://fantasyfootball.usatoday.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=NFL&id=555"]Shaun Alexander[/URL][/URL], patiently waiting and waiting for a hole to develop as he's tackled at the line of scrimmage.

[SIZE=+1]Injury Ward[/SIZE]

Some of the injuries mentioned on our Injury Crunch column on Season Pass:

[URL="http://fantasyfootball.usatoday.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=NFL&id=561"][URL="http://fantasyfootball.usatoday.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=NFL&id=561"]LaDainian Tomlinson[/URL][/URL]
[URL="http://fantasyfootball.usatoday.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=NFL&id=3642"][URL="http://fantasyfootball.usatoday.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=NFL&id=3642"]Laurence Maroney[/URL][/URL]
[URL="http://fantasyfootball.usatoday.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=NFL&id=260"][URL="http://fantasyfootball.usatoday.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=NFL&id=260"]Joey Galloway[/URL][/URL]
[URL="http://fantasyfootball.usatoday.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=NFL&id=4188"][URL="http://fantasyfootball.usatoday.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=NFL&id=4188"]Sidney Rice[/URL][/URL]
[URL="http://fantasyfootball.usatoday.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=NFL&id=3675"][URL="http://fantasyfootball.usatoday.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=NFL&id=3675"]Devin Hester[/URL][/URL]
[URL="http://fantasyfootball.usatoday.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=NFL&id=2149"][URL="http://fantasyfootball.usatoday.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=NFL&id=2149"]Damon Huard[/URL][/URL]
[URL="http://fantasyfootball.usatoday.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=NFL&id=92"][URL="http://fantasyfootball.usatoday.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=NFL&id=92"]Ben Utecht[/URL][/URL]
[URL="http://fantasyfootball.usatoday.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=NFL&id=4614"][URL="http://fantasyfootball.usatoday.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=NFL&id=4614"]Logan Payne[/URL][/URL]/[URL="http://fantasyfootball.usatoday.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=NFL&id=503"][URL="http://fantasyfootball.usatoday.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=NFL&id=503"]Seneca Wallace[/URL][/URL]

Check out Pancake Blocks in the afternoon for more goodies and waiver pickups.

<!--RW-->[SIZE=+1]They're real and they're spectacular [/SIZE]
Week 1 Heroes who backed it up

1. Oh, the joy of watching the 2008 Broncos. Jay Cutler and Brandon Marshall's day deserved to start this entire column. They were the fantasy story of the day, the emergence of a new offensive power in the AFC.

The next great NFL quarterback can't "arrive" against the Raiders, but he has now. The kid's talent is criminal, fluky fourth quarter turnovers aside. Somewhere, Mike Mayock is smiling while remembering the crap he took from the Kipers of the world when he rated Cutler ahead of Matt Leinart and Vince Young.

Much thanks also goes to Baby T.O. for personally guaranteeing Antonio Cromartie wouldn't make the Pro Bowl again. He gave up way too many plays last season to make it there to begin with. Its fitting Marshall almost broke the real T.O.'s reception record for one game. Broncos fans shouldn't worry about the slight of getting stuck on page two today. Something tells me they will get plenty of Rotoworld love later this week, and into the season.

2. Matt Forte, rock solid RB2. He didn't score, but he was Chicago's best offensive player by a mile for a second straight week. We'll take 113 total yards and three catches, thank you very much.

3. The Philip Rivers revival is very real. With Antonio Gates and LT2 at less than 100%, this offense is still singing. The wide receivers benefit if the traditional Chargers are banged up. www.sandiegochargers.ws

4. The genius of [URL="http://fantasyfootball.usatoday.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=NFL&id=4743"]Chris Johnson[/URL] is that he can look inconsistent on the field and still be consistent in fantasy leagues. His day started slow, with only seven yards on his first six carries. LenDale White got the goal-line carries again and scored again. But suddenly Johnson can open up a 51-yard run and all is well. He's like a young Willie Parker, with far better passing game skills. Johnson played better after his big run and finished with over 100 total yards for the second straight game.

5. The Megatron hype wasn't loud enough, apparently. Good God.

[SIZE=+1]The Redeem Team[/SIZE]
Week 1 weak sauce that bounced back

1. They won't get to play a banged-up Saints defense every week, but Jason Campbell, Santana Moss, and Clinton Portis all looked exceptional for one Sunday. Beating up on the bad defenses is all we should ask for from Washington while Jim Zorn installs his offense. www.washingtonredskins.ws

2. Ahmad Bradshaw didn't have a carry on the season until the fourth quarter Sunday, but he still has two more touchdowns on the season than Brandon Jacobs. And LaDainian Tomlinson for that matter.

3. Torry Holt and Isaac Bruce turned back the clock, and punished impatient owners who benched Holt or dropped Bruce. Holt's 45-yard touchdown, however, was flukier than Bruce's 63-yard catch.

[SIZE=+1]Quit while you are ahead
[/SIZE]
It took the Saints' 2007 first-round pick Robert Meachem 17 career games to be on the 45- man gameday roster. Yesterday, he was thrown the ball one time, a beautiful Drew Brees laser he caught for a touchdown. Meachem is now averaging a touchdown catch on every target, the highest career percentage of anyone with at least one target.

[SIZE=+1]The More Things Change ?
[/SIZE]
The Lions threw 45 passes Sunday and called eleven runs. It's like Mike Martz never left.

[SIZE=+1]Speaking of Martz ? [/SIZE]

The 49ers have an offense! The offense only scored two touchdowns, but J.T. O'Sullivan showed plenty of spunk with 321 yards of frenzied passing against a strong Seattle pass rush. JTO was also sacked eight times and fumbled for the third time this year. A Martz offense if I ever saw one. Welcome back.

[SIZE=+1]The Place for General Excellence [/SIZE]

Kurt Warner's monster day against the Dolphins didn't fit into any other category. But anytime both Cardinals wideouts top 100 yards, the feat deserves mentioning. Anquan Boldin carried a lot of fantasy teams Sunday. www.arizonacardinals.ws

[SIZE=+1]Committee Report[/SIZE]

1. Selvin Young started again, but he was the third running back to get a touch. He often lined up out wide as a wide receiver. Michael Pittman continues to get goal-line carries, while the Denver pot is split three ways. Young saved his day with a 49-yard run and wound up with 85 total yards, but his owners are playing with fire. This three-way split is a trend.

2. I have no idea if LaMont Jordan will lead the team in carries again this season. I suspect he will, but good luck predicting when. The Patriots will use whatever running back is healthiest, playing well, and fits the current game plan. That's going to change every week, and it's going to be frustrating for anyone thinking Sammy Morris, Jordan, or Laurence Maroney will provide consistent value.

3. Did we witness a passing of the torch in Carolina already? I doubt it, but Jonathan Stewart is going to make it very difficult for the Panthers to keep him on the bench. Stewart dominated the workload in the second half Sunday, finishing with three more carries, 46 more yards, and two more scores than DeAngelo Williams. He's already passed the Panthers starter in fantasy value. Perhaps I'm jumping the gun, but I ranked Stewart much higher than Williams throughout the preseason, so why change now?

4. [URL="http://fantasyfootball.usatoday.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=NFL&id=4743"]Chris Johnson[/URL] had 19 carries to 18 for LenDale White. The Titans seem to favor Johnson early in the game when it's close and White near the goal line. At this rate, there is plenty of work to go around. www.tennesseetitans.ws

[SIZE=+1]Yeah, this May Work [/SIZE]

1. Kerry Collins has his faults. He can't move, for instance. But while Collins may be one of those relief pitchers that are exposed if he plays too much, he's clearly an upgrade in the vertical passing game. Titans receivers are better options now. Not great options, but better.

2. No Fargas, no problem. Darren McFadden looks more like a power back than I imagined. Looking at the rushing leaders Sunday was another good reminder that running is a skill for the young. Are we already entering the age of DMac and Peterson?

Not quite. McFadden still plays on the Raiders. And watching Bernard Pollard catch him from behind was shocking. If Fargas is out for a while, and it certainly appears he will be, McFadden becomes an every week play. Michael Bush is also worth owning.

 

[Hache Man]

Re: Fantasy Football News 2008

Re: Fantasy Football News 2008

Monday Night Shootout
Monday night's Cowboys-Eagles matchup lived up to the hype, as the two teams combined for 78 points and 717 yards in a back-and-forth shootout that ended with a defensive stop by Dallas. As if that weren't enough, Donovan McNabb and Tony Romo each sliced up the defenses with ease through the air, and rookie DeSean Jackson made both history and one of the dumbest plays of all time.

Jackson flipped the ball away a feet short of the goal line on what would've been a 61-yard touchdown catch in the second quarter. Luckily his blunder mattered little thanks to Brian Westbrook punching it into the end zone for one of his three scores. Stupidity aside, Jackson caught six passes for 110 yards to become the first receiver since 1940 to begin his career with back-to-back 100-yard games.

There were some other interesting milestones as well. Romo bounced back from ugly turnovers on consecutive snaps to top 300 yards for the 12th time in just 28 career starts, which amazingly puts him one short of Troy Aikman's team record. Terrell Owens made the 131st and 132nd touchdown grabs of his career, moving past Cris Carter into second place on the all-time list behind Jerry Rice (197).

McNabb threw his 175th career touchdown, tying the Eagles record held by Ron Jaworski, who looked on from the Monday Night Football booth while trying his best to put up with Tony Kornheiser's mute-inspiring commentary. Oh, and Felix Jones provided Dallas' first kickoff return touchdown in five years when the explosive rookie broke off a 98-yard runback in the opening quarter.

From a strictly fantasy point of view my biggest "takeaway" from the game is that McNabb has finally recovered fully from knee problems and looks like he did a few years ago, using his legs to enable big plays with his arm (until being sacked on the Eagles' final snap, of course). He's playing at a very high level so far and is doing so without both [URL="http://fantasyfootball.usatoday.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=NFL&id=378"]Kevin Curtis[/URL] and Reggie Brown, which bodes very well.

While Monday night's shootout becomes the leader in the clubhouse for Game of the Year, here are some other notes from around football ?

* Darren McFadden ran through the Chiefs for 164 yards and a touchdown on 21 carries Sunday, but exited early with an injury for the second time in two career games. After tweaking his shoulder in his NFL debut, McFadden left Week 2 with a toe injury that's been described as the dreaded turf toe. Coach Lane Kiffin said Monday that the injury is a concern that may keep McFadden from practicing. www.oaklandraiders.ws

Meanwhile, McFadden's big game came in part because Justin Fargas left early with an injury of his own. After lining up as a wide receiver, he went down like a ton of bricks mid-pattern and had to be carted off the field with a groin injury. He underwent an MRI exam Monday and the results aren't available yet as of this writing, but the odds are heavily against Fargas suiting up in Week 3.

That would leave Michael Bush backing up McFadden after totaling 90 yards and a score on 16 carries Sunday in the first extensive action of his career. If Fargas and McFadden are both out Bush would emerge as a solid RB3/FLEX option, but it sounds like McFadden has a good chance of playing. No team has run more often than the Raiders and they rank third in the league with 5.8 yards per carry.

* Speaking of toe injuries, LaDainian Tomlinson was in and out of Week 2 while totaling his fewest yards since mid-2005, but said afterward that his injured toe "is improving and healing." Tomlinson has stressed that he wants to avoid being examined by doctors, but if speculation about his having turf toe proves accurate he'll be dealing with it for a significant chunk of the season. www.sandiegochargers.ws

Tomlinson will get an extra day of rest this week thanks to the Chargers playing Monday night against the Jets, but his practice participation and status should be tracked very closely. With Tomlinson hobbled Darren Sproles took center stage Sunday and thrived, piling up 317 all-purpose yards and two touchdowns while looking like an even more compact Maurice Jones-Drew (if that's possible).

In addition to a 103-yard kickoff return, Sproles ran seven times for 53 yards and caught two passes for 72 yards. At 5-foot-6 and 180 pounds Sproles doesn't look capable of being an every-down back, but he's explosive enough to be at worst a RB3/FLEX option on even 12-15 touches if LT2 is unavailable. Amazingly quick and elusive in the open field, Sproles should be owned in all leagues.

Two-Minute Drill: Coach Jeff Fisher said Monday that Kerry Collins will stay the Titans' starter "until he struggles" before adding that Vince Young "is eventually going to be under center for us" ? After getting some mop-up work in Week 1, first-round rookie Rashard Mendenhall played zero offensive snaps Sunday night while Willie Parker got 29 touches ? Perhaps his goal of 140 catches wasn't so ridiculous after all: Brandon Marshall was targeted 20 times Sunday, hauling in 18 passes for the second-most in NFL history after sitting out Week 1 ? [URL="http://fantasyfootball.usatoday.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=NFL&id=1312"]Ricky Williams[/URL] remains the Dolphins' starter, but coach Tony Sparano said Monday that Ronnie Brown will see increased action this week after essentially splitting time Sunday ? Coach Rod Marinelli indicated Monday that Jon Kitna's job is safe despite having two picks returned for scores in Week 2 ? Meanwhile, [URL="http://fantasyfootball.usatoday.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=NFL&id=35"]Roy Williams[/URL] said Monday that he's "ticked off" about his role in the Mike Martz-less offense even though the Lions have chucked it 78 times in two games ? Coach Brad Childress gave Tarvaris Jackson a vote of confidence, but then backed off that stance slightly during Monday afternoon's press conference.

Red Zone: Asked Monday about his Week 2 ankle injury, Michael Turner called it "nothing major" ? While Ben Roethlisberger's shoulder injury may linger, it didn't stop him from uncorking several home-run balls Sunday night ? Despite a so-so effort Sunday and a tough matchup looming against the Bears, Brian Griese will start again over Jeff Garcia (ankle) this week ? According to coach Tony Dungy, Dallas Clark (knee) "could" resume practicing this week ? Troy Smith (tonsillitis) has been cleared to resume football activities, but remains behind Todd Bouman and Joe Flacco on the depth chart ? Sidney Rice (knee) said Monday that he's "pretty sore," but plans to suit up this week ? Coach Marvin Lewis said Monday that Ben Utecht (chest) is "doubtful" to play Week 3 ? According to coach Lane Kiffin, Javon Walker (hamstring) played sparingly Sunday because he "didn't look 100 percent in warm-ups" ? Coach Scott Linehan said Monday that he plans to increase rookie Donnie Avery's role on offense "now that he's healthy."

 

[Hache Man]

Re: Fantasy Football News 2008

Re: Fantasy Football News 2008

Martz Fest 2008
Admit it: there was once a time when you as a fantasy owner would have followed Mike Martz into hell. The Greatest Show on Turf Rams of the 1999-2001 seasons were a gift from the fantasy gods that have left many a mantle littered with trophies.

It's a long drop, however, when a star falls from great heights. As a wise man once said, the star is not only dead when it hits but digs its own grave with the force of its fall. Mike Martz, once an offensive genius and guru of the gridiron, was left for dead by fantasy owners after his dismal stint in Detroit. Owners who had once gazed upon his luminosity with wonder, stumbled away muttering about an abandoned running game and failed quarterback protections.

But doubts about Frank Gore's value and bewilderment at a team with quintessential journeyman J.T. O'Sullivan under center have given way to a waiver wire rush for 49ers skill position players. O'Sullivan remains an ideal roll of the dice QB2 while Bryant Johnson and Martz acolyte Isaac Bruce top the wide receiver waiver picks. This team won't remind anyone of the Super Bowl Rams, but the offense has graduated from incompetent to frisky. There is plenty of fantasy value to be found in San Francisco with a rebirth of Martz trust, so let's begin mining for gold.

On to the waiver wire, which has seen early week sensations like DeSean Jackson, Eddie Royal, and Kurt Warner lead savvy owners to a sterling 2-0 start. Here's how I rank the likely targets at each position this week. Full writeups of each player are below.

QUARTERBACKS
1. J.T. O'Sullivan
2. Trent Edwards www.buffalobills.ws
3. Kerry Collins www.tennesseetitans.ws
4. Brian Griese www.tampabaybuccaneers.ws
5. Gus Frerotte
6. Brady Quinn www.clevelandbrowns.ws

RUNNING BACKS
1. Pierre Thomas
2. Darren Sproles
3. Michael Bush www.oaklandraiders.ws
4. Fred Jackson
5. Ahmad Bradshaw
6. Kenny Watson
7. LaMont Jordan
8. Brandon Jackson

WIDE RECEIVERS
1. Bryant Johnson
2. Isaac Bruce
3. Matt Jones
4. Justin Gage
5. Antonio Bryant
6. James Jones
7. [URL="http://fantasyfootball.usatoday.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=NFL&id=378"]Kevin Curtis[/URL] / Deion Branch / Bobby Engram
8. Donnie Avery
9. Koren Robinson

TIGHT ENDS
1. Tony Sheffler
2. John Carlson
3. Ben Patrick

***

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QUARTERBACKS

J.T. O'Sullivan, 49ers - O'Sullivan has been recommended for two straight weeks, but he's only owned in about a third of all fantasy leagues. Though he's far from the NFL prototype quarterback, O'Sullivan's resourcefulness and quick delivery give him a chance to shine in Mike Martz's offense. Grab him as your backup and don't be afraid to plug him in for juicy matchups.

Recommendation: Should be owned in 12-team leagues

Trent Edwards, Bills - As expected, Edwards is good for just over 200 yards and a touchdown or two most weeks. That ceiling is not enough to want to run him up against the Jay Cutlers and Tony Romos of the world, but it's not bad as a reliable backup.

Recommendation: Should be owned in 12-team leagues

Kerry Collins, Titans - Collins' numbers against the Bengals were pedestrian, but he fared better than Carson Palmer did in crazy 50+ mph winds. Last week I said there's more of a chance than you might think that this is Collins' job for the remainder of the fantasy season, and Titans coach Jeff Fisher backed up that sentiment Monday. Collins will continue to start for as long as the team keeps winning, so he's certainly rosterable in deep leagues. www.tennesseetitans.ws

Recommendation: Worth a look in 12-team leagues

Brian Griese, Buccaneers - Pick him up if you're desperate, but don't expect much more than the numbers he put up against the Falcons Sunday. Griese found success in Jon Gruden's offense four years ago, but he's since been benched in favor of Rex Grossman (ouch!) and has morphed into nothing more than a dink-and-dunk game manager. www.tampabuccaneers.ws

If Griese stumbles in the next week or two, Gruden won't hesitate to move on with Luke McCown or turn back to Jeff Garcia.

Recommendation: Worth a look in deeper leagues

Gus Frerotte, Vikings - As much as Bernard Berrian owners would welcome the change, this is simply not going to be a high-octane passing offense. Even if Brad Childress is forced to set aside his Tarvaris Jackson love for a few weeks, Frerotte is nothing more than a band-aid for the most impoverished fantasy owners. www.minnesotavikings.ws

Recommendation: Pass

Brady Quinn, Browns - Despite lofty preseason expectations, this Browns team is on the brink of freefall mode. A leaky secondary, an underperforming passing offense, and a bearish schedule could have the franchise turning to their 2007 first-round pick by mid-season. www.clevelandbrowns.ws

Anderson could certainly help turn the offense around, but Quinn is worth a stash for the cagey owner in a deep or two-quarterback league.

Recommendation: Monitor in deeper leagues


RUNNING BACKS

Pierre Thomas, Saints - We've been hyping Thomas since early in the off-season, but he's been largely ignored by fantasy owners. Eight yards on six carries isn't going to inspire a mad rush to the waiver wire, but Thomas is over 4.5 yards per carry on his short career. More importantly, it appears he could be the goal-line horse for the near future. The two or three catches per game don't hurt either.

I predicted last week that Thomas was on the verge of being worthy of a weekly flex play, and his current role should allow for it this week against the Broncos.

Recommendation: Should be owned in all leagues

Darren Sproles, Chargers - Bump Sproles to the front of the line if you are a LaDainian Tomlinson owner. Though Tomlinson said he felt fine after Sunday's game, turf toe can be an especially menacing injury for running backs. As Gregg Rosenthal mentioned yesterday, it's way too premature to start "shoveling dirt on Tomlinson's grave," but Sproles is a must handcuff. www.sandiegochargers.ws

His 317 all-purpose yards and two touchdowns against the Broncos highlight Sproles' value in return yardage leagues as well. You don't have to be a Tomlinson owner or a Chargers fan to appreciate the Lionel "Little Train" James facsimile.

Recommendation: Should be owned in 12-team leagues

Michael Bush, Raiders - Nominal starter Justin Fargas went down with what appeared to be a fairly serious groin injury Sunday. Darren McFadden replaced him and blew the doors off the Chiefs defense to the tune of 164 yards before leaving with a turf toe injury of his own. www.oaklandraiders.ws

Keep tabs on McFadden's progress this week, but Bush's relief effort of 90 yards and a touchdown on 16 carries was a reminder of the damage he could inflict with the opportunity for regular carries.

Recommendation: Should be owned in 12-team leagues

Fred Jackson, Bills - The Bills coaching staff has been high on Jackson since the beginning of last season, and Sunday's impressive effort against the Jags showed why. Marshawn Lynch owners don't want to hear it, but Jackson will continue to 10-15 touches per week. A mandatory handcuff for Lynch owners, Jackson is also worth a flex look in PPR leagues.

Recommendation: Should be owned in 12-team leagues

Ahmad Bradshaw, Giants - An afterthought in Game 1, Bradshaw came on very strong in Week 2 garbage time against the Rams. Bradshaw doesn't appear to have a steady role in the Giants' attack, but his two touchdowns in limited playing time call to mind his January playoff heroics. An injury to either one of the backs ahead of him on the depth chart could leave the talented sophomore with startable weekly value. www.newyorkgiants.ws

Recommendation: Should be owned in 12-team leagues

Kenny Watson, Bengals - Our game-charter noted starter Chris Perry's lack of burst which is the predictable result of an injury-ravaged start to his NFL career. Regardless, the Bengals are using Perry heavily early on despite his lack of big-play ability. Should injury or ineffectiveness topple Perry in the coming weeks, Watson is capable of stepping in and repeating his steady late-season 2007 play.

Recommendation: Should be owned in 12-team leagues

LaMont Jordan, Patriots - The rock to Laurence Maroney's paper and Sammy Morris' scissors, Jordan crushed Morris in Week 2 carries while Maroney simply crumpled. We'll admit that we have no clue which back will be heavily used from week-to-week, but Jordan is as good of a bet as any of them. Not that the Pats would dare release injury info, but keep your ear to the ground on Maroney's apparent shoulder injury.

Recommendation: Should be owned in 12-team leagues

Brandon Jackson, Packers - Jackson flashes talent once in awhile, but he mixes in enough mental errors, drops, and missed blocks that he's left with little value beyond a Ryan Grant handcuff. Jackson's Week 2 performance against the Lions looks great on the surface, but dig deeper and you'll find a head coach lauding third stringer Kregg Lumpkin instead. www.greenbaypackers.ws

Recommendation: Should be owned in 12-team leagues


WIDE RECEIVERS

Bryant Johnson, 49ers - Isaac Bruce made more noise with long gainers, but Johnson appeared to be J.T. O'Sullivan's favorite target against the Seahawks. If that trend continues, Johnson will be worth a WR3 play more weeks than not.

Recommendation: Should be owned in 12-team leagues

Isaac Bruce, 49ers - Bruce was dropped in quite a few leagues after his zero catch opener, but he bounced back with his biggest game in almost five years. He was the big-play receiver in Martz's offense Sunday with each of his catches going for big yardage and setting up scores. If the team continues to feed him the ball, Bruce is a nice matchup option at WR3.

Recommendation: Should be owned in 12-team leagues

Matt Jones, Jaguars - The team leader in both receptions and yardage once again, Jones doesn't appear to be pulling his usual disappearing act this season. I've been standing behind him with crossed fingers, and he continues to put up WR3 numbers for his few remaining believers. Jones is overdue for a trip to the end zone in Week 3 against the Colts. www.jacksonvillejaguars.ws

Recommendation: Should be owned 12-team leagues

Justin Gage, Titans - Gage has never been the most exciting fantasy grab, but he managed five catches for 59 yards and a touchdown Sunday in one of the windiest game in NFL history. As long as Kerry Collins keeps Vince Young on the pine, Gage can be a matchup WR3 in deeper leagues.
www.tennesseetitans.ws
Recommendation: Should be owned in 12-team leagues

Antonio Bryant, Buccaneers - We may be guilty of over-hyping Bryant, but his opportunity just got better with Joey Galloway on crutches with a severe foot sprain. Don't expect huge weekly numbers in Tampa Bay's short passing game, but Bryant remains an interesting stash. www.tampabaybuccaneers.ws

Recommendation: Worth a look in 12-team leagues

James Jones, Packers - Jones is back to full health and is clearly the No. 3 receiver in Green Bay's fantasy friendly spread offense. He's too risky to start most weeks, but a Donald Driver or Greg Jennings injury would give him instant value. www.greenbaypackers.ws

Recommendation: Worth a look in deeper leagues

[URL="http://fantasyfootball.usatoday.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=NFL&id=378"]Kevin Curtis[/URL], Eagles / Deion Branch, Seahawks / Bobby Engram, Seahawks - All three veteran receivers are due back on the playing field in October. In many leagues the injured threesome is sitting on the waiver wire due to roster crunches. If you can afford to create the space, any of the trio could have startable value next month. Engram is the pick in PPR leagues while Curtis more interesting in big play leagues.

Recommendation: Worth a stash in 12-team leagues

Donnie Avery, Rams - In-season waiver wire lists constantly run the risk of devolving into retrospective point chasing, but last week's points will never help you in the future. Avery isn't an obvious Week 2 waiver wire selection, but the speedy second rounder could be an interesting gamble in deeper leagues.

Coach Scott Linehan has recently vowed to use the now healthy Avery going forward, and he has only the underwhelming Dane Looker to beat out for playing time.

Recommendation: Worth a look in deeper leagues

Koren Robinson, Seahawks? - The prodigal son was on the verge of returning to the Seahawks as of press time. If Billy McMullen can step in after one week of practicing and lead the team in wide receiver numbers, then Robinson can certainly advance to the head of the class by next week. He could be an interesting patch while Branch and Engram remain out.

Recommendation: Worth a look in 12-team leagues


TIGHT ENDS

Tony Scheffler, Broncos - If you're new to Broncos coach Mike Shanahan's depth chart shenanigans, you can be forgiven for dropping Scheffler when he was the team's No. 3 tight end behind even Nate Jackson several weeks ago. Scheffler was never in danger of being left out of the passing game, but he has been left on many leagues' waiver wires.

As explosive as the Broncos offense is, Scheffler has TE1 potential this season. Start him against the Saints this week.

Recommendation: Should be owned in all leagues

John Carlson, Seahawks - The rookie second rounder looked great Sunday, hauling in six of his eight targets for 78 yards. With his size and the dearth of available bodies at wide receiver for the Seahawks, Carlson is emerging as a prime Matt Hasselbeck target.

Recommendation: Should be owned in 12-team leagues

Ben Patrick, Cardinals - Deep leaguers will want to keep an eye on the promising second year tight end. Lorenzo Pope disappears for long stretches, and Patrick garnered four receptions on five targets against the Dolphins Sunday. www.arizonacardinals.ws

Recommendation: Worth a look in deeper leagues


TEAM DEFENSE

Bills - The return game and rejuvenated defense already made the Bills a promising fantasy defense, but they're even more attractive this week with the Raiders on the docket. www.buffalobills.ws

 

[Hache Man]

Re: Fantasy Football News 2008

Re: Fantasy Football News 2008

Receiverless in Seattle
Injuries have absolutely decimated Seattle's receiving corps, knocking out Nate Burleson and Logan Payne for the season and sidelining Bobby Engram, Deion Branch, and Seneca Wallace until at least next month. Left with the likes of Billy McMullen, Courtney Taylor, and Michael Bumpus at wideout in Week 3 against the 49ers, the Seahawks gave 27 carries to Julius Jones in a 33-30 loss.

Seattle added a pair of veteran pass-catchers Tuesday, signing Koren Robinson to a one-year contract and sending an undisclosed late-round pick to Denver for Keary Colbert. Robinson hasn't topped 500 yards since 2003 and Colbert was nearly cut by the Broncos at the end of training camp despite being handed a big bonus to sign in March, so they're hardly confidence-inspiring reinforcements.

With that said, the Seahawks simply needed someone capable of stepping into the voids created by injuries to their top five receivers and Robinson at least has a little short-term fantasy potential. He should be picked up in deeper leagues, but the best bet to post strong numbers until Branch and Engram return is rookie tight end John Carlson, who caught six balls for 78 yards in Week 2.

Meanwhile, Jones goes from fantasy afterthought to solid RB2 option in the span of two weeks. He averaged 4.9 yards per carry Sunday and caught three passes, getting 29 touches for his biggest workload since the 2005 season opener. They won't be quite as a hamstrung after adding Robinson and Colbert, but expect the Seahawks to give Jones another 20 touches in a nice matchup versus the Rams.

While Robinson returns to the scene of his lone 1,000-yard campaign six years later, here are some other notes from around football ?

* After getting just a dozen carries Sunday while being replaced by Kolby Smith and Jamaal Charles on passing downs, Larry Johnson used the post-game press conference to complain about his role. "Something's going on, I just don't know what it is," Johnson said. "I've always needed 20-30 carries, that's always been me. I'm going to sit down and talk with someone." www.kansascitychiefs.ws

Coach Herm Edwards and the Chiefs would no doubt gladly feed Johnson 20-30 times per game if he was still running like he did in 2005 or 2006, but those days are long gone. Since the beginning of last year Johnson has averaged a measly 3.4 per yards on 192 carries spread over 10 games. He remains plenty powerful, but has lost the speed and elusiveness that made him an elite runner.

Sadly he appears to be on the Shaun Alexander career path and likely will never be the same following his 416-carry workload in 2006. Being phased out of the passing game is merely the first step to lessening Johnson's role, but because both Smith and Charles profile more as third-down backs he probably won't lose a ton of carries yet. Actually doing something with those runs is another issue.

* Rookie Chad Henne was impressive Sunday while mopping up in the Dolphins' blowout loss to the Cardinals, but coach Tony Sparano said Tuesday that Chad Pennington remains the team's starter. However, Sparano added that Henne will continue to see action in lopsided games and the Dolphins will likely be on the wrong end of plenty of those, so he'll have ample opportunity to impress. www.miamidolphins.ws

Pennington hasn't been horrible, completing 36-of-63 (57.1 percent) passes for 363 yards, two touchdowns, and one interception, but his arm strength has gone from awful to essentially non-existent and he ranks 22nd in the league with just 5.8 yards per throw. Henne led the Dolphins to their lone Week 2 touchdown and threw for 62 yards in about nine minutes, showing off a vastly superior arm.

Two-Minute Drill: [URL="http://fantasyfootball.usatoday.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=NFL&id=4227"]Steve Smith[/URL] has officially returned to the Panthers following his two-game suspension and will resume starting Sunday ? Perhaps unsatisfied with Rudi Johnson backing up Kevin Smith, the Lions gave Tuesday tryouts to both Shaun Alexander and Cedric Benson ? Coach Bill Belichick said Tuesday that Randy Moss' poor Week 2 was due to the Jets constantly double-teaming him rather than Matt Cassel's inability to get him the ball ? Tampa Bay released Ben Troupe to make room for Jerramy Stevens on the roster Tuesday ? Initially said to be on the verge of being fired, coach Lane Kiffin's job now appears safe for another week ? According to coach Romeo Crennel, Braylon Edwards' slow start is due to his missing time with a preseason foot injury ? Rams owner Chip Rosenbloom indicated Tuesday that coach Scott Linehan's job will be in jeopardy if things don't "get better" following back-to-back blowout losses ? Atlanta cut 2007 fourth rounder Martrez Milner loose Tuesday ? Texans owner Bob McNair said Tuesday that the team's October 5 home game against the Colts may be played at Rice Stadium if repairs to Reliant Stadium aren't completed in time.

Red Zone: Coach Mike Tomlin clarified Ben Roethlisberger's status Tuesday by saying that his shoulder is sprained rather than separated, all but guaranteeing that he'll start this week ? According to coach Wade Phillips, Jason Witten will practice Wednesday and play in Week 3 despite suffering a partially separated shoulder Monday night ? Shawne Merriman underwent knee surgery Tuesday and now faces 6-7 months of rehab ? Mike Nugent (quadriceps) is expected to miss Week 3, giving Jay Feely another chance to kick for the Jets ? Following in Lawyer Milloy's footsteps, Tommy Kelly was arrested Monday and charged with suspicion of driving under the influence ? After going without a catch in Week 2, Bernard Berrian was seen walking with a noticeable limp Tuesday ? Defensive end Brett Keisel, who led Pittsburgh in quarterback pressures last year, is slated to miss at least a month after injuring his cal Sunday night ? [URL="http://fantasyfootball.usatoday.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=NFL&id=35"]Roy Williams[/URL]?the Cowboys coverage-challenged safety, not the Lions loud-mouthed receiver?is expected to miss at least one month after fracturing his forearm Monday night.

 

[Hache Man]

Re: Fantasy Football News 2008

Re: Fantasy Football News 2008

Crushing Expectations
In football, as in life, some things are crystal clear.

Joseph Addai didn't score. People who drive into E-Z Pass toll lanes, but then have to back up and move to a Cash Only lane because they forgot they don't have an E-Z Pass transponder, should face the death penalty. Jay Cutler fumbled. Anyone who claims they frequent Hooters "for the wings" actually means "for the hooters." Laurence Maroney, LenDale White and D'Angelo Williams will lose even more carries by the time you finish this sentence. Jobs with the highest mortality rate: 1. Logger. 2. Seattle Seahawks wide receiver. 3. Great White Shark trainer.

Some things, however, are not so clear, like whether or not two weeks is enough action by which to truly judge a player's stock. But I'll try . . . Ed Hochuli as my witness, I will try!

RISERS

Jay Cutler/Brandon Marshall: They lead the NFL's unexpectedly most potent offense, and have lit up two of the NFL's (alleged) top pass defenses. Don't even think about selling high. But Jay? Noel Gallagher wants his hair back. Kindly un-snap it and FedEx to Manchester, UK, post haste. Thanks.

Jonathan Stewart: It took only two games, but Stewart topped D'Angelo in carries (14 to 11) and scored twice against the tough Bears D. Consider Stewart a solid Flex play right now, with the upside of a weekly RB2 if he continues to usurp Williams. If you're deep at RB shop him hard to the D'Angelo owner. Otherwise, hold and enjoy the TD's, at least.

Tony Scheffler: Another MCI fave, Scheffler proved his worth again with a 6 catch/64 yard/2 TD game. Hold tight to this key cog of a potent passing offense, unless you can snag Winslow from someone who foolishly thinks the Browns offense is done or Witten from someone who fears that separated shoulder, because Scheff has battled some naggy little bruises himself in the past.

Calvin Johnson: Quick, name one receiver besides T.O. or Marshall that you'd deal Calvin for, straight-up. (Crickets.) Basically, Calvin's the poster boy for the man-crush until further notice. Side note: Roy chirped this week about being under-used, so we might see a spike in Kitna-to-Williams this weekend, but fear not. Calvin's the man.

Philip Rivers: Tied for the league lead in TDs (6) with his pal Cutler (kidding, they hate each other), Rivers has nice weapons and is taking advantage. That said, if you can pry a Peyton away from a semi-frustrated owner, feel free to sell Rivers high.

Darren McFadden Fargas wrenched his groin and DMac took advantage. Watch the turf toe possibilities, and pick up Michael Bush if you haven't already, but sky's the limit for McFadden. Or, well, the lame passing game and defenses stuffing the box is the limit, but he's got the talent to put up RB2 numbers if he gets 20 carries/game.

Darren Sproles: Shark owners drafted Jacob Hester over Sproles, thinking they'd snagged LT's real handcuff over their guppy league mates. Wrong. Sproles looks speedy and powerful, and would put up nice numbers if LT continues to battle his partially torn courage muscle. If you own Sproles and are set at RB, time to extort the LT owner and get yourself a stud WR or QB. Or, deal Sproles anyway on the off chance that LT is indeed healing.

Aaron Rodgers:After Akili Smith, Kyle Boller, Joey Harrington, and David Carr, man did Jeff Tedford need this for his resume! Without Rodgers' first two weeks, Tedford would be like Richard Williams . . . if Williams had created crappy, overrated scouting combine heroes instead of champion tennis players. But Rodgers is a nice sell high: he had his way with the Vikes and Lions. Yay. So if you can leverage his hot start and pry a Peyton away from his quasi-frustrated owner, or pair him with a stud RB or WR and snag Romo, go for it.

Hines Ward: 32-years-old and coming off knee surgery didn't get you jazzed up when you drafted him. But Ward has been the star of the Steeler passing game, with almost 6 catches per, nice in PPR leagues. Possible sell high note: Big Ben's shoulder is ailing, and Mike Tomlin vowed to "spread the ball around more" to WR's not named Ward and Holmes. Still, unless you can package him for a Reggie Wayne or Braylon, I'd hang onto Hines. He's been Ben's go-to guy in the red zone.

Julius Jones: Along with John Carlson, he's the last offensive man standing in Seattle. My advice: watch him run on the Rams this weekend and then deal him.
<!--RW-->
FALLERS

DeSean Jackson Actually, his value is still soaring. But next time, cross the stripe, dumbass.

Laurence Maroney Hurt, under-used and part of a 4-part RBBC is no way to go through life. If there's a Pats homer in your league who still believes and needs RB help, package Maroney with a WR for a better WR.

LT: If anyone out there works at NASA, please build me a time machine so I can go back to my Vegas draft and take Westbrook over LT. Now it's turf toe. If you have LT, after his first big game (assuming he has one) you might consider dealing him and his weekly "Questionable" tags for a slightly lesser RB1 and an upgrade at QB or WR.

Larry Johnson: When a bad coach (Herm Edwards) starts saying that a relative no-name 3rd-round, track star, preseason-fumblitis backup (Jamaal Charles) could start stealing carries from you, the outlook is bleak. Won't even get into the horrific Chiefs passing game (was that Yancey Thigpen at QB?) and O-Line, or the fact that LJ looked as nimble as one of the Klumps and couldn't penetrate the awful Raiders run D. If he has even a semblance of success this weekend, deal him to the lone Penn State alum in your league. Otherwise, you're stuck with a guy who might complain his way into more short term carries, sure, but that'll just mean a bunch of 23 carry/47 yard outbursts. Yay.

Vernon Davis: -- How long are people going to keep mentioning what a tremendous physical specimen Davis is? Mike Martz clearly doesn't care about body fat percentage when it comes to pass distribution. Davis will have some monster highlight plays, but will also completely disappear, as he did on Sunday. I'd still rather own Owen Daniels or Randy McMichael over the course of the season. Seriously.

Lane Kiffin The only way this situation could be more emasculating for Kiffin is if Al Davis publicly fired him the way Mr. Spacely would always fire George Jetson ? "Kiffin, yoooooou're fiiiiiirrrrred!!" -- and then post it on YouTube.

Ryan Grant: His owners had sugarplumb visions of Grant "going Michael Turner" on the Lions. Oops. Still, Grant is a decent buy-low candidate because (A) Brandon Jackson (hope you handcuffed him), while stealing carries, is also giving Grant rest and helping his hammy heal, (B) the Pack's passing game keeps defense honest and (C) he's clearly still working his way into game shape after a lost pre-season. Buy now ? maybe package a Chris Perry, Edge, LJ, McGahee or LenDale-type RB with a WR? -- give it a few weeks and hopefully reap the benefits from Week 6 or 7 on.

Tarvaris Jackson: Benched for Frerotte. 'Nuff said. But this could bode well for the stock of Bernard Berrian and Sidney Rice, as Frerotte can at least throw downfield with some degree of human accuracy.

Braylon Edwards: Tough start. Dropsies aplenty. But after having very little pre-season time together due to Derek Anderson's concussion, they played a tough Dallas D in Week 1 and then vs. Pittsburgh during a hurricane/locust swarm. So they'll take a little bit to shake the rust off, especially against BAL this week. But if you can get Edwards in a package featuring a hot starter like a DeSean Jackson, Eddie Royal or even Chris Chambers, go for it. I'm a little more wary on Anderson, however . . .while also a tad undervalued right now, he'll have a short Brady Quinn leash if Cleveland keeps losing.

Los Angeles Pro Football: OK, why doesn't Los Angeles have an NFL team yet? Reason I ask is, I'll be out in SoCal for the next ten days. In the past, whenever I've been in another city on a fall weekend, I've tried to catch an NFL game. Tailgate. Talk to hometown fans. Mooch free beer. Kinda my own "visit all 32 stadiums before I die" football geek vision quest. Saw the Bears at Soldier Field, Jets/Giants in the Meadowlands, the 'Skins (RFK, not FedEx), Steelers (Three Rivers, not PNC), Eagles (the Vet, not the Linc), Vikings in the Metrodome, Dolphins at Pro Player, Bills at Ralph Wilson, and the Falcons in the Georgia Dome. But that doesn't really count, because I lived in Atlanta that year (1996) and the 3-13 Falcons weren't quite an "NFL team." I've seen more fans at Pats rookie camp. At one point, I even strolled onto the field and took some snaps at QB. Everyone must have just assumed I was Browning Nagle.

But this weekend, sadly, there'll be no live football for Mark. While catching the Arizona-UCLA game at the Rose Bowl with David "dad-gone-wild" Hasselhoff and drunkenly hitting on his daughter's Tri Delt pals is tempting, I'm not a college fan. My LA friend Big Dog tells me Sonny McClain's is the big Pats bar, so if you want to buy me a bloody mary (or punch me in the throat) that's where I'll be for Sunday's games. But watching in a sports bar just won't be the same as soaking in the sights, smells and sounds of a live NFL game in some exotic, faraway land. Like Baltimore.

Look, I understand the actual reasons why the NFL hasn't returned to LA: stadium and infrastructure issues (it'd take an estimated billion dollars to make the Coliseum NFL-ready); tax issues; current NFL owners not wanting to share revenue with another expansion team; seat license and luxury suite sales problems; and, of course, incredible competition for fan/viewer attention from the LA Galaxy, LA Kings, USC-UCLA, Disneyworld, Knott's Berry Farm, La Brea tar pits, and the "Norbit" movie franchise. But seriously, are you telling me that Becks and Posh, Eddie Murphy or those pesky Scientologists couldn't afford a luxury suite or two?

It's been about 14 years since LA had pro ball, and though they claim that a team -- or two, so the league isn't an unbalanced 33 ? will move to SoCal in 2009, for all intents and purposes LA is virtually no different than, say, Glendive, Montana.

I'm sure Glendive is a perfectly nice place to live. Just ask famous Glendivians like porn-mustachioed hoopster Adam Morrison or composer Kamran Ince. (You also no doubt play in a fantasy Turkish-American composer league, so you probably knew he was from Montana). But paddlefishing is the top local activity (no time to explain, Google it). The closest pro team is the Vikings, almost 700 miles away. And the annual Buzzard Day celebrates the return of the turkey vulture to eastern Montana with an 8K "buzzard run" -- whether that means people running, or buzzards running and people wagering on them, I don't know. So there's clearly not a lot of time left over for football. Or many TV's on which to watch: Glendive is dead last in Nielsen's television market rankings -- #210 -- with 3,940 TV households.

Meanwhile, LA is the #2 media market, with 5,654,260 TV households. Hell, Harvey Weinstein probably has 3,940 TVs in his rumpus room alone. And SoCal also has a rich football tradition -- the "Fearsome Foursome" Rams, Marcus Allen's Raiders, USC, UCLA et al, and countless semi-pro teams ? not to mention rich people who have claimed they'd help fund a stadium. So this is about as incomprehensible as DirecTV cementing itself as the most evil corporation this side of Halliburton by making loyal customers pay extra for HD games. (Yes, this is my rally cry: Bring your dish down to your local DirecTV office and throw it through the window like Mookie in "Do the Right Thing.")

 

[Hache Man]

Re: Fantasy Football News 2008

Re: Fantasy Football News 2008

T-Jacked
As always my weekly live chat begins at 3:00 p.m. today, so plan on getting very little work done this afternoon while watching me field a few thousand questions about Darren Sproles and Tiffany Simons. My Week 1 chat drew 3,575 questions and last week's version featured 5,195 queries, so if things continue to grow at the same rate we're looking at 1.38 million questions in Week 17.

While you make the smart choice to get in early before the next 1.375 million hop on the live-chatting bandwagon, here are some notes from around football ?

* Showing the type of brilliant planning that he's become famous for since taking over as the Vikings' coach, Brad Childress gave Tarvaris Jackson a clear vote of confidence Sunday and then benched him less than 72 hours later. Gus Frerotte replaces Jackson, who for all his faults has managed to go 8-8 as an NFL starter despite being a 25-year-old who played Division I-AA college ball. www.minnesotavikings.ws

Of course, his decent record is due to the Vikings' running game and defense, as Jackson has completed just 57 percent of his throws for an average of 6.2 yards per attempt while being picked off 17 times versus 12 touchdowns. According to Childress he'll be Frerotte's backup "for the rest of the season," but Jackson's quick demotion shows that the team's plans are hardly set in stone.

Plus, at 37 years old Frerotte is unlikely to stay healthy for 14 games and rookie John David Booty isn't ready. In other words, we probably haven't seen the last of Jackson this year. While flip-flopping two weeks into the season is a bad sign, it's tough to call benching Jackson a mistake. His inability to consistently make even routine throws severely hamstrung an otherwise strong, win-now team.

Frerotte is far more capable of stretching the field and will open up the run-heavy offense on third downs, although with Sidney Rice and Bernard Berrian hurting it'll still be the [URL="http://fantasyfootball.usatoday.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=NFL&id=4169"]Adrian Peterson[/URL] Show in Week 3 against Carolina. Frerotte looks iffy as even a low-end QB2, but at least gives Berrian and Rice some semblance of fantasy potential if healthy and will mean fewer eight-man fronts for Peterson.

* Father Time has finally chased down Joey Galloway, who won't play this week and could miss multiple games with a sprained foot. Despite joining the Bucs as a 34-year-old, Galloway played in 47 of 48 games from 2005-2007, posting three straight 1,000-yard campaigns and 23 total touchdowns. His injury means that Antonio Bryant moves to split end, with Michael Clayton replacing him at flanker. www.tampabaybuccaneers.ws

Bryant has been very disappointing thus far, including a catchless Week 2, but is definitely worth being patient with and could emerge as a viable WR2 if Galloway is out for an extended period of time. For now though Bryant is little more than a WR3 option, especially with a tough Week 3 matchup at Chicago. Clayton might be a lost cause, but this is at least a chance for him to get back on the radar.

* Laurence Maroney and LaMont Jordan both sat out practice Wednesday, which for the Patriots tends to signal that players won't suit up Sunday. New England's backfield has suddenly gone from deep to thin, and Sammy Morris looks likely to make the Week 3 start against the Dolphins. Morris has shown some pretty solid potential in a part-time role and should definitely be owned in all leagues.

Even if Maroney and Jordan are both unavailable this week Morris would likely split snaps with Kevin Faulk, but should see most of the carries and any goal-line action. If it's determined by game time that he's the definite starter Morris would be a low-end RB2 play, but unfortunately the Patriots will never provide that type of clear-cut injury information, making him more of a RB3/FLEX option.

Two-Minute Drill: Coach John Fox said Wednesday that DeAngelo Williams will continue to start over Jonathan Stewart, but added that "both backs are capable of starting" ? Damon Huard is absent from the injury report, but the Chiefs will give Tyler Thigpen his first NFL start in Week 3 anyway ? Koren Robinson is already atop Seattle's receiver depth chart after signing Tuesday, which shows how desperate the team is for warm bodies to catch passes ? Meanwhile, the Broncos got a conditional 2009 fifth-round pick from the Seahawks in exchange for Keary Colbert, which probably qualifies as overpaying at this point ? Ronnie Brown took first-team snaps at practice Wednesday, but did the same thing last week before [URL="http://fantasyfootball.usatoday.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=NFL&id=1312"]Ricky Williams[/URL] started ? Detroit declined to sign Shaun Alexander or Cedric Benson after working them out Tuesday, leaving Rudi Johnson backing up Kevin Smith ? Dustin Keller has one catch through two games and saw just 14 offensive snaps in Week 2 ? Coach Wade Phillips said Wednesday that he wants Felix Jones more involved in the offense ? Ernest Wilford was called out by coach Tony Sparano after dropping three passes in practice Wednesday.

Red Zone: Ben Roethlisberger practiced fully Wednesday, quieting any concerns about his injured shoulder ? LaDainian Tomlinson sat out practice Wednesday, but said afterward that his toe feels "better than last week" ? Bob Sanders is expected to miss 4-6 weeks with a high-ankle sprain, leaving the already weak Colts run defense extremely vulnerable heading into a Week 3 matchup against Maurice Jones-Drew and Fred Taylor ? Despite hip and toe problems, Antonio Gates is absent from the injury report ? Donte' Stallworth (quadriceps) doesn't look ready to return this week after missing practice Wednesday ? Coach Lane Kiffin remarked "here we go again" after Javon Walker (hamstring) was unable to finish Wednesday's practice ? Dallas Clark (knee) has returned to practice and is set to play this week, taking a chunk from Anthony Gonzalez's value ? Coach Andy Reid said Wednesday that Reggie Brown (hamstring) won't start this week even if he's healthy enough to play ? Michael Turner is absent from the injury report for a nice matchup against the Chiefs ? Braylon Edwards was limited in practice Wednesday with an out-of-nowhere shoulder injury, but should play.

 

[Hache Man]

Re: Fantasy Football News 2008

Re: Fantasy Football News 2008

Week 3 Rankings
Trent Edwards became a franchise quarterback Sunday. On a third-and-six from the Jaguars 44, the Bills called for a max protection and a long double move by Lee Evans. Edwards' protection mostly held up, but Jaguars end Derrick Harvey got pressure from the right side. Edwards calmly stepped up in the pocket, avoided the hit, and delivered a gorgeous 37-yard strike that led Evans out of bounds. This was supposed to be an offense that couldn't make big plays. www.buffalobills.ws

On the next snap, Edwards showed his excellent touch with a teardrop 7-yard scoring toss to a leaping James Hardy. Two plays, 44 yards, and notice to the rest of the AFC that the Bills has a passing game.

The exciting part is that this offense has a lot of improving to do. Marshawn Lynch is one of the ten best backs in the NFL, but he hasn't got rolling just yet. Look for that to change with Oakland and St. Louis coming up, not to mention a 4-0 start for the year. Left tackle Jason Peters, who gave up a strip sack on Sunday, is still rounding into form. And there should be more big plays coming, as the Bills continue to expand their offense.

There are bigger fantasy stories out there at quarterback (The post-surgery Philip Rivers is better than pre-surgery), but Edwards' emergence has an impact. Lee Evans will be the guy we thought he was going to be last year. Marshawn Lynch can fulfill his top-five upside on an improving offense. Even fast Freddie Jackson is turning into Reggie Bush-lite. It sounds like heresy, but the Bills could wind up with the most effective quarterback in the AFC East.

Head to Season Pass for exclusive projections for every ranked player. Enter your roster and scoring system and let the Rotoworld Oracle choose your lineup.

[SIZE=+1]Week 3 Quarterbacks[/SIZE]

<TABLE width="100%"><TBODY><TR class=TableTopRed><TD>Rank</TD><TD>Player Name</TD><TD>Opponent</TD><TD>Notes</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>1</TD><TD>Tony Romo</TD><TD>at GB</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>2</TD><TD>Jay Cutler</TD><TD>vs. NO</TD><TD></TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>3</TD><TD>Peyton Manning</TD><TD>vs. JAC</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>4</TD><TD>Donovan McNabb</TD><TD>vs. PIT</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>5</TD><TD>Drew Brees</TD><TD>at DEN</TD><TD>No Colston hurt </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>6</TD><TD>Ben Roethlisberger</TD><TD>at PHI</TD><TD>Not worried about shoulder</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>7</TD><TD>Kurt Warner</TD><TD>at WAS</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>8</TD><TD>Eli Manning</TD><TD>vs. CIN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>9</TD><TD>Aaron Rodgers</TD><TD>vs. DAL</TD><TD>Matchup proof?</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>10</TD><TD>Philip Rivers</TD><TD>vs. NYJ</TD><TD>Surprise of the year</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>11</TD><TD>J.T. O'Sullivan</TD><TD>vs. DET</TD><TD>JTO Fever</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>12</TD><TD>Carson Palmer</TD><TD>at NYG</TD><TD>Nightmare schedule continues</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>13</TD><TD>Matt Hasselbeck</TD><TD>vs. STL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>14</TD><TD>Matt Schaub</TD><TD>at TEN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>15</TD><TD>Brett Favre</TD><TD>at SD</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>16</TD><TD>Matt Cassel</TD><TD>vs. MIA</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>17</TD><TD>Derek Anderson</TD><TD>at BAL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>18</TD><TD>Jon Kitna</TD><TD>at SF</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>19</TD><TD>David Garrard</TD><TD>at IND</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>20</TD><TD>Trent Edwards</TD><TD>vs. OAK</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>21</TD><TD>Jake Delhomme</TD><TD>at MIN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>22</TD><TD>Marc Bulger</TD><TD>at SEA</TD><TD>Seahawks have given up big plays</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>23</TD><TD>Jason Campbell</TD><TD>vs. ARZ</TD><TD>Let's see it again</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>24</TD><TD>Kerry Collins</TD><TD>vs. HOU</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>25</TD><TD>Brian Griese</TD><TD>at CHI</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>26</TD><TD>Gus Frerotte</TD><TD>vs. CAR</TD><TD>The savior?</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>27</TD><TD>Chad Pennington</TD><TD>at NE</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>28</TD><TD>Kyle Orton</TD><TD>vs. TB</TD><TD>Can't go deep</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>29</TD><TD>Matt Ryan</TD><TD>vs. KC</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>30</TD><TD>Joe Flacco</TD><TD>vs. CLE</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>31</TD><TD>JaMarcus Russell</TD><TD>at BUF</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>32</TD><TD>Damon Huard</TD><TD>at ATL</TD><TD>Won't start</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>33</TD><TD>Tyler Thigpen</TD><TD>at ATL</TD><TD>Bet he won't finish</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

Notes: We're going to change some things up this week with Goal Line Stand. Instead of the usual player notes Thursday under the rankings, I'm going to post matchup preview notes for each game on Friday. This schedule could last one week, it could last the season. I know this is changing up the routine from the last five years, but give it a chance and let me know what you think after Friday. We'll still post the updated Goal Line Rankings here on Friday evening.
<!--RW-->
[SIZE=+1]Week 3 Running Backs[/SIZE]

<TABLE width="100%"><TBODY><TR class=TableTopRed><TD>Rank</TD><TD>Player Name</TD><TD>Opponent</TD><TD>Notes</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>1</TD><TD>[URL="http://fantasyfootball.usatoday.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=NFL&id=4169"]Adrian Peterson[/URL]</TD><TD>vs. CAR</TD><TD>Watch practice reports</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>2</TD><TD>Frank Gore</TD><TD>vs. DET</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>3</TD><TD>Brian Westbrook</TD><TD>vs. PIT</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>4</TD><TD>Marshawn Lynch</TD><TD>vs. OAK</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>5</TD><TD>Marion Barber</TD><TD>at GB</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>6</TD><TD>LaDainian Tomlinson</TD><TD>vs. NYJ</TD><TD>Expected to start</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>7</TD><TD>[URL="http://fantasyfootball.usatoday.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=NFL&id=1663"]Steven Jackson[/URL]</TD><TD>at SEA</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>8</TD><TD>Joseph Addai</TD><TD>vs. JAC</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>9</TD><TD>Clinton Portis</TD><TD>vs. ARZ</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>10</TD><TD>Brandon Jacobs</TD><TD>vs. CIN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>11</TD><TD>Ryan Grant</TD><TD>vs. DAL</TD><TD></TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>12</TD><TD>Willie Parker</TD><TD>at PHI</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>13</TD><TD>Michael Turner</TD><TD>vs. KC</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>14</TD><TD>Darren McFadden</TD><TD>at BUF</TD><TD>Keep eye on toe injury</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>15</TD><TD>Matt Forte</TD><TD>vs. TB</TD><TD></TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>16</TD><TD>Reggie Bush</TD><TD>at DEN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>17</TD><TD>[URL="http://fantasyfootball.usatoday.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=NFL&id=4743"]Chris Johnson[/URL]</TD><TD>vs. HOU</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>18</TD><TD>Maurice Jones-Drew</TD><TD>at IND</TD><TD>If they can't do it now?</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>19</TD><TD>Earnest Graham</TD><TD>at CHI</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>20</TD><TD>Thomas Jones</TD><TD>at SD</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>21</TD><TD>Larry Johnson</TD><TD>at ATL</TD><TD>Matchup is right</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>22</TD><TD>Jamal Lewis</TD><TD>at BAL</TD><TD></TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>23</TD><TD>Julius Jones</TD><TD>vs. STL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>24</TD><TD>LenDale White</TD><TD>vs. HOU</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>25</TD><TD>Jonathan Stewart</TD><TD>at MIN</TD><TD>Taking over </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>26</TD><TD>Chris Perry</TD><TD>at NYG</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>27</TD><TD>Kevin Smith</TD><TD>at SF</TD><TD>49ers have been soft</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>28</TD><TD>Selvin Young</TD><TD>vs. NO</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>29</TD><TD>Willis McGahee</TD><TD>vs. CLE</TD><TD>RBBC?</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>30</TD><TD>Laurence Maroney</TD><TD>vs. MIA</TD><TD>Questionable(shoulder)</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>31</TD><TD>Fred Taylor</TD><TD>at IND</TD><TD></TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>32</TD><TD>Edgerrin James</TD><TD>at WAS</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>33</TD><TD>Steve Slaton</TD><TD>at TEN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>34</TD><TD>DeAngelo Williams</TD><TD>at MIN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>35</TD><TD>Ronnie Brown</TD><TD>at NE</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>36</TD><TD>Ray Rice</TD><TD>vs. CLE</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>37</TD><TD>Pierre Thomas</TD><TD>at DEN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>38</TD><TD>[URL="http://fantasyfootball.usatoday.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=NFL&id=1312"]Ricky Williams[/URL]</TD><TD>at NE</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>39</TD><TD>Darren Sproles</TD><TD>vs. NYJ</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>40</TD><TD>Fred Jackson</TD><TD>vs. OAK</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>41</TD><TD>Michael Bush</TD><TD>at BUF</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>42</TD><TD>Felix Jones</TD><TD>at GB</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>43</TD><TD>Andre Hall</TD><TD>vs. NO</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>44</TD><TD>Ahmad Bradshaw</TD><TD>vs. CIN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>45</TD><TD>Sammy Morris</TD><TD>vs. MIA</TD><TD>Move up if Maroney is out</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>46</TD><TD>Jerious Norwood</TD><TD>vs. KC</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>47</TD><TD>Chester Taylor</TD><TD>vs. CAR</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>48</TD><TD>Warrick Dunn</TD><TD>at CHI</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>49</TD><TD>Tim Hightower</TD><TD>at WAS</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>50</TD><TD>Brandon Jackson</TD><TD>vs. DAL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>51</TD><TD>Chris Taylor</TD><TD>at TEN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>52</TD><TD>Leon Washington</TD><TD>at SD</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>53</TD><TD>LaMont Jordan</TD><TD>vs. MIA</TD><TD>Keep eye on status</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>54</TD><TD>LeRon McClain</TD><TD>vs. CLE</TD><TD></TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>55</TD><TD>Ladell Betts</TD><TD>vs. ARZ</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>56</TD><TD>Kenny Watson</TD><TD>at NYG</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>57</TD><TD>Rashard Mendenhall</TD><TD>at PHI</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>58</TD><TD>Jamaal Charles</TD><TD>at ATL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>59</TD><TD>Kevin Jones</TD><TD>vs. TB</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>60</TD><TD>Rudi Johnson</TD><TD>at SF</TD><TD>- </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

[SIZE=+1]Week 3 Wide Receivers[/SIZE]

<TABLE width="100%"><TBODY><TR class=TableTopRed><TD>Rank</TD><TD>Player Name</TD><TD>Opponent</TD><TD>Notes</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>1</TD><TD>Brandon Marshall</TD><TD>vs. NO</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>2</TD><TD>Terrell Owens</TD><TD>at GB</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>3</TD><TD>Larry Fitzgerald</TD><TD>at WAS</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>4</TD><TD>Reggie Wayne</TD><TD>vs. JAC</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>5</TD><TD>[URL="http://fantasyfootball.usatoday.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=NFL&id=4227"]Steve Smith[/URL]</TD><TD>at MIN</TD><TD></TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>6</TD><TD>Randy Moss</TD><TD>vs. MIA</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>7</TD><TD>Andre Johnson</TD><TD>at TEN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>8</TD><TD>Plaxico Burress</TD><TD>vs. CIN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>9</TD><TD>Anquan Boldin</TD><TD>at WAS</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>10</TD><TD>Calvin Johnson</TD><TD>at SF</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>11</TD><TD>Braylon Edwards</TD><TD>at BAL</TD><TD></TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>12</TD><TD>Santonio Holmes</TD><TD>at PHI</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>13</TD><TD>Chad Ocho Cinco</TD><TD>at NYG</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>14</TD><TD>Jerricho Cotchery</TD><TD>at SD</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>15</TD><TD>Greg Jennings</TD><TD>vs. DAL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>16</TD><TD>T.J. Houshmandzadeh</TD><TD>at NYG</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>17</TD><TD>Wes Welker</TD><TD>vs. MIA</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>18</TD><TD>[URL="http://fantasyfootball.usatoday.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=NFL&id=35"]Roy Williams[/URL]</TD><TD>at SF</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>19</TD><TD>Torry Holt</TD><TD>at SEA</TD><TD>Lucky TD, but Seahawks CBs are struggling</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>20</TD><TD>Dwayne Bowe</TD><TD>at ATL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>21</TD><TD>Marvin Harrison</TD><TD>vs. JAC</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>22</TD><TD>Hines Ward</TD><TD>at PHI</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>23</TD><TD>Santana Moss</TD><TD>vs. ARZ</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>24</TD><TD>Lee Evans</TD><TD>vs. OAK</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>25</TD><TD>DeSean Jackson</TD><TD>vs. PIT</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>26</TD><TD>Eddie Royal</TD><TD>vs. NO</TD><TD></TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>27</TD><TD>Laveranues Coles</TD><TD>at SD</TD><TD></TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>28</TD><TD>Donald Driver</TD><TD>vs. DAL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>29</TD><TD>Anthony Gonzalez</TD><TD>vs. JAC</TD><TD>Clark's return won't help</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>30</TD><TD>Roddy White</TD><TD>vs. KC</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>31</TD><TD>Chris Chambers</TD><TD>vs. NYJ</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>32</TD><TD>Patrick Crayton</TD><TD>at GB</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>33</TD><TD>Bryant Johnson</TD><TD>vs. DET</TD><TD>Mike Martz's revenge</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>34</TD><TD>Isaac Bruce</TD><TD>vs. DET</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>35</TD><TD>Vincent Jackson</TD><TD>vs. NYJ</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>36</TD><TD>Antonio Bryant</TD><TD>at CHI</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>37</TD><TD>David Patten</TD><TD>at DEN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>38</TD><TD>Amani Toomer</TD><TD>vs. CIN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>39</TD><TD>Matt Jones</TD><TD>at IND</TD><TD>Seems locked in as starter</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>40</TD><TD>Jerry Porter</TD><TD>at IND</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>41</TD><TD>Bernard Berrian</TD><TD>vs. CAR</TD><TD>Probable(foot)</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>42</TD><TD>Justin Gage</TD><TD>vs. HOU</TD><TD>Watch status</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>43</TD><TD>Antwaan Randle El</TD><TD>vs. ARZ</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>44</TD><TD>James Jones</TD><TD>vs. DAL</TD><TD></TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>45</TD><TD>Kevin Walter</TD><TD>at TEN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>46</TD><TD>Ronald Curry</TD><TD>at BUF</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>47</TD><TD>Arnaz Battle</TD><TD>vs. DET</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>48</TD><TD>Courtney Taylor</TD><TD>vs. STL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>49</TD><TD>D.J. Hackett</TD><TD>at MIN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>50</TD><TD>Mark Clayton</TD><TD>vs. CLE</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>51</TD><TD>Brandon Lloyd</TD><TD>vs. TB</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>52</TD><TD>Derrick Mason</TD><TD>vs. CLE</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>53</TD><TD>Muhsin Muhammad</TD><TD>at MIN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>54</TD><TD>Sidney Rice</TD><TD>vs. CAR</TD><TD>Questionable(knee)</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>55</TD><TD>Koren Robinson</TD><TD>vs. STL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>56</TD><TD>Hank Baskett</TD><TD>vs. PIT</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>57</TD><TD>Greg Camarillo</TD><TD>at NE</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>58</TD><TD>Ted Ginn Jr.</TD><TD>at NE</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>59</TD><TD>Michael Clayton</TD><TD>at CHI</TD><TD>- </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
<!--RW-->

[SIZE=+1]Week 3 Tight Ends[/SIZE]

<TABLE width="100%"><TBODY><TR class=TableTopRed><TD>Rank</TD><TD>Player Name</TD><TD>Opponent</TD><TD>Notes</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>1</TD><TD>Jason Witten</TD><TD>at GB</TD><TD></TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>2</TD><TD>Antonio Gates</TD><TD>vs. NYJ</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>3</TD><TD>Kellen Winslow</TD><TD>at BAL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>4</TD><TD>Tony Gonzalez</TD><TD>at ATL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>5</TD><TD>Jeremy Shockey</TD><TD>at DEN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>6</TD><TD>Tony Scheffler</TD><TD>vs. NO</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>7</TD><TD>Chris Cooley</TD><TD>vs. ARZ</TD><TD></TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>8</TD><TD>Todd Heap</TD><TD>vs. CLE</TD><TD></TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>9</TD><TD>Vernon Davis</TD><TD>vs. DET</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>10</TD><TD>John Carlson</TD><TD>vs. STL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>11</TD><TD>Owen Daniels</TD><TD>at TEN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>12</TD><TD>Dallas Clark</TD><TD>vs. JAC</TD><TD>Expected to return</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>13</TD><TD>L.J. Smith</TD><TD>vs. PIT</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>14</TD><TD>Heath Miller</TD><TD>at PHI</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>15</TD><TD>Greg Olsen</TD><TD>vs. TB</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>16</TD><TD>Zach Miller</TD><TD>at BUF</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>17</TD><TD>Randy McMichael</TD><TD>at SEA</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>18</TD><TD>Dante Rosario</TD><TD>at MIN</TD><TD></TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>19</TD><TD>Marcedes Lewis</TD><TD>at IND</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>20</TD><TD>Alge Crumpler</TD><TD>vs. HOU</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>21</TD><TD>Donald Lee</TD><TD>vs. DAL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>22</TD><TD>Desmond Clark</TD><TD>vs. TB</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>23</TD><TD>Anthony Fasano</TD><TD>at NE</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>24</TD><TD>Bo Scaife</TD><TD>vs. HOU</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>25</TD><TD>David Martin</TD><TD>at NE</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>26</TD><TD>Kevin Boss</TD><TD>vs. CIN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

[SIZE=+1]Week 3 Team Defense[/SIZE]

<TABLE width="100%"><TBODY><TR class=TableTopRed><TD>Rank</TD><TD>Player Name</TD><TD>Opponent</TD><TD>Notes</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>1</TD><TD>Patriots Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>vs. MIA</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>2</TD><TD>Bears Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>vs. TB</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>3</TD><TD>Titans Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>vs. HOU</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>4</TD><TD>Bills Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>vs. OAK</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>5</TD><TD>Buccaneers Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>at CHI</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>6</TD><TD>Giants Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>vs. CIN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>7</TD><TD>Seahawks Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>vs. STL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>8</TD><TD>Ravens Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>vs. CLE</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>9</TD><TD>Colts Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>vs. JAC</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>10</TD><TD>Steelers Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>at PHI</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>11</TD><TD>Vikings Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>vs. CAR</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>12</TD><TD>Browns Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>at BAL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>13</TD><TD>Texans Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>at TEN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>14</TD><TD>Panthers Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>at MIN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>15</TD><TD>Cowboys Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>at GB</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>16</TD><TD>Eagles Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>vs. PIT</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>17</TD><TD>Packers Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>vs. DAL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>18</TD><TD>Chargers Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>vs. NYJ</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>19</TD><TD>Chiefs Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>at ATL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>20</TD><TD>Broncos Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>vs. NO</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>21</TD><TD>Fortyniners Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>vs. DET</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>22</TD><TD>Falcons Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>vs. KC</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>23</TD><TD>Cardinals Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>at WAS</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>24</TD><TD>Jaguars Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>at IND</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>25</TD><TD>Jets Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>at SD</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>26</TD><TD>Lions Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>at SF</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>27</TD><TD>Redskins Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>vs. ARZ</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>28</TD><TD>Bengals Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>at NYG</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>29</TD><TD>Raiders Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>at BUF</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>30</TD><TD>Dolphins Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>at NE</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>31</TD><TD>Saints Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>at DEN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>32</TD><TD>Rams Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>at SEA</TD><TD>- </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

[SIZE=+1]Week 3 Kickers[/SIZE]

<TABLE width="100%"><TBODY><TR class=TableTopRed><TD>Rank</TD><TD>Player Name</TD><TD>Opponent</TD><TD>Notes</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>1</TD><TD>Nick Folk</TD><TD>at GB</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>2</TD><TD>Stephen Gostkowski</TD><TD>vs. MIA</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>3</TD><TD>Mason Crosby</TD><TD>vs. DAL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>4</TD><TD>Josh Brown</TD><TD>at SEA</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>5</TD><TD>Nate Kaeding</TD><TD>vs. NYJ</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>6</TD><TD>Ryan Longwell</TD><TD>vs. CAR</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>7</TD><TD>Rob Bironas</TD><TD>vs. HOU</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>8</TD><TD>Josh Scobee</TD><TD>at IND</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>9</TD><TD>Robbie Gould</TD><TD>vs. TB</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>10</TD><TD>Joe Nedney</TD><TD>vs. DET</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>11</TD><TD>Martin Gramatica</TD><TD>at DEN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>12</TD><TD>Shayne Graham</TD><TD>at NYG</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>13</TD><TD>Adam Vinatieri</TD><TD>vs. JAC</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>14</TD><TD>Matt Prater</TD><TD>vs. NO</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>15</TD><TD>Sebastian Janikowski</TD><TD>at BUF</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>16</TD><TD>Jeff Reed</TD><TD>at PHI</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>17</TD><TD>John Kasay</TD><TD>at MIN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>18</TD><TD>Olindo Mare</TD><TD>vs. STL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>19</TD><TD>David Akers</TD><TD>vs. PIT</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>20</TD><TD>Neil Rackers</TD><TD>at WAS</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>21</TD><TD>Jason Hanson</TD><TD>at SF</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>22</TD><TD>Phil Dawson</TD><TD>at BAL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>23</TD><TD>John Carney</TD><TD>vs. CIN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>24</TD><TD>Matt Bryant</TD><TD>at CHI</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>25</TD><TD>Rian Lindell</TD><TD>vs. OAK</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>26</TD><TD>Jason Elam</TD><TD>vs. KC</TD><TD>Questionable(hip)</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>27</TD><TD>Matt Stover</TD><TD>vs. CLE</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>28</TD><TD>Jay Feely</TD><TD>at SD</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>29</TD><TD>Kris Brown</TD><TD>at TEN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>30</TD><TD>Shaun Suisham</TD><TD>vs. ARZ</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>31</TD><TD>Dan Carpenter</TD><TD>at NE</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>32</TD><TD>Nick Novak</TD><TD>at ATL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

 

[Hache Man]

Re: Fantasy Football News 2008

Re: Fantasy Football News 2008

Can the Jags Still Run?
Jacksonville's ground game has been very disappointing through two weeks as Maurice Jones-Drew and Fred Taylor have combined for a measly 97 yards on 35 carries. However, it's important to consider that the Jaguars' interior offensive line has been crushed by injuries and they've faced a pair of strong run-stopping defenses in the Titans and Bills. www.jacksonvillejaguars.ws

This week's game is crucial, because on paper at least MJD and Taylor should run wild on the Colts even if their offensive line isn't much healthier. Indianapolis' undersized front line was pushed around by Chicago in Week 1 (39 runs for 183 yards) and Minnesota in Week 2 (35 runs for 180 yards), and the team ranks just 26th in opponent's yards per carry at 4.8 overall.

Plus, the Colts are now without Bob Sanders, a truly elite defender who normally plays a huge part in defending the run from his safety spot. If the Jaguars can't run successfully this week it'll officially be time to worry, but both MJD and Taylor should be in for productive games. Gregg Rosenthal's weekly Goal Line Stand rankings have MJD as RB18 and Taylor as RB31, and that may be conservative.

While the Jaguars try to rediscover the top-three rushing attack that they had in both 2006 and 2007, here are some other notes from around football ?

* [URL="http://fantasyfootball.usatoday.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=NFL&id=4169"]Adrian Peterson[/URL] remained in Sunday's game despite taking an ugly looking hit to the back of his leg, racking up 160 yards on 29 carries. However, 118 of those yards came in the first half, leading to speculation that he was at less than full strength after halftime. Those concerns grew louder Thursday when Peterson sat out practice and admitted that his hamstring got "tight" following the hit. www.minnesotavikings.ws

"It's just soreness," Peterson said. "I'm just taking it one day at a time and giving it rest." Coach Brad Childress never reveals much on the injury front because he wants to be like Bill Belichick, but hinted that Peterson could be a game-time decision Sunday. Whatever the case Purple Jesus has zero chance of seeing 34 touches again versus Carolina, so expect increased action for Chester Taylor.

Incidentally, Week 2 was the 16th game of Peterson's career (although just 11 of them are starts). Through his first "full season" he's gained 1,604 yards on 286 rushes (5.6 yards per carry), caught 24 balls for 299 yards, and scored 14 times. Peterson has topped 100 yards eight times while cracking 200 yards twice, and will have a decent passer in the backfield with him Sunday for the first time.

* Frank Gore owners were likely worried about his carries when Mike Martz and his pass-happy offense arrived in San Francisco, but so far at least the marriage has been a good fit. Martz has shown rare commitment to the run game, leading to 42 touches in two games for Gore, yet his reputation as a pass-first offensive coordinator kept the Cardinals and Seahawks from using eight-man fronts.

In fact, the San Francisco Chronicle notes that the 49ers saw an eight-man front just 12 times through two weeks, which is remarkably low for a team with an elite back. Teams will eventually adjust if Martz keeps feeding Gore so often, but he'll be running over extra defensive backs all year. Gore has a great matchup versus Detroit and is my favorite running back option this week with Peterson hurting.

* My weekly live chat was a bust yesterday, as the company that hosts the event had major technical difficulties, leaving thousands of questions unanswered and sadly forcing far too many loyal Rotoworld readers to actually work on Thursday afternoon. Fortunately there's another live chat scheduled for today, so Season Pass subscribers can get answers from Gregg Rosenthal at 3:00 p.m. ET.

Two-Minute Drill: Brandon Marshall could be facing another suspension if found guilty of new misdemeanor battery charges stemming from an incident in March, but there's no reason for his owners to panic given that his trial isn't due to start until at least November ? Along with losing third-down snaps in bunches, Larry Johnson is beginning to see some of his goal-line work go elsewhere ? Coach Herm Edwards revealed Wednesday that Tyler Thigpen will be on a short leash this week in his first NFL start, adding that Damon Huard "really plays the best" when he comes off the bench ? Jeff Garcia is reportedly on the trading block, with Minnesota and Kansas City seemingly the most likely destinations ? Coach Romeo Crennel said Thursday that Jerome Harrison will see increased playing time, but without a Jamal Lewis injury he's merely a handcuff ? Chansi Stuckey leads Jets receivers in catches and touchdowns through two games, and coach Eric Mangini recently compared him to Deion Branch ? Meanwhile, Brad Smith has zero catches after showing some promise as a receiver last season.

Red Zone: Willis McGahee (knee) has been removed from the injury report, but still figures to split Week 3 snaps with Ray Rice ? LaDainian Tomlinson (toe) sat out his second straight practice Thursday, but continues to insist that he'll suit up this week ? Quickly moved atop the depth chart after signing earlier this week, Koren Robinson sat out practice Thursday with knee soreness ? Initially absent from the injury report, Jerry Porter's hamstring injury has him back on the list and iffy to make his Jaguars debut this week ?. Laurence Maroney (shoulder) and LaMont Jordan (foot) both missed a second straight practice Thursday, leaving Sammy Morris as the likely Week 3 starter and a decent RB3/Flex play ? Dallas Clark (knee) is absent from the injury report after sitting out Week 2, which saps much of Anthony Gonzalez's short-term value ?Coach Romeo Crennel indicated Thursday that Donte' Stallworth (quadriceps) may be a game-time decision this week, but that seems pretty optimistic after he sat out a second straight practice Thursday ? According to coach Jeff Fisher, Vince Young may sit in the coaches' box rather than potentially hearing from fans on the sidelines. www.tennesseetitans.ws

 

[Hache Man]

Re: Fantasy Football News 2008

Re: Fantasy Football News 2008

Setting the Table
Goal Line Stand readers noticed that I skipped the usual notes with the rankings this week to try something different.

Below is something different: One big game breakdown, seven games covered in depth, and quick hits on the rest. This column may get canceled faster than a Jay Mohr show or it may come back in different form (Goal Line Stand: Special Victims Unit?). It may also drive me insane. Let me know what you think.

And join me for a subscriber only chat on Season Pass Friday at 3ET.

[SIZE=+1]1. The Big Game: Jaguars @ Colts[/SIZE]
www.indianapoliscolts.ws
The Big Question: Is the Colts rush defense worse than the Jags' offensive line?

On tape, the Jaguars are worse. While the Colts have been pushed around, Jacksonville's offensive line was a disaster against Buffalo. Fred Taylor is working extremely hard just to beat defenders to get back to the line of scrimmage. There are a lot of missed assignments and communication problems because of the replacement starters. Still, if Jack Del Rio is going down, he's going to do it playing Jaguar Football. Jacksonville will be running coming off the bus, and they will get Mo-Jo involved earlier in the game. I'm betting rebound game for both Jaguar backs, with Mo-Jo a solid RB2 and Fred Taylor a reasonable flex game.

David Garrard owners aren't so lucky. The vertical passing game is non-existent because he has no time in the pocket. The longest pass play against the Bills was a 15-yard screen to MJD. Getting Jerry Porter back would help, but only so much against the Colts. Indy can still rush the passer and prevent the big play. I'd sit Garrard if possible. Matt Jones, Jacksonville's best receiver, is a reasonable flex play in PPR leagues, but don't bet on big plays. www.jacksonvillejaguars.ws

The Colts are not the same

Don't let Indy's second-half miracle against the Vikings fool you. This team is not the same and can't wait for the bye week. They can't run the stretch play because Peyton Manning isn't mobile enough to get to the edge fast enough. Their offensive line is collapsing inside, forcing Manning to get rid of the ball too fast. A man named Tom Santi is playing way too big a role.

Manning is hanging on in fantasy leagues because the Colts are throwing like crazy. We are so used to the Colts playing from ahead, we've never seen what it would be like for Manning to attempt playing catch-up. Manning is on pace for 720 attempts! His first two games had more attempts than any personal two game span since 2001. The yards, however, inefficient, will come.

I went into the season thinking Joseph Addai was the safest pick in fantasy football other than LT2 to score ten touchdowns, but that assumed the Colts offense was going to be elite. I still think they can get there, but they aren't yet.

Look for Addai to see more action in the receiving game. Jacksonville's linebackers had all sorts of problems with Fred Jackson. The Colts could line up Addai and Dominic Rhodes together like the Bills did with Jackson and Marshawn Lynch. Frustrated owners still have to play Addai.

Marvin Harrison is a borderline WR2. I'd give him another week, but watch the snaps between him and Anthony Gonzalez. Gonzo had eleven targets last week compared to four for Harrison. Now that Dallas Clark is back, who loses the snaps? My guess is Gonzalez and Clark will share time, while the Colts try to get Harrison involved. The veteran still needs to prove he can create separation. I thought Clark was a borderline TE1 heading into the season, and feel the same now.

[SIZE=+1]2. Raiders @ Bills[/SIZE]
www.buffalobills.ws
The Big Question: Can the Raiders keep running?

Some message board posters thought I had Michael Bush too low, but the rankings assume that Darren McFadden will start. And it still looks like he will. While Bush would move up to a decent flex play if McFadden is out, I wouldn't go crazy. I love how Buffalo's rush defense is playing. I don't love what I saw from Bush despite the solid surface stats against Kansas City. ? Bush's hope is that Oakland's line will continue to blow open huge holes for their backs. Darren McFadden showed great burst and he runs tougher than I expected, but it's not like he had to make people miss last week. He had huge lanes to run through. Despite the tough matchup and the toe problem, McFadden is a RB2 if he starts. ? JaMarcus Russell doesn't seem far along in his development. I didn't see him look to a secondary receiver once. Sometimes his throws were comically early, way before the receivers were ready. Russell is turning Ronald Curry and Zach Miller into fantasy reserves. That is especially true against a strong Bills defense, which is a great play this week. ? Javon Walker played behind Johnnie Lee Higgins last week. It's safe to give up on him. www.oaklandraiders.ws

Buffalo Rising

The intro to the rankings included all I needed to say about Buffalo. This isn't a great week to test drive Trent Edwards as a QB1 because Oakland's secondary remains the strength of the team, and the Bills should be playing from ahead. ? Marshawn Lynch should get plenty of work in this one, and is overdue to uncork a 100-yard game.

[SIZE=+1]3. Panthers @ Vikings[/SIZE]
www.minnesotavikings.ws
The Big Question: Will [URL="http://fantasyfootball.usatoday.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=NFL&id=4169"]Adrian Peterson[/URL] play?

My rule of thumb: If a player finishes the week prior, and practices at all during the week, he's probably going to play. This isn't full proof, but it would be a surprise if AP is out in a game the Vikings are desperate to win. Look for Brad Childress to be more cautious with his workload this week. ? Gus Frerotte has an underrated arm and will help Bernard Berrian and Sidney Rice be WR3 options. Neither receiver are 100% , so they are best avoided if possible. The big question with Frerotte is whether he can avoid the big mistake. He's hardly known as one of the more careful quarterbacks around.

I heart JStew

We need a better nickname for Stewart. We also need John Fox to stop splitting the carries between him and DeAngelo Williams. A couple more games like last week will do the trick. The Bears simply could not get Stewart down with one tackler. He absorbs hits as well as any player in the NFL. Safety Kevin Payne bounced off him. Brian Urlacher wrapped him up, and then ended up on the turf empty-handed as Stewart slipped away. Lance Briggs got run over. A nasty offensive line including Jordan Gross, Ryan Kalil, and Jeff Otah will help Stewart. This is John Fox's dream team. I'm convinced Stewart will be a top-five fantasy back for a good chunk of his career. Perhaps starting late this year. www.carolinapanthers.ws

Carolina is one of the teams I've seen two full games of. Jake Delhomme looks erratically effective, as usual. The Vikings pass defense isn't great, but let's see Delhomme put together two solid halves in a row before starting him in fantasy leagues. ? Delhomme won't waste time forcing the ball to [URL="http://fantasyfootball.usatoday.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=NFL&id=4227"]Steve Smith[/URL]. He's not afraid to lock onto one target, evidenced by his blind trust of Muhsin Muhammad the last two weeks. ? D.J. Hackett and Muhammad are WR4s at best with Smith back. ? Donte Rosario still has fantasy value as a TE2 despite the quiet second act. He could be effective this week over the middle against a Cover 2 defense.
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[SIZE=+1]4. Bucs @ Bears[/SIZE]
www.tampabaybuccaneers.ws
The Big Question: Will Kyle Orton slow Matt Forte's roll?

The rookie running back is evolving into a prototypical RB2. But will defenses catch up if Kyle Orton can't throw down the field? Orton has attempted eight deep passes in two games, completing two. His arm strength and accuracy are question marks, and some of his tries in the second half against Carolina weren't even close. Orton is completing 60% of his passes, but only getting 6 YPA, a combination that is hard to do. This is the ultimate dink and dunk offense, and Forte faces his toughest test to date against a solid Bucs defense that will be crowding the box.

Forte is the only good fantasy option on the Bears. Greg Olsen owners should remain patient, but it's been an ugly road so far. You should be able to find a better TE1 option.

Dunn deal

All off-season, the worry was that Jon Gruden would give Warrick Dunn just enough touches to diminish Earnest Graham's value. So far, half true. Dunn has only four fewer touches than Graham through two games, which is a problem. But Graham is still getting it done, averaging a silly 8.48 yards-per-touch average. This is the toughest defense Tampa has faced by a mile, but Graham remains a low-end RB2. I love the Bears defense, but a power running back can have success against their lightweight front.

When Brian Griese took over, visions of 2004 danced in my head. That's when Griese was a top-ten fantasy quarterback during his 10 game run as a starter for Jon Gruden. Griese got off to an ugly start last week, and he's not an option against the Bears. ? I may be the only one, but I'm not giving up on Antonio Bryant as a future WR3 because of two quiet weeks. Joey Galloway's injury should set Bryant up to do what he does best ? go deep. The question is whether Griese can get him the ball. Against a Cover Two team that rarely gives up big plays, rest the Bucs WRs if possible.

[SIZE=+1]5. Dolphins @ Patriots[/SIZE]

The Big Question: Will Matt Cassel start going deep?

This game begs for it. Miami gave up big plays to the Cardinals, and their rush defense has a lot of size. Laurence Maroney and LaMont Jordan haven't practiced early in the week, so there is also a question of depth in the Patriots backfield. Look for the Patriots to build Cassel's confidence heading into their bye week. Wes Welker should see a lot of targets and is a WR2 for this matchup. Cassel should also send more than three targets Randy Moss' way. ? It's safe to expect a four-way Patriots committee at running back this season, which limits the value of all of them. But if Maroney and Jordan are out, we get clarity for once. As a starter, Sammy Morris becomes a solid RB2/flex play with a good chance to score.

Squish the Fish

It's rare to advise owners to bench an entire team. But that's the right play with the Dolphins this week. Ronnie Brown traditionally gives the Patriots fits, but New England will stack the box against him and force Chad Pennington to throw outside. Both Brown and [URL="http://fantasyfootball.usatoday.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=NFL&id=1312"]Ricky Williams[/URL] have looked ordinary thus far, largely because of an offensive line that is worse at run blocking than last season under Hudson Houck. ? Ted Ginn is in a three-way tie for sixth on the team in receptions. Trying to guess which Dolphin wideout may step up this week isn't worth it. www.miamidolphins.ws

[SIZE=+1]6. Bengals @ Giants[/SIZE]
www.newyorkgiants.ws
The Big Question: Are the Bengals as we knew them dead?

This is the most advantageous matchup the Bengals offense has enjoyed thus far, which shows how brutal their schedule has been. Jittery Carson Palmer owners, myself included, should be hoping for modest improvement. There won't be 50 MPH winds, but the Bengals offensive line must show they can stop anyone. This unit is talented, but they aren't getting it done. ? I look at my rankings as setting odds. Vegas isn't always going to win every week, but they will over time if they set the right number. For T.J. Houshmandzadeh and Chad Johnson, the number should still be very high. These two players did not forget how to play football. They need some help from their teammates, but there is every reason to believe they will put up big numbers eventually. You don't want them on your bench for that day. ? If nothing else, Chris Perry is getting the ball a ton. He lacks explosion when he gets a big hole and isn't a natural straight ahead runner. For the third straight week, he faces a tough matchup. That makes him a flex play, not a RB2.

Banged-Up Bengals

With Jonathan Joseph likely out at cornerback, the Bengals secondary is thin. That's good news for Eli Manning and Plaxico Burress, who should be in all lineups. The Bengals probably wish they had Deltha O'Neal this week. Cincy's defense has actually shown some life this season, so don't assume this is a huge plus matchup for Big Blue. ... Brandon Jacobs remains an every week play. The touchdowns should come. He's worth a lot less, however, in PPR leagues.

[SIZE=+1]8. Chiefs @ Falcons[/SIZE]
www.atlantafalcons.ws
The Big Question: Has Herm Edwards lost his mind?

When teammates talk about a young quarterback, they will often say how impressed they are with the kid's command of the huddle. Joe Flacco's poise, Chad Henne's presence, yada yada yada. We didn't hear any of those quotes coming out of Kansas City last week.

It became clear early in the offseason that Herm wanted Tyler Thigpen to get some action this season, but why does it have to be so early? To watch Thigpen play against the Raiders is to appreciate just how difficult it is to be a quarterback in the NFL. Passes weren't close his receivers. Occasionally it was tough to figure out who the intended receiver was. Thigpen vs. Russell was the single worst quarterbacking display I've ever seen. Imagine what Tony Gonzalez and Brian Waters are thinking in the huddle. Probably about their dinner plans.

This should be the matchup where Larry Johnson, Dwayne Bowe, and Gonzo get off. L.J.'s whining certainly won't hurt his chances of getting 20 touches. But the Falcons defense has looked surprisingly average thus far, and Thigpen casts a dirty cloud of the whole team. L.J. is a borderline RB2, and Bowe is a much better option if you start three receivers. www.kansascitychiefs.ws

Somewhere in the middle

The Falcons running game isn't as good as it looked in Week 1, and it's not as bad as it looked in Week 2. The truth is somewhere in the middle, but my guess is it's closer to the disaster at Tampa. This is a rare game where the Falcons will be favored, though, and hopefully playing from ahead. Use Michael Turner as a RB2.

[SIZE=+1]Quick Snaps[/SIZE]

Texans @ Titans: I expected Houston to be one of the most improved offenses this season; one game doesn't change that. Unfortunately they play another top-five defense this week. Matt Schaub is a borderline QB1 at best, and it's a lot to ask of Steve Slaton in his first start. He will likely split carries against a great defense, which adds up to flex play status. ? It's uncertain if Justin Gage will play; avoid all Titans receivers until we see consistency. ? [URL="http://fantasyfootball.usatoday.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=NFL&id=4743"]Chris Johnson[/URL] gets tougher to sit by the week. He's moving up to 15th in our running back rankings for this matchup, and that's in non-PPR leagues. LenDale White is still a reasonable flex play with touchdowns in back-to-back games.
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Cardinals @ Redskins: Was Washington's consistent offensive attack last week a product of growth or the Saints' defensive struggles? Wait until after this game before using anyone but Santana Moss and Clinton Portis. ? Tim Hightower isn't only playing during garbage time. The rookie had six touches in the first half in Week 2 versus eight for Edgerrin James. If that continues, James becomes an even worse flex option.

Saints @ Broncos:Two weeks of an equal three-headed monster is a trend. Selvin Young owners now only have a flex option, and a boom-or-bust one at that. It's a three-way rotation and the Broncos are a pass-first team. Eight of Michael Pittman's 14 rushes this season have come inside the five-yard line. He's first in the league in that category. That's another trend. (And yes, he's going on the Friday night rankings update. But not high enough to consider playing him). ? The Saints will have to throw a lot to stay in this game, but don't consider any wideout except David Patten as a WR3.

Lions @ 49ersEveryone in the pool for the 49ers! We talked about this game on the Fix this week, so I'll leave it below.

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Seahawks @ Rams: This is a crucial game for fantasy assets on both teams. Matt Hasselbeck can't get off against the Rams, it's not happening for a while. And if Marc Bulger and [URL="http://fantasyfootball.usatoday.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=NFL&id=1663"]Steven Jackson[/URL] can't improve against a surprisingly shaky Seattle defense, they are in trouble. Stick with Jackson as a must start. It takes more than two weeks to erase years of production. Hasselbeck is a borderline QB1, while Bulger should be benched. ? Koren Robinson will rotate with other receivers, so he's ranked like a reserve. Despite all the injuries, Courtney Taylor still can't seem to get Matt Hasselbeck's attention. Or hold on to a pass. Taylor did get open for a possible score last week, but Hasselbeck overthrew him. He needs to make a big impact in this one before Deion Branch and Bobby Engram return or we'd drop him.

Browns @ Ravens Some predictions about what people will be saying Monday morning after this game.
www.clevelandbrowns.ws
1. The Brady Quinn watch has officially begun.
2. Jamal Lewis is back to being the Jamal Lewis we saw in Baltimore.
3. John Harbaugh is driving owners batty with a three-headed monster in the backfield.

All of the Browns except Anderson will be good buy low candidates after this one. The receivers will bounce back, but I don't want to buy low on a quarterback with job security issues.

Steelers @ Eagles

The Eagles cornerbacks are very aggressive, so look for Santonio Holmes try to exploit them deep with some double moves. ? Ben Roethlisberger's shoulder injury is not at all a concern. He's playing terrific football and getting plenty of velocity on his throws. ? Coaches speak with playing time, not midweek "We want to get him more involved" chatter. Willie Parker is an every week fantasy play until Mike Tomlin shows confidence in Rashard Mendenhall. ? Pittsburgh is a lot easier to attack through the air than the are on the ground. That means DeSean Jackson should remain in most lineups. With Reggie Brown possible getting some snaps off the bench, I'd stay away from the other Eagles wideouts.

The remaining night games will be covered in the blog in written and video form! Phew. Let me know what you think of the new format. See everyone on Fantasy Fix Live on Sunday at 11ET.

 

[Hache Man]

Re: Fantasy Football News 2008

Re: Fantasy Football News 2008

A Bone to Pick
You can bet that not long after Mike Martz signed his two-year contract to head up the 49ers' offense, he circled September 21 on the schedule.

That's the date Martz and San Francisco play host to the team that fired him in January, even though for two straight seasons his high-flying, if pass-happy attack was the only thing the Lions had going for them. The consensus says Martz has a bone to pick with GM Matt Millen's club.

I'm sure Mike would tell you no, but it would be contrary to human personality to not give a little extra thought to it. - FOX analyst Brian Billick

You know this game means a lot to him. That's just natural, but he hasn't really said it to anybody. He doesn't have to. - 49ers tailback Frank Gore

When he tries to exact his revenge...I think it's going to be kind of a one finger salute. - Lions beat writer Tom Kowalski.

I think he'll be real fired up. There's no question about that. - new Lions offensive coordinator Jim Colletto, Martz's friend of 20 years. No more.

It didn't take Martz long to find work after Detroit fired him (why should it -- he's good at what he does), but he won't take it easy on the franchise that blamed his offense, not the failed defense, for its 1-7 finish to last season. Martz isn't the angry, spiteful type. But he's proud and will want to make certain Millen remembers the good thing he let go.

Shoot, the Lions' play through two weeks says Martz, not Rod Marinelli, should be running the Motown ship.

All 49ers skill players look like good bets for production in what could be a high-scoring affair on Sunday. The San Francisco offense is starting to find its groove. Isaac Bruce (38.3 yards-per-catch average) is a big-play threat again and the apparent go-to guy in Martz's attack. Bryant Johnson caught six passes last week and scored his first touchdown as a Niner. Arnaz Battle (four catches at Seattle) has clearly emerged as the third receiver. Even Vernon Davis might be sent on a few pass routes Sunday.

Chris Wesseling already told you to pick him up. I'd encourage you to play J.T. O'Sullivan with confidence this week. There are few quarterbacks with this sort of one-game upside.

Now to the injury updates?

[SIZE=+1]Important Game-Time Decisions for Week 3[/SIZE]

Arms
Ben Roethlisberger - Ben certain to start against overrated Eagles secondary.
Carson Palmer - Made it through a full week of practice and will start Sunday.

Wides
Braylon Edwards - Saw limited work in practice this week, but should be a go.
Hines Ward - High-scoring wideout will play, face Asante Samuel in coverage.
Laveranues Coles - Coles will start on Monday Night Football at San Diego.
Donte' Stallworth - Very unlikely to play Sunday despite "questionable" listing.
Reggie Brown - Will only rotate in Sunday and has likely lost his starting job.
Jerry Porter - Won't face the Colts and is looking like an early free agent bust.
Bernard Berrian, Sidney Rice - Berrian to start; Rice probably will be inactive.
Justin Gage - Didn't practice this week, so don't bet on Gage facing Houston.
Javon Walker - Will be active for likely third or fourth receiver role at Buffalo.
Koren Robinson - Chronic knee woes acting up again; Billy McMullen to start.
Devin Hester - "Questionable," but didn't practice all week and unlikely to play.
Roscoe Parrish - Speedy kick returner/slot receiver will play against Oakland.
Steve Breaston - Emerging return man/third receiver is probable for Sunday.
Joshua Cribbs - Pro Bowl return ace will be active Sunday against Baltimore.
Sam Hurd, Miles Austin - Austin to be active; Hurd is probably out this week.
James Thrash, Malcolm Kelly - Slated to play off the bench against Cardinals.

Backs
[URL="http://fantasyfootball.usatoday.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=NFL&id=4169"]Adrian Peterson[/URL] (Vikings) - AP is a full-blown game-day call versus Carolina.
LaDainian Tomlinson - LT should play, but may not see more than 10 carries.
Ryan Grant - Elevated to probable, may be in line for biggest workload to date.
Maurice Jones-Drew, Fred Taylor - Both will play, should be in lineups at IND.
Jamal Lewis - Considered virtually certain to start in difficult matchup at BAL.
Darren McFadden - Considered probable, but appears set to come off bench.
Laurence Maroney - Don't count on Maroney even if he is active on Sunday.
Justin Fargas - Called "doubtful," but Fargas will not play against the Bills.
LaMont Jordan - Listed as doubtful; Sammy Morris likely to start at Dolphins.

Ends
Ben Utecht - Won't face the Giants due to a chest injury and can be dropped.

Legs
Lawrence Tynes - Unlikely to play, but could be back after Jints' Week 4 bye.

[SIZE=+1]Already Ruled Out for Week 3[/SIZE]

Arms
Tom Brady - Matt Cassel to start Sunday against punchless Miami secondary.
Vince Young - Kerry Collins to remain starter as long as Titans are winning.
Brodie Croyle - Fill-in Tyler Thipgen to be on a short leash against the Falcons.
Drew Stanton - His odds of seeing starts increase with every Jon Kitna pick.

Wides
Marques Colston - Don't expect Colston to return until Week 6 at the earliest.
Joey Galloway - Antonio Bryant should lead Bucs receivers in targets Sunday.
[URL="http://fantasyfootball.usatoday.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=NFL&id=378"]Kevin Curtis[/URL] - Eagles website suggested that Curtis may return in a few weeks.
Drew Bennett, Keenan Burton - Dane Looker to draw second consecutive start.
Seneca Wallace, Deion Branch, Bobby Engram - Keary Colbert to start v. STL.
[URL="http://fantasyfootball.usatoday.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=NFL&id=4226"]Chris Henry[/URL] - Bengals' wideout is slated to return from suspension in Week 5.
Darrell Jackson - Denver's fourth receiver can be dropped in all fantasy leagues.
Joe Jurevicius - May return from PUP in Week 7, but more likely to land on I.R.
Troy Williamson - Is still sidelined by thigh injury he suffered in training camp.

Backs
Carnell Williams - On PUP through Week 6; seems unlikely to play this year.
Ahman Green - Ankle injury has probably cost Green his starting job for good.
Ryan Torain - Broncos are still targeting Week 7 for their rookie back to return.
Maurice Morris - Julius Jones has second straight great matchup versus Rams.

Ends
None of significance.

Legs
Mike Nugent - Out indefinitely; Jay Feely is shanking short kicks in his place.

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[SIZE=+1]Week 3 Matchups to Exploit[/SIZE]

Michael Turner vs. Kansas City
Time: 1PM ET
www.atlantafalcons.ws
The Falcons' game plan against the Chiefs will undoubtedly be run based. Atlanta got away from the ground game after falling behind in Week 2 and Turner finished with only 42 yards on 14 carries. But Kansas City's run defense is lackluster (AFC-worst 5.7 YPC allowed so far) to begin with and defensive ends Tamba Hali and Turk McBride are both questionable to play. Matt Ryan will have a clean pocket and Turner will have gaping lanes to run through. He's an RB1 option in an ideal matchup and should make for a nice sell-high in fantasy leagues after this game.

Sammy Morris vs. Miami
Time: 1PM ET

The Patriots' four-headed monster reduces to a three-man ordeal with LaMont Jordan's (foot, doubtful) expected inactivity Sunday. Most likely, it'll be a two-man backfield of Morris and Kevin Faulk with Laurence Maroney battling a shoulder injury that kept him out of Wednesday and Thursday's practices. While Maroney has a small chance to play, it'd likely be in a limited role at best. Morris has taken over as the current fantasy back to own in New England and figures to see 18-22 touches against a Dolphins defense that is certain to double team Randy Moss on virtually every play. QBs' passer rating against Miami through two weeks is a near-perfect 147 and their completion rate is 72%, making Matt Cassel a fine spot start as well.

Greg Olsen vs. Tampa Bay
Time: 1PM ET

Olsen has begun the season in disappointing fashion, having hauled in only four passes for 43 yards through two games with a disturbing two fumbles lost. The 2007 first-round pick didn't lose one fumble in his rookie year. However, tight ends often start slow and Olsen is likely to see a jump in snaps and "looks" Sunday with Bears third receiver Devin Hester (ribs) expected to be inactive, or possibly resigned to special teams if he does play. Olsen also faces a Bucs' Cover 2 defense that tight ends are notorious for finding soft spots against. The Bears could struggle to run effectively on this stout unit (only 3.7 YPC allowed) and Kyle Orton may be forced into 30+ pass attempts for the second straight week. Olson has a good chance to lead Chicago in catches Sunday.

Fred Taylor @ Indianapolis
Time: 4:15PM ET
www.jacksonvillejaguars.ws
The Jaguars plan to increase Maurice Jones-Drew's usage on offense after giving him only 19 total touches in the first two weeks. But against Indianapolis' undersized and Bob Sanders-less defense, it is Taylor who will pose the biggest matchup problem. While MJD should undoubtedly be started as an RB2, Taylor makes for an ideal flex, as his more powerful build will give Indianapolis' sub-235 pound linebackers fits. Starting DT Keyunta Dawson (ankle) may also be missing for the Colts, making the Jags' interior line woes less of a concern, and with Jerry Porter still sidelined and David Garrard struggling Jacksonville figures to take a decidedly run-first approach.

[SIZE=+1]Week 3 Matchups to Avoid[/SIZE]

Darren McFadden @ Buffalo
Time: 1PM ET
www.oaklandraiders.ws
McFadden (turf toe) is listed as "probable" on the injury report, but did little in practice Friday and coach Lane Kiffin won't determine his in-game role until morning warmups. LaDainian Tomlinson owners last week found out the hard way how tricky injuries like McFadden's can be. McFadden will be active for the game, but Kiffin says the former Arkansas Razorback might only be used as a change of pace behind potential starter Michael Bush. Bush currently appears to be the stronger bet for a 20-24 carry workload, and his 247 pounds could be too much for lightweight Buffalo SAM linebebacker Keith Ellison (6'0/228) to handle on strong-side runs.

Anthony Gonzalez vs. Jacksonville
Time: 4:15PM ET
www.indianapoliscolts.ws
Gonzalez had a big game (9-137) in Week 2 while facing Vikings RCB Cedric Griffin in primary coverage. Trouble is, so does everybody else (fyi., Muhsin Muhammad likely draws Griffin this week) and the return of Dallas Clark projects to cut heavily into Gonzalez's snaps. Both Clark and Gonzalez serve as slot receivers when the Colts use three wides. Indianapolis could implement four-receiver sets Sunday if Joseph Addai can't get going against the typically run-tough Jags, but even then Gonzo will be a third or fourth option on plays. It's not a great bet to happen, but owners should watch to see if Gonzalez begins taking playing time from Marvin Harrison outside.

Willis McGahee vs. Cleveland
Time: 4:15PM ET
www.baltimoreravens.ws
McGahee will not start Sunday, by all accounts, and since he's off the injury report entirely, it calls into question his standing on the depth chart. The best guess for now would have rookie Ray Rice opening the game and splitting early-down carries with McGahee, while LeRon McClain enters for any goal-line or short-yardage chances. The Ravens' offense lacks big-play potential and will have to matriculate the ball down the field to score, making them one of the most likely teams in the NFL to be in goal-to-go situations against bad defenses. While McClain is a fairly good bet for a touchdown and Rice is a flex option in PPR leagues because he'll dominate passing-down work, McGahee should not be used in any format despite his big name and favorable matchup.

LaDainian Tomlinson vs. Jets
Time: 8:30PM ET Monday
www.sandiegochargers.ws
Presumably, Tomlinson (turf toe, questionable) owners have been following his practice workloads this week, but here's a short recap. LT2 missed practice Wednesday. That's fine, because he plays Monday night. LT2 missed Thursday's practice, then said the swelling had dissipated a bit from his troublesome toe. He returned Friday, but was limited. Beat writer Kevin Acee, one of the best in the business, expects Tomlinson to start but said on the NFL Network late Friday that he might only see 10 carries against the Jets and will likely struggle to make anyone miss because he can't move horizontally at full tilt. Darren Sproles is expected to shoulder the bulk of the workload. Hopefully Tony Kornheiser has done his homework on Sproles, because if he hasn't we might hear a whiny voice ask "Whoooo iss this kidd?" 10+ times on Monday Night Football.

[SIZE=+1]Reply Absolutely Not to the Following Questions[/SIZE]

> Should any true fantasy fan miss out on this column?

> Could the Chiefs beat USC?

> Should Colts SS Melvin Bullitt be left on IDP waiver wires this week?

> Is Edgerrin James a good "buy low" candidate? Ahman Green? Larry Johnson?

> Should IDP leaguers wait on grabbing Chargers ILB Stephen Cooper, who returns from suspension in Week 5?

 

[Hache Man]

Re: Fantasy Football News 2008

Re: Fantasy Football News 2008

Week 3 Rankings Update

These rankings were updated Saturday Morning

Trent Edwards became a franchise quarterback Sunday. On a third-and-six from the Jaguars 44, the Bills called for a max protection and a long double move by Lee Evans. Edwards' protection mostly held up, but Jaguars end Derrick Harvey got pressure from the right side. Edwards calmly stepped up in the pocket, avoided the hit, and delivered a gorgeous 37-yard strike that led Evans out of bounds. This was supposed to be an offense that couldn't make big plays. www.buffalobills.ws

On the next snap, Edwards showed his excellent touch with a teardrop 7-yard scoring toss to a leaping James Hardy. Two plays, 44 yards, and notice to the rest of the AFC that the Bills has a passing game.

The exciting part is that this offense has a lot of improving to do. Marshawn Lynch is one of the ten best backs in the NFL, but he hasn't got rolling just yet. Look for that to change with Oakland and St. Louis coming up, not to mention a 4-0 start for the year. Left tackle Jason Peters, who gave up a strip sack on Sunday, is still rounding into form. And there should be more big plays coming, as the Bills continue to expand their offense.

There are bigger fantasy stories out there at quarterback (The post-surgery Philip Rivers is better than pre-surgery), but Edwards' emergence has an impact. Lee Evans will be the guy we thought he was going to be last year. Marshawn Lynch can fulfill his top-five upside on an improving offense. Even fast Freddie Jackson is turning into Reggie Bush-lite. It sounds like heresy, but the Bills could wind up with the most effective quarterback in the AFC East.

[SIZE=+1]Week 3 Quarterbacks[/SIZE]

<TABLE width="100%"><TBODY><TR class=TableTopRed><TD>Rank</TD><TD>Player Name</TD><TD>Opponent</TD><TD>Notes</TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>1</TD><TD>Tony Romo</TD><TD>at GB</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>2</TD><TD>Jay Cutler</TD><TD>vs. NO</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>3</TD><TD>Peyton Manning</TD><TD>vs. JAC</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>4</TD><TD>Donovan McNabb</TD><TD>vs. PIT</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>5</TD><TD>Drew Brees</TD><TD>at DEN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>6</TD><TD>Ben Roethlisberger</TD><TD>at PHI</TD><TD>Not worried about shoulder</TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>7</TD><TD>Kurt Warner</TD><TD>at WAS</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>8</TD><TD>Eli Manning</TD><TD>vs. CIN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>9</TD><TD>Aaron Rodgers</TD><TD>vs. DAL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>10</TD><TD>Philip Rivers</TD><TD>vs. NYJ</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>11</TD><TD>J.T. O'Sullivan</TD><TD>vs. DET</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>12</TD><TD>Matt Hasselbeck</TD><TD>vs. STL</TD><TD>New receivers</TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>13</TD><TD>Carson Palmer</TD><TD>at NYG</TD><TD>Nightmare schedule continues</TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>14</TD><TD>Brett Favre</TD><TD>at SD</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>15</TD><TD>Matt Cassel</TD><TD>vs. MIA</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>16</TD><TD>Matt Schaub</TD><TD>at TEN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>17</TD><TD>Derek Anderson</TD><TD>at BAL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>18</TD><TD>Jon Kitna</TD><TD>at SF</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>19</TD><TD>David Garrard</TD><TD>at IND</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>20</TD><TD>Trent Edwards</TD><TD>vs. OAK</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>21</TD><TD>Jake Delhomme</TD><TD>at MIN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>22</TD><TD>Marc Bulger</TD><TD>at SEA</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>23</TD><TD>Jason Campbell</TD><TD>vs. ARZ</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>24</TD><TD>Kerry Collins</TD><TD>vs. HOU</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>25</TD><TD>Gus Frerotte</TD><TD>vs. CAR</TD><TD>The savior? </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>26</TD><TD>Brian Griese</TD><TD>at CHI</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>27</TD><TD>Chad Pennington</TD><TD>at NE</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>28</TD><TD>Kyle Orton</TD><TD>vs. TB</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>29</TD><TD>Matt Ryan</TD><TD>vs. KC</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>30</TD><TD>Joe Flacco</TD><TD>vs. CLE</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>31</TD><TD>JaMarcus Russell</TD><TD>at BUF</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>32</TD><TD>Damon Huard</TD><TD>at ATL</TD><TD>Won't start</TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>33</TD><TD>Tyler Thigpen</TD><TD>at ATL</TD><TD>Bet he won't finish</TD></TR>
</TBODY></TABLE>


Notes: We're going to change some things up this week with Goal Line Stand. Instead of the usual player notes Thursday under the rankings, I'm going to post matchup preview notes for each game on Friday. This schedule could last one week, it could last the season. I know this is changing up the routine from the last five years, but give it a chance and let me know what you think after Friday. We'll still post the updated Goal Line Rankings here on Friday evening.
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[SIZE=+1]Week 3 Running Backs[/SIZE]

<TABLE width="100%"><TBODY><TR class=TableTopRed><TD>Rank</TD><TD>Player Name</TD><TD>Opponent</TD><TD>Notes</TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>1</TD><TD>Frank Gore</TD><TD>vs. DET</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>2</TD><TD>Brian Westbrook</TD><TD>vs. PIT</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>3</TD><TD>Marshawn Lynch</TD><TD>vs. OAK</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>4</TD><TD>Marion Barber</TD><TD>at GB</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>5</TD><TD>Clinton Portis</TD><TD>vs. ARZ</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>6</TD><TD>Steven Jackson</TD><TD>at SEA</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>7</TD><TD>Adrian Peterson</TD><TD>vs. CAR</TD><TD>Game-Time Decision, moving down</TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>8</TD><TD>Joseph Addai</TD><TD>vs. JAC</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>9</TD><TD>Brandon Jacobs</TD><TD>vs. CIN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>10</TD><TD>Ryan Grant</TD><TD>vs. DAL</TD><TD>Probable(hamstring)</TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>11</TD><TD>Willie Parker</TD><TD>at PHI</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>12</TD><TD>Michael Turner</TD><TD>vs. KC</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>13</TD><TD>Chris Johnson</TD><TD>vs. HOU</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>14</TD><TD>Matt Forte</TD><TD>vs. TB</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>15</TD><TD>Reggie Bush</TD><TD>at DEN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>16</TD><TD>Maurice Jones-Drew</TD><TD>at IND</TD><TD>Like the matchup</TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>17</TD><TD>Earnest Graham</TD><TD>at CHI</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>18</TD><TD>Thomas Jones</TD><TD>at SD</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>19</TD><TD>Larry Johnson</TD><TD>at ATL</TD><TD>If he can't do it now ?</TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>20</TD><TD>Julius Jones</TD><TD>vs. STL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>21</TD><TD>Jamal Lewis</TD><TD>at BAL</TD><TD>Probable(ankle)</TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>22</TD><TD>Jonathan Stewart</TD><TD>at MIN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>23</TD><TD>LenDale White</TD><TD>vs. HOU</TD><TD>Still scoring</TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>24</TD><TD>Chris Perry</TD><TD>at NYG</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>25</TD><TD>Kevin Smith</TD><TD>at SF</TD><TD>49ers have been soft</TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>26</TD><TD>Darren Sproles</TD><TD>vs. NYJ</TD><TD>Should get more work than LT2</TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>27</TD><TD>Fred Taylor</TD><TD>at IND</TD><TD>Probable(toe)</TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>28</TD><TD>Sammy Morris</TD><TD>vs. MIA</TD><TD>Move up eight spots if Maroney is out</TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>29</TD><TD>LaDainian Tomlinson</TD><TD>vs. NYJ</TD><TD>Expected to get fewer carries than Sproles; risky to play, risky to bench</TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>30</TD><TD>Edgerrin James</TD><TD>at WAS</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>31</TD><TD>Darren McFadden</TD><TD>at BUF</TD><TD>Could play secondary role to Bush</TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>32</TD><TD>Selvin Young</TD><TD>vs. NO</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>33</TD><TD>Steve Slaton</TD><TD>at TEN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>34</TD><TD>Michael Bush</TD><TD>at BUF</TD><TD>Move him up eight spots if McFadden is out</TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>35</TD><TD>Laurence Maroney</TD><TD>vs. MIA</TD><TD>Game-time decision</TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>36</TD><TD>Chester Taylor</TD><TD>vs. CAR</TD><TD>In line for more work</TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>37</TD><TD>Ronnie Brown</TD><TD>at NE</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>38</TD><TD>Willis McGahee</TD><TD>vs. CLE</TD><TD>Not expected to carry load</TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>39</TD><TD>DeAngelo Williams</TD><TD>at MIN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>40</TD><TD>Pierre Thomas</TD><TD>at DEN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>41</TD><TD>Ray Rice</TD><TD>vs. CLE</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>42</TD><TD>Ricky Williams</TD><TD>at NE</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>43</TD><TD>Fred Jackson</TD><TD>vs. OAK</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>44</TD><TD>Felix Jones</TD><TD>at GB</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>45</TD><TD>Andre Hall</TD><TD>vs. NO</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>46</TD><TD>Ahmad Bradshaw</TD><TD>vs. CIN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>47</TD><TD>Jerious Norwood</TD><TD>vs. KC</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>48</TD><TD>Warrick Dunn</TD><TD>at CHI</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>49</TD><TD>Tim Hightower</TD><TD>at WAS</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>50</TD><TD>LeRon McClain</TD><TD>vs. CLE</TD><TD>Moving up</TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>51</TD><TD>Brandon Jackson</TD><TD>vs. DAL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>52</TD><TD>Chris Taylor</TD><TD>at TEN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>53</TD><TD>Leon Washington</TD><TD>at SD</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>54</TD><TD>Michael Pittman</TD><TD>vs. NO</TD><TD>Vultures are risky</TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>55</TD><TD>Derrick Ward</TD><TD>vs. CIN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>56</TD><TD>Ladell Betts</TD><TD>vs. ARZ</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>57</TD><TD>Kenny Watson</TD><TD>at NYG</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>58</TD><TD>Rashard Mendenhall</TD><TD>at PHI</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>59</TD><TD>Jamaal Charles</TD><TD>at ATL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>60</TD><TD>Kevin Jones</TD><TD>vs. TB</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>61</TD><TD>Rudi Johnson</TD><TD>at SF</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
</TBODY></TABLE>


[SIZE=+1]Week 3 Wide Receivers[/SIZE]

<TABLE width="100%"><TBODY><TR class=TableTopRed><TD>Rank</TD><TD>Player Name</TD><TD>Opponent</TD><TD>Notes</TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>1</TD><TD>Brandon Marshall</TD><TD>vs. NO</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>2</TD><TD>Terrell Owens</TD><TD>at GB</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>3</TD><TD>Larry Fitzgerald</TD><TD>at WAS</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>4</TD><TD>Reggie Wayne</TD><TD>vs. JAC</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>5</TD><TD>Steve Smith</TD><TD>at MIN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>6</TD><TD>Randy Moss</TD><TD>vs. MIA</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>7</TD><TD>Andre Johnson</TD><TD>at TEN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>8</TD><TD>Plaxico Burress</TD><TD>vs. CIN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>9</TD><TD>Anquan Boldin</TD><TD>at WAS</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>10</TD><TD>Calvin Johnson</TD><TD>at SF</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>11</TD><TD>Santonio Holmes</TD><TD>at PHI</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>12</TD><TD>Chad Ocho Cinco</TD><TD>at NYG</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>13</TD><TD>Jerricho Cotchery</TD><TD>at SD</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>14</TD><TD>Greg Jennings</TD><TD>vs. DAL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>15</TD><TD>Braylon Edwards</TD><TD>at BAL</TD><TD>Questionable(shoulder)</TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>16</TD><TD>T.J. Houshmandzadeh</TD><TD>at NYG</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>17</TD><TD>Wes Welker</TD><TD>vs. MIA</TD><TD>Good matchup</TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>18</TD><TD>Roy Williams</TD><TD>at SF</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>19</TD><TD>Torry Holt</TD><TD>at SEA</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>20</TD><TD>Marvin Harrison</TD><TD>vs. JAC</TD><TD>Does he still have it?</TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>21</TD><TD>Hines Ward</TD><TD>at PHI</TD><TD>Probable(-)</TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>22</TD><TD>Santana Moss</TD><TD>vs. ARZ</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>23</TD><TD>Lee Evans</TD><TD>vs. OAK</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>24</TD><TD>DeSean Jackson</TD><TD>vs. PIT</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>25</TD><TD>Eddie Royal</TD><TD>vs. NO</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>26</TD><TD>Dwayne Bowe</TD><TD>at ATL</TD><TD>Thigpen effect</TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>27</TD><TD>Laveranues Coles</TD><TD>at SD</TD><TD>Questionable, should play</TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>28</TD><TD>Donald Driver</TD><TD>vs. DAL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>29</TD><TD>Chris Chambers</TD><TD>vs. NYJ</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>30</TD><TD>Anthony Gonzalez</TD><TD>vs. JAC</TD><TD>Clark's return doesn't help</TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>31</TD><TD>Roddy White</TD><TD>vs. KC</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>32</TD><TD>Bryant Johnson</TD><TD>vs. DET</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>33</TD><TD>Patrick Crayton</TD><TD>at GB</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>34</TD><TD>Isaac Bruce</TD><TD>vs. DET</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>35</TD><TD>Vincent Jackson</TD><TD>vs. NYJ</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>36</TD><TD>Matt Jones</TD><TD>at IND</TD><TD>Porter injury helps</TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>37</TD><TD>Bernard Berrian</TD><TD>vs. CAR</TD><TD>Probable(foot)</TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>38</TD><TD>Antonio Bryant</TD><TD>at CHI</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>39</TD><TD>David Patten</TD><TD>at DEN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>40</TD><TD>Amani Toomer</TD><TD>vs. CIN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>41</TD><TD>Justin Gage</TD><TD>vs. HOU</TD><TD>Game-time decision</TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>42</TD><TD>Antwaan Randle El</TD><TD>vs. ARZ</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>43</TD><TD>James Jones</TD><TD>vs. DAL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>44</TD><TD>Kevin Walter</TD><TD>at TEN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>45</TD><TD>Ronald Curry</TD><TD>at BUF</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>46</TD><TD>Arnaz Battle</TD><TD>vs. DET</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>47</TD><TD>D.J. Hackett</TD><TD>at MIN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>48</TD><TD>Mark Clayton</TD><TD>vs. CLE</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>49</TD><TD>Brandon Lloyd</TD><TD>vs. TB</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>50</TD><TD>Derrick Mason</TD><TD>vs. CLE</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>51</TD><TD>Muhsin Muhammad</TD><TD>at MIN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>52</TD><TD>Sidney Rice</TD><TD>vs. CAR</TD><TD>Questionable(knee)</TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>53</TD><TD>Keary Colbert</TD><TD>vs. STL</TD><TD>Starting already!</TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>54</TD><TD>Koren Robinson</TD><TD>vs. STL</TD><TD>Questionable(knee)</TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>55</TD><TD>Hank Baskett</TD><TD>vs. PIT</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>56</TD><TD>Greg Camarillo</TD><TD>at NE</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>57</TD><TD>Reggie Brown</TD><TD>vs. PIT</TD><TD>Won't get full snaps</TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>58</TD><TD>Ted Ginn Jr.</TD><TD>at NE</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
<TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>59</TD><TD>Michael Clayton</TD><TD>at CHI</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>60</TD><TD>Brandon Jones</TD><TD>vs. HOU</TD><TD>- </TD></TR>
</TBODY></TABLE>

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[SIZE=+1]Week 3 Tight Ends[/SIZE]

<TABLE width="100%"><TBODY><TR class=TableTopRed><TD>Rank</TD><TD>Player Name</TD><TD>Opponent</TD><TD>Notes</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>1</TD><TD>Jason Witten</TD><TD>at GB</TD><TD></TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>2</TD><TD>Antonio Gates</TD><TD>vs. NYJ</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>3</TD><TD>Kellen Winslow</TD><TD>at BAL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>4</TD><TD>Tony Gonzalez</TD><TD>at ATL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>5</TD><TD>Jeremy Shockey</TD><TD>at DEN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>6</TD><TD>Tony Scheffler</TD><TD>vs. NO</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>7</TD><TD>Chris Cooley</TD><TD>vs. ARZ</TD><TD></TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>8</TD><TD>Todd Heap</TD><TD>vs. CLE</TD><TD></TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>9</TD><TD>Vernon Davis</TD><TD>vs. DET</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>10</TD><TD>John Carlson</TD><TD>vs. STL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>11</TD><TD>Owen Daniels</TD><TD>at TEN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>12</TD><TD>Dallas Clark</TD><TD>vs. JAC</TD><TD>Expected to return</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>13</TD><TD>L.J. Smith</TD><TD>vs. PIT</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>14</TD><TD>Heath Miller</TD><TD>at PHI</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>15</TD><TD>Greg Olsen</TD><TD>vs. TB</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>16</TD><TD>Zach Miller</TD><TD>at BUF</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>17</TD><TD>Randy McMichael</TD><TD>at SEA</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>18</TD><TD>Dante Rosario</TD><TD>at MIN</TD><TD></TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>19</TD><TD>Marcedes Lewis</TD><TD>at IND</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>20</TD><TD>Alge Crumpler</TD><TD>vs. HOU</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>21</TD><TD>Donald Lee</TD><TD>vs. DAL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>22</TD><TD>Desmond Clark</TD><TD>vs. TB</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>23</TD><TD>Anthony Fasano</TD><TD>at NE</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>24</TD><TD>Bo Scaife</TD><TD>vs. HOU</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>25</TD><TD>David Martin</TD><TD>at NE</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>26</TD><TD>Kevin Boss</TD><TD>vs. CIN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

[SIZE=+1]Week 3 Team Defense[/SIZE]

<TABLE width="100%"><TBODY><TR class=TableTopRed><TD>Rank</TD><TD>Player Name</TD><TD>Opponent</TD><TD>Notes</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>1</TD><TD>Patriots Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>vs. MIA</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>2</TD><TD>Bears Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>vs. TB</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>3</TD><TD>Titans Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>vs. HOU</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>4</TD><TD>Bills Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>vs. OAK</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>5</TD><TD>Buccaneers Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>at CHI</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>6</TD><TD>Giants Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>vs. CIN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>7</TD><TD>Seahawks Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>vs. STL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>8</TD><TD>Ravens Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>vs. CLE</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>9</TD><TD>Colts Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>vs. JAC</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>10</TD><TD>Steelers Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>at PHI</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>11</TD><TD>Vikings Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>vs. CAR</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>12</TD><TD>Browns Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>at BAL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>13</TD><TD>Texans Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>at TEN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>14</TD><TD>Panthers Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>at MIN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>15</TD><TD>Cowboys Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>at GB</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>16</TD><TD>Eagles Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>vs. PIT</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>17</TD><TD>Packers Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>vs. DAL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>18</TD><TD>Chargers Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>vs. NYJ</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>19</TD><TD>Chiefs Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>at ATL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>20</TD><TD>Broncos Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>vs. NO</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>21</TD><TD>Fortyniners Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>vs. DET</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>22</TD><TD>Falcons Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>vs. KC</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>23</TD><TD>Cardinals Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>at WAS</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>24</TD><TD>Jaguars Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>at IND</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>25</TD><TD>Jets Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>at SD</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>26</TD><TD>Lions Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>at SF</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>27</TD><TD>Redskins Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>vs. ARZ</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>28</TD><TD>Bengals Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>at NYG</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>29</TD><TD>Raiders Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>at BUF</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>30</TD><TD>Dolphins Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>at NE</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>31</TD><TD>Saints Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>at DEN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>32</TD><TD>Rams Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>at SEA</TD><TD>- </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

[SIZE=+1]Week 3 Kickers[/SIZE]

<TABLE width="100%"><TBODY><TR class=TableTopRed><TD>Rank</TD><TD>Player Name</TD><TD>Opponent</TD><TD>Notes</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>1</TD><TD>Nick Folk</TD><TD>at GB</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>2</TD><TD>Stephen Gostkowski</TD><TD>vs. MIA</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>3</TD><TD>Mason Crosby</TD><TD>vs. DAL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>4</TD><TD>Josh Brown</TD><TD>at SEA</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>5</TD><TD>Nate Kaeding</TD><TD>vs. NYJ</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>6</TD><TD>Ryan Longwell</TD><TD>vs. CAR</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>7</TD><TD>Rob Bironas</TD><TD>vs. HOU</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>8</TD><TD>Josh Scobee</TD><TD>at IND</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>9</TD><TD>Robbie Gould</TD><TD>vs. TB</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>10</TD><TD>Joe Nedney</TD><TD>vs. DET</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>11</TD><TD>Martin Gramatica</TD><TD>at DEN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>12</TD><TD>Shayne Graham</TD><TD>at NYG</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>13</TD><TD>Adam Vinatieri</TD><TD>vs. JAC</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>14</TD><TD>Matt Prater</TD><TD>vs. NO</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>15</TD><TD>Sebastian Janikowski</TD><TD>at BUF</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>16</TD><TD>Jeff Reed</TD><TD>at PHI</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>17</TD><TD>John Kasay</TD><TD>at MIN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>18</TD><TD>Olindo Mare</TD><TD>vs. STL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>19</TD><TD>David Akers</TD><TD>vs. PIT</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>20</TD><TD>Neil Rackers</TD><TD>at WAS</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>21</TD><TD>Jason Hanson</TD><TD>at SF</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>22</TD><TD>Phil Dawson</TD><TD>at BAL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>23</TD><TD>John Carney</TD><TD>vs. CIN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>24</TD><TD>Matt Bryant</TD><TD>at CHI</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>25</TD><TD>Rian Lindell</TD><TD>vs. OAK</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>26</TD><TD>Jason Elam</TD><TD>vs. KC</TD><TD>Questionable(hip)</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>27</TD><TD>Matt Stover</TD><TD>vs. CLE</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>28</TD><TD>Jay Feely</TD><TD>at SD</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>29</TD><TD>Kris Brown</TD><TD>at TEN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>30</TD><TD>Shaun Suisham</TD><TD>vs. ARZ</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>31</TD><TD>Dan Carpenter</TD><TD>at NE</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>32</TD><TD>Nick Novak</TD><TD>at ATL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

 

[Hache Man]

Re: Fantasy Football News 2008

Re: Fantasy Football News 2008

Turning Back the Clock
With many top picks disappointing, a few familiar running backs turned back the clock in Week 3. Ronnie Brown's cutting ability and vision are back, reviving memories of last October, when he was the top fantasy back in all the land. Julius Jones topped 125 yards for the second straight week, reminding owners of his great run as a rookie in 2004.

But the biggest fantasy development occurred in San Francisco, where Mike Martz continues to (gasp) call running plays. Frank Gore's 27 carries against Detroit were his most since 2006, the year he was stamped as the NFC's version to LaDainian Tomlinson. A terrible 49ers offense dragged down the Inconvenient Truth last season, but Martz is changing all that.

Many feared that Martz's pass-happy ways would limit Gore. But Marshall Faulk's former coach knows talent, and he knows Gore is the best 49er by far. Martz will find ways to use Gore in a variety of ways, whether on inside runs or the passing game. The development of a legitimate vertical attack will also open lanes for Gore and extend drives.

Gore has scored each week this season and is averaging 137 total yards-per-game. PPR owners have enjoyed his steady four catches per week. The schedule hasn't been difficult, but life in the NFC West keeps it that way. If this is finally the season LT2 gives up his throne, a new running back king must emerge. Frank Gore finally has the weapons around him to begin his reign.

[SIZE=+1]Buy Low Candidates [/SIZE]

After three weeks, unsuccessful owners are getting itchy. They are ready cut bait, often too ready. Here are some players we'd take a look at buying low.

1. Ben Roethlisberger and Santonio Holmes: He's barely in the top 20 fantasy quarterbacks through three weeks, but he's playing just fine. The Steelers didn't need to pass in Week 1, the wind in Cleveland caught them and then they ran into a buzzsaw against the Eagles. Most defenses will not be able to exploit Pittsburgh's offensive line like Philadelphia. Ben might be an even better buy low after playing Baltimore this week. Santonio Holmes is also a good buy low after a slow start.

2. Peyton Manning: The Colts passing game has improved every week and now has a bye to get their act together. Manning is throwing more pass attempts than usual and his final numbers against Jacksonville weren't bad considering the Colts had the ball for less than four minutes in the second half. Marvin Harrison, Anthony Gonzalez, and Dallas Clark may all be inconsistent assets, but Manning should still finish in the top-five quarterbacks.

3. Matt Schaub and Andre Johnson: They have faced two of the best defenses in the league in Pittsburgh and Tennessee. And Schaub's numbers would have looked a whole lot better Sunday if A.J. didn't drop two touchdowns, including a possible 35-yarder. Schaub needs to improve against Jacksonville and Indy the next two weeks to keep his job, but then he gets a Miami, Detroit, and Cincy in a row. I'm guessing he will hit some waiver wires or could be had for a weak QB2. Johnson remains a solid WR1.

4. Chad Johnson: At least he's not missing snaps. The Bengals passing game showed life against the Giants and we've seen slow stretches from Ocho Cinco before. Admittedly, they have never been this slow. That's why I don't expect a rebound to top-five stud status. But he'll get his 1,100 yards in the end, and that means big days are ahead. Carson Palmer also remains a fine buy low.

5. Braylon Edwards: The schedule and Week 2 weather have been brutal. Even if Derek Anderson gets the hook, Edwards can be a WR2 at worst. And he'll come at a bargain basement price.

6. Wes Welker and Randy Moss: Welker's numbers haven't looked much different in PPR leagues with Matt Cassel behind center. Randy Moss' have. It's a high-risk move, but I suspect some panicky Moss owners would be willing to deal him for a receiver outside the top-15 ? say Roddy White or Lee Evans. Take the risk that the Patriots find a way to get Moss more involved. With New England entering a bye, Patriots owners may be especially itchy to pull the trigger. Make a bad offer; it can't hurt!

7. Ryan Grant: He's still getting the majority of carries on an explosive offense. This will turn around.

8. Chris Perry: Cincinnati's schedule gets far easier moving forward. Perry has been one of the most consistent backs in the league getting touches, and will be a solid RB2 as his yards-per-carry average rises.

[SIZE=+1]Playing in Pain [/SIZE]

After a ton of speculation, [URL="http://fantasyfootball.usatoday.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=NFL&id=4169"]Adrian Peterson[/URL] and Darren McFadden suited up Sunday. That wasn't a huge surprise. It was a surprise that both players survived the game intact, each saying afterward they were no worse for wear.

Their numbers indicate otherwise. McFadden was bottled up for only 42 yards. Michael Bush split carries and finished with 55. Peterson looked very good, but was less explosive than usual while piling up 77 yards. Owners of both players should breathe a sigh of relief. They should get better next week.

[SIZE=+1]Sell High Candidates [/SIZE]

1. Michael Turner/Roddy White: The Turner roller coaster is headed for another big drop after Sunday's three-touchdown performance. Atlanta has already enjoyed their two best matchups of the season during home beatdowns of Detroit and Kansas City. If you can sell Turner as a top-ten option, make the move. White has done a great job impersonating his stats from last season, but playing with a rookie quarterback will catch up to him.

2. LenDale White: I write about it below in the Committee section, but White's poor performance in reality football will eventually catch up to his touchdown hogging ways in fantasy football.

3. In a league with a lot of injuries, committees, and question marks at running back, Edgerrin Jameshttp://fantasyfootball.usatoday.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=NFL&id=1541' steady 62 carries and 248 yards through three games will look attractive to some owners. But Edge isn't getting goal line touches and Tim Hightower will be a bigger part of the offense moving forward. James is depth. And depth is mostly useful for bye weeks and upgrading another position.

4. Kurt Warner: I write this with caution because I own Warner and plan to keep owning his girly hands barring a great offer. But I'd love to find out what people would pay for Warner. I suspect some owners would give up players like Carson Palmer, and Peyton Manning. Even Aaron Rodgers, Eli Manning, and Philip Rivers would make me think hard. These players are far more likely than Warner to last 16 games.

5. Willie Parker: Tell them to focus on his overall numbers, not the Eagles game. Then focus on FWP's inability to make a difference in the passing game, a necessary trait for a true every week running back difference maker.

6. Julius Jones: You drafted him as a RB3 and you've got a RB2. That's a big win and Jones has earned more carries moving forward. But Jones has looked good largely because of his schedule the last two weeks and Maurice Morris will return to take some shine off. Make the move if you can get top-15 value for Jones.
<!--RW-->
[SIZE=+1]Consistency Counts [/SIZE]

It took 17 fourth quarter points against Oakland, but Buffalo remains model of consistency this season. Lee Evans has exactly four catches in each game, with a minimum of 65 yards. It doesn't sound like much, but he's on pace for 1,301 yards. Marshawn Lynch hasn't been explosive, but he's scored a touchdown and received at least 20 touches each week. Trent Edwards has at least 215 passing yards, with exactly one score each game. You know what you are getting in Buffalo.

[SIZE=+1]Stand Pat [/SIZE]
Players to hold on to

1. The Saints defense will force their offense to light up the scoreboard to keep up. And Sean Payton will continue to feed Reggie Bush like crazy, even if he's a far better fantasy player than he is on reality.

2. I don't need to put Jay Cutler and Brandon Marshall on this list, do I? Because they are for really real.

3. I thought about putting Marion Barber in the sell high list, if only because he can't keep up this workload without getting hurt. But who are you going to trade him for? He's a top-four fantasy back, potentially the top back in the NFL (Not fantasy). Many of the other top backs are hurt or struggling. I would trade him for Frank Gore and [URL="http://fantasyfootball.usatoday.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=NFL&id=4169"]Adrian Peterson[/URL], but it's close. I wouldn't deal him for Marshawn Lynch.

4. J.T. O'Sullivan could actually have much better numbers. Mike Martz has shown surprising restraint throwing the ball, which won't keep up. JTO's 9.4 YPA indicate better days ahead after a solid fantasy start.

[SIZE=+1]Some Panic is Acceptable [/SIZE]

1. Brandon Jacobs: The touchdowns will come, like they did Sunday against Cincinnati. But the Giants are starting to notice that their offense runs just as well or better when Derrick Ward and Ahmad Bradshaw is in the game. Jacobs isn't a factor in the receiving game, and that will keep him off the field too much.

2. Derek Anderson is not a player to buy low on. He could bounce back in the short term, but the Browns will need to have a winning record by midseason or Brady Quinn seems likely to get the call. It could happen sooner.

3. Vernon Davis just isn't a big part of the 49ers offense. There are too many options for J.T. O'Sullivan to throw to. No one on the team is averaging more than 4.3 targets-per-game. That will lead to inconsistent production for all.

4. Willis McGahee: Despite the solid debut for McGahee, LeRon McClain is not going anywhere.

5. Kevin Smith: That big day Rudi Johnson had off the bench was supposed to be for Smith. Now the rookie could be the one coming off the bench.

6. [URL="http://fantasyfootball.usatoday.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=NFL&id=35"]Roy Williams[/URL] has lost his alpha dog status to Calvin Johnson, but that's not the most troubling part of Williams' value. It's the specter of Dan Orlovsky and Drew Stanton hanging over the team entering a bye. Without Jon Kitna, this team will lose garbage time yards.

7. All Chiefs Receivers: Oh, what the Tyler Thigpen era has wrought. At one point midway through the second quarter, Thigpen had as many yards as attempts (12) and as many completions as interceptions (2). At least the team's dreadful performance will keep them passing a ton. Dwayne Bowe was lucky to get 43 yards and a touchdown. Who knew we could miss Brodie Croyle so much?

8. All Raiders receivers: Javon Walker caught two passes and it was considered a breakout game in Oakland. Take away JaMarcus Russell's lucky 85-yard slant to Johnnie Lee Higgins and the quarterback is averaging 102 yards a game. Now a new offensive coach is likely coming in. Ronald Curry and Zach Miller can no longer be played.

[SIZE=+1]Coming Out Party [/SIZE]

The plan was to rotate Steve Slaton and Chris Taylor every series at running back. Houston stuck to the plan early, and then stuck with Slaton as he proved he more than capable of handling the job. Slaton is tougher to take down than you'd expect, and was plenty willing to mix it inside against a strong Titans run defense. Despite the final score, Houston's zone blocking showed signs of coming into its own. Slaton owners could benefit as he takes hold of the starting job.

[SIZE=+1]In the Year 2005[/SIZE]

The Bucs and Bears reclamation projects partied like it was 2005 in a crowd-pleasing display at Soldier field. Brandon Lloyd looked like a rising talent, topping 100 yards. Redeemed Rotoworld favorite Antonio Bryant caught ten passes for 138 yards. Jerramy Stevens played like a TE1, Warrick Dunn led his team in rushing, Brian Griese threw enough to rack up 400 yards, and Kyle Orton ultimately disappointed Bears fans. Just like old times! Even Michael Clayton had one of his better days since he was a phenom WR1.

What does it all mean? Probably that these two offenses can be competent in the short-term even if they are going nowhere in the long run. Jon Gruden will find a way to produce passing yards from odd places.

[SIZE=+1]Committee Time[/SIZE]

1. Darren McFadden and Michael Bush split carries evenly, with Bush slightly more effective. McFadden should get more of the workload when he gets healthier.

2. The Titans are consistent. [URL="http://fantasyfootball.usatoday.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=NFL&id=4743"]Chris Johnson[/URL] and LenDale White split carries evenly again Sunday with 16 each. Johnson has 50 carries on the year; LenDale has 49. Johnson is easily the superior player, with 128 more rushing yards and 51 more receiving yards. (Although we'd like to see Johnson get more than seven catches in three games).

But with four touchdowns, including two more goal-line plunges against Houston, White has actually equaled Johnson's fantasy output in standard leagues. That shouldn't keep up, but White has been a pleasant surprise as a RB2/flex for his owners. Too bad he's averaging three yards-per-carry and looking slower than ever. No one said this was fair.

3. I often say how we shouldn't assume certain defensive characteristics carry over from year-to-year when looking at matchups. Minnesota's rush defense is the exception that proves the rule. DeAngelo Williams wound up with three more carries than Jonathan Stewart, but both players failed to top 30 yards. Stewart got his third score.

4. Warrick Dunn had nine touches; Earnest Graham had 12. Dunn is getting more playing time when Tampa is playing from behind. Graham has lost some of his receiving value and is averaging only 12 carries-per-game. He doesn't have much margin for error.

5. Reggie Bush had 18 carries to only six for Pierre Thomas. While it's mostly the offensive line's fault, Thomas' struggles in short yardage could jeopardize his vulture role.

6. Edgerrin James got the bulk of the work for Arizona this time, getting 18 carries to only five for Tim Hightower.

7. Selvin Young got to be the lead back for once, but he still only wound up with eleven carries. That's the most any Denver back has enjoyed all season, making Young a flex play, not a RB2. Michael Pittman now has four touchdowns despite only 44 yards all season.

 

[Hache Man]

Re: Fantasy Football News 2008

Re: Fantasy Football News 2008

Rivers Out-Shines Favre on MNF
Between nice-looking overall numbers and the never-ending in-game tribute from Tony Kornheiser you'd assume that Brett Favre had a successful Monday night, but that's far from the case. New York went into halftime trailing 31-14, at which point Favre had thrown for just 70 yards while being picked off twice, including a 52-yard return for a touchdown by Antonio Cromartie.

San Diego defenders also dropped at least two other catchable interceptions, as Favre frequently looked out of sync with receivers and made risky throws. With the Chargers content to sit back with a big lead in the second half the Jets went almost exclusively to four- and five-receiver sets, allowing Favre to pad his stats with what basically amounted to a series of seven-yard completions.

While Favre was racking up short gains, Philip Rivers was going deep all night despite seeing his first throw picked off and run back for a score. He recovered to go 19-of-24 for 250 yards and three touchdowns after that, averaging 10 yards per attempt to increase his NFL-leading mark. Five of 19 completions went for at least 20 yards, including a fantastic 60-yard strike to Vincent Jackson. www.sandiegochargers.ws

With 914 yards in three games Jay Cutler has received most of the attention, but Rivers has quietly been just as impressive in a far more balanced offense. Cutler has completed 68 percent of his throws for eight touchdowns, two picks, and an average of 8.5 yards per attempt. Rivers has completed 67 percent of his throws for nine touchdowns, two picks, and an average of 9.9 yards per attempt.

While Rivers joins Cutler in seemingly making "The Leap" even if all the Monday Night Football crew wanted to talk about was Favre, here are some other notes from around football ?

* Drew Brees and the Saints passing game showed Sunday that they're perfectly capable of thriving without Marques Colston. Brees sliced up the Broncos for 421 yards, completing 81 percent of his passes for an average gain of 8.8 yards per toss. Unfortunately, they'll now go forward without Colston and Jeremy Shockey, who's expected to miss at least 3-6 weeks with a sports hernia.

With Colston and Shockey out of the picture for the near future Brees is basically left throwing to Reggie Bush and a whole slew of mediocre receivers. That won't stop coach Sean Payton from chucking it a ton and Brees is too good not to post solid numbers, but the odds are heavily stacked against maintaining the average of 281 yards and 1.7 touchdowns that he has through 35 games with the Saints.

Billy Miller takes over for Shockey as the starting tight end and may emerge as a TE2 option, but the 31-year-old hasn't topped 350 yards since 2002 and has little upside. Wide receivers Devery Henderson, David Patten, Robert Meachem, and Lance Moore see their value rise, but it's tough to see any of them stepping up in a big way. More likely is that Bush will see more targets, if that's even possible.

* Kevin Smith was mysteriously absent after Detroit's second series Sunday, but rather than an injury coach Rod Marinelli explained Monday that he simply chose to bench the rookie and "kind of went with" veteran Rudi Johnson because he was "feeling it, running hard, and getting it going." Johnson looked better than he has in a long time, but the move still seemingly came out of nowhere. www.detroitlions.ws

Coming into the game there were no signs that Smith was in danger of losing his spot atop the depth chart. Through two weeks he had a 26-to-4 carry edge over Johnson, got the starting nod Sunday, and gained 14 yards on three runs before being yanked. Johnson proceeded to rack up 131 total yards and a score on 17 touches, topping the 100-yard mark for the first time since Week 2 of last year.

Marinelli proved Sunday that he's tough to predict, but it's unlikely that benching Smith for Johnson is a one-week thing. Johnson certainly played well enough to warrant another extended chance and it doesn't sound like Smith did anything to put himself in the doghouse. Unless Marinelli says otherwise it's no longer safe to assume major touches for Smith and Johnson is worth grabbing in all leagues.

Two-Minute Drill: After catching just two passes Sunday, [URL="http://fantasyfootball.usatoday.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=NFL&id=35"]Roy Williams[/URL] said that he wants the Lions to use more four-receiver sets like they did last season under offensive coordinator Mike Martz ? Coach Sean Payton explained Monday that Deuce McAllister going unused in Week 3 was part of the game plan, suggesting that he's not close to passing Pierre Thomas on the depth chart ? Frustrated by Matt Cassel's inability to get him the ball deep Sunday, Randy Moss resorted to his bad habits of short-arming passes and pouting on the bench ? Coach Mike Holmgren said Monday that Julius Jones will keep starting even if Maurice Morris (knee) returns after the team's Week 4 bye ? Despite ongoing speculation to the contrary, Adam Schefter of NFL Network reports that Lane Kiffin will remain the Raiders' coach for another week ? Titans owner Bud Adams said Sunday that he still has "no doubt" that Vince Young is "going to be a great one" ? Brandon Lloyd had 124 yards and a touchdown on six grabs Sunday after totaling just two catches last season and coach Lovie Smith said Monday that he's the Bears' new "No. 1 receiver" ? Hank Baskett is significantly out-kicking his coverage.

Red Zone: Coach Lane Kiffin said Monday that he doesn't expect Justin Fargas (groin) to return this week, leaving Darren McFadden and Michael Bush to again split snaps versus the Chargers ? After totaling 77 yards on 17 carries Sunday, [URL="http://fantasyfootball.usatoday.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=NFL&id=4169"]Adrian Peterson[/URL] said that his sore hamstring "didn't bother me in the game" and "came out feeling good" ? [URL="http://fantasyfootball.usatoday.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=NFL&id=378"]Kevin Curtis[/URL] (hernia) is scheduled to begin practicing soon, but isn't expected back before Week 6 ? Brodie Croyle (shoulder) is ruled out for Week 4, but coach Herm Edwards said Monday that he hasn't decided yet on Damon Huard or Tyler Thigpen as the fill-in starter ? Being eased back after missing the first two games with a knee injury, Ben Watson played 11 offensive snaps Sunday while David Thomas was on the field for 55 plays ? Coach Jack Del Rio said Monday that he's "hopeful" Troy Williamson (thigh) and Jerry Porter (hamstring) will both be available in Week 4 ? Sidney Rice (knee) said Monday that he "definitely" plans to play this week ? Antonio Pittman is expected to miss 4-6 weeks with a cracked fibula, making Brian Leonard the little-used backup for [URL="http://fantasyfootball.usatoday.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=NFL&id=1663"]Steven Jackson[/URL].

 

[Hache Man]

Re: Fantasy Football News 2008

Re: Fantasy Football News 2008

The Mighty Quinn
According to the 1967 Bob Dylan song, the Mighty Quinn was an Eskimo whose arrival on the scene "changes despair into joy and chaos into rest." Quinn is a virtual messiah delivering salvation in a hopeless world.

If that sounds like a lot of pressure, try saving the freefalling Cleveland Browns from a lost season in the AFC North. Starting quarterback Derek Anderson is staggering like a punch-drunk boxer. His confidence is shot, his accuracy is waning, and he's hearing the resounding footsteps of the mighty Brady Quinn. www.clevelandbrowns.ws

This week will see Quinn increasing his practice reps with the first-team offense while Anderson is left to deal with threats of quick hooks and short leashes. In other words, Derek Anderson is dead man walking. He's being set up for failure while Quinn is being set up as the hero, arriving on the scene just in time to deliver hope in a lost season.

On to the waiver wire, where we'll try to emphasize a new batch of names this week. Here's how I rank the likely targets at each position this week. Full writeups of each player are below.

QUARTERBACKS
1. Brady Quinn
2. Trent Edwards
3. Brian Griese
4. Kerry Collins
5. Sage Rosenfels
6. Drew Stanton

RUNNING BACKS
1. Rashard Mendenhall
2. LeRon McClain
3. Rudi Johnson
4. Correll Buckhalter
5. Kenny Watson
6. Ryan Torain
7. T.J. Duckett
8. Lorenzo Booker

WIDE RECEIVERS
1. Bobby Engram
2. Antonio Bryant
3. [URL="http://fantasyfootball.usatoday.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=NFL&id=378"]Kevin Curtis[/URL]
4. Brandon Lloyd
5. Amani Toomer
6. Greg Camarillo
7. [URL="http://fantasyfootball.usatoday.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=NFL&id=4226"]Chris Henry[/URL]

TIGHT ENDS
1. Jerramy Stevens
2. Billy Miller

***

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QUARTERBACKS

Brady Quinn, Browns
Derek Anderson is not long for the starting quarterback job; in fact, he's a virtual certainty to be yanked from the game against the Bengals if he doesn't turn the ship around. www.clevelandbrowns.ws

When Quinn takes over, he will be at the helm of an offense with an overdue superstar receiver in Braylon Edwards, a dominant tight end in Kellen Winslow, and a healthier version of Donte Stallworth. There's no guarantee that Quinn will guide an offense as high flying as last year's unit, but the possibility is worth a dice roll.

Recommendation: Should be owned in 12-team leagues

Trent Edwards, Bills
You know what you're getting with Trent Edwards and the Bills passing offense: 200 passing yards and a touchdown or two weekly. That's not fantasy feast material, but there's a place for that kind of consistency on medium-to-deep league rosters. www.buffalobills.ws

Recommendation: Should be owned in 12-team leagues

Brian Griese, Buccaneers
Sunday's fourth quarter comeback ensured that he will keep the job for the foreseeable future, but Griese's output against the Bears was an aberration. Don't expect starter-worthy numbers from Griese when he takes on the Packers this week.

Recommendation: Worth a look in 12-team leagues

Kerry Collins, Titans
Collins lends the Titans some credibility in the passing game, but his numbers will remain pedestrian as long as the defense remains dominant. Tennessee would just assume pound the ball 45 times per game while playing with the lead. Collins is worth rostering, but he's only a starting option for the truly desperate. www.tennesseetitans.ws

Recommendation: Worth a look in deeper leagues

Sage Rosenfels, Texans
Unlike Derek Anderson, Texans quarterback Matt Shaub is likely to turn his season around. He's faced two of the staunchest defenses in the league in the Steelers and Titans and was betrayed by Andre Johnson in a fluky performance Sunday.

Still, there is pressure on Schaub to show some improvement against Jacksonville this week. If he continues to crumble behind a leaky offensive line, Gary Kubiak won't hesitate to tap Rosenfels on the shoulder.

Recommendation: Worth a look in deeper leagues

Drew Stanton, Lions
Jon Kitna's knee injury doesn't look serious enough to keep him out, but his poor play in another lost season just might. Stanton is healthy after a preseason thumb injury, and the Lions have the bye week to prepare him to take over should they decide to change direction. www.detroitlions.ws

Stanton has drawn mixed reports from Lions watchers, but the early preseason results were encouraging. Better yet, he's a quarterback that can put up fantasy points with his legs while enjoying the presence of Calvin Johnson and [URL="http://fantasyfootball.usatoday.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=NFL&id=35"]Roy Williams[/URL] as lethal weapons.

Recommendation: Worth a look in deeper leagues


RUNNING BACKS

Rashard Mendenhall, Steelers
Just as Waiver Wired was being posted at noon Tuesday, Willie Parker was declared out for Monday night's game against the Ravens. A decision that early in the week doesn't bode well for a quick return, so there's a possibility that Mendenhall will draw the start for more than just one game.

Mendenhall's matchup against the Ravens isn't going to make him any better than a borderline RB2 this week, but first-round talents with a starting running back job don't grow on trees. The Steelers play at Jacksonville in Week 5 and have their bye in Week 6, so it would make sense for Parker to be held out until Week 7. Considering the circumstances, Mendenhall should be your prime waiver wire target this week if he's available.

LeRon McClain, Ravens
He's here to stay. The 270-pound bruiser looked like a possible one-week wonder while Willis McGahee was out, but McClain has earned a slice of the pie with his hard-charging style. He's a good bet for 10-15 carries per week and could be the called upon often at the stripe. www.baltimoreravens.ws

Recommendation: Should be owned in all leagues

Rudi Johnson, Lions
Perhaps we were too quick to write him off as a washed up has-been. Rudi was "feeling it" against the 49ers Sunday, so the Lions parked starter Kevin Smith on the bench and continued to feed the veteran. He's no sure thing to take over for Smith, but the Lions have a bye week to make install some changes. If he was dropped in your league, pick him up.

Recommendation: Should be owned in all leagues

Correll Buckhalter, Eagles
Buckhalter would top this list if Brian Westbrook's ankle injury was serious, but as it stands now Westbrook may not even miss a start. If Buckhalter does draw the start, he's a good bet for steady carries, a few looks in the passing game, and goal-line touches. Fair warning: the Eagles draw a tough Bears rushing defense in Week 4.

Recommendation: Should be owned in 12-team leagues

Kenny Watson, Bengals
Chris Perry is entrenched as the starter. On the other hand, he's an injury waiting to happen with a heavy workload. If Watson was forced to step in, he could mirror Perry's production as a reliable fantasy starter.

Recommendation: Should be owned in 12-team leagues

Ryan Torain, Broncos
The Broncos have yet to see a running back emerge from their committee attack. Torain is due back from his elbow injury around Week 7 or 8, and the talented rookie could work his way into a fairly prominent late-season role. He's worth a stash if you have the roster space available.

Recommendation: Monitor in deeper leagues

T.J. Duckett, Seahawks
Don't get overly excited about Duckett's two touchdown, 79-yard Week 3 performance. He's a short-yardage, late-game back who will disappoint more often than he will come through. If you play in a deeper, touchdown heavy league he's worth a look.

Recommendation: Worth a look in deeper leagues

Lorezon Booker, Eagles
Correll Buckhalter is Brian Westbrook's handcuff, but Booker could have value in points per reception leagues if Westbrook misses considerable time with his ankle injury.

Recommendation: Should be owned in 12-team leagues


WIDE RECEIVERS

Bobby Engram, Seahawks
The Seahawks have a Week 4 bye, and Engram is fully expected to re-emerge as Matt Hasselbeck's No. 1 target in Week 5 versus the Giants. He's a must grab this week for those in points per reception leagues.

Deion Branch will have his supporters, but a wide receiver coming off ACL surgery isn't a great bet to outscore the trusty Engram. When you consider that Branch averages just one 100-yard per season and rarely sees the end zone, Engram makes even more sense.
Recommendation: Should be owned in all leagues

Antonio Bryant, Buccaneers
The Bucs aren't going to throw 67 times again, so his 10-catch, 138 yard performance against the Bears is unrepeatable. Nonetheless, Bryant did establish himself as Brian Griese's go-to receiver for as long as Joey Galloway remains out with a foot sprain. He's worth a start as a WR3 against the Packers this week. www.tampabaybuccaneers.ws

Recommendation: Should be owned in all leagues

[URL="http://fantasyfootball.usatoday.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=NFL&id=378"]Kevin Curtis[/URL], Eagles
Hank Baskett earned some quarterback trust this week by reeling in eight of his nine targets against the Steelers, but [URL="http://fantasyfootball.usatoday.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=NFL&id=378"]Kevin Curtis[/URL] is the savvier waiver pickup. Curtis is due back from his sports hernia injury by Week 6 and figures to reclaim his starting position when the team travels to San Francisco. The Eagles offense is providing a lot more value than last year's unit, so Curtis should be a WR3 as soon as he hits the field.

Recommendation: Should be owned in all leagues

Brandon Lloyd, Bears
We've seen dominant quarterback/wide receiver connections before: Manning-to-Harrison, Culpepper-to-Moss, the up and coming Cutler-to-Marshall. If Orton-to-Lloyd can keep up this pace for a couple more weeks, they might fall somewhere behind Beuerlein-to-Jeffers and Volek-to-Bennett in fantasy football lore.

Recommendation: Should be owned in 12-team leagues

Amani Toomer, Giants
At this stage of his career, Toomer is nobody's idea of an exciting fantasy player. He is, however, seeing enough weekly targets to make for a nice bye week fill-in starting in Week 5. www.newyorkgiants.ws

Recommendation: Worth a look in deeper leagues

Greg Camarillo, Dolphins
His ceiling is limited, but Camarillo has consistently hauled in three-to-four passes per week for around 50 yards. Don't count on a trip to the end zone, but you could do worse for a bye week sub. www.miamidolphins.ws

Recommendation: Worth a look in deeper leagues

[URL="http://fantasyfootball.usatoday.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=NFL&id=4226"]Chris Henry[/URL], Bengals
Henry is a dominant physical talent, but don't go overboard on your waiver bid this week. The Bengals offense is not clicking on all cylinders, and Henry will be the No. 3 option at best in the passing game when he returns from suspension in Week 5. Expect a handful of touchdowns and hair-pulling inconsistency over the long haul.

Recommendation: Worth a look in 12-team leagues


TIGHT ENDS

Jerramy Stevens, Buccaneers
Are you desperate for a tight end? Need to roll the dice on a bye week fill-in? Stevens may run afoul of the law by the time this article is posted, but he's more talented than starter [URL="http://fantasyfootball.usatoday.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=NFL&id=3147"]Alex Smith[/URL] and was targeted more frequently in Week 3. www.tampabaybuccaneers.ws

Recommendation: Worth a look in deeper leagues

Billy Miller, Saints
Miller is a much better receiver than Mark Campbell. If a Saints tight end steps up while Jeremy Shockey is out 3-6 weeks with sports hernia surgery, Miller is the better bet of the two.

Recommendation: Worth a look in deeper leagues

 

[Hache Man]

Re: Fantasy Football News 2008

Re: Fantasy Football News 2008

Anderson's Last Stand?
Thanks to poor play, a tough early schedule, Brady Quinn's presence, and bad weather Derek Anderson may be on the verge of losing his starting job just three games after signing a long-term contract with the Browns. Asked Monday about Anderson's status heading into Week 4, coach Romeo Crennel did anything but give him a vote of confidence. www.clevelandbrowns.ws

"We have to evaluate what we've done thus far and who is going to give us the best chance to win," Crennel said. "We have to look at all positions." Toss in the fact that Quinn has seen his first-team practice reps increase lately and it's clear that the Browns are considering a quarterback change. Anderson will start this week against the Bengals, but figures to be on a very short leash.

Anderson racked up huge numbers early last year with his big arm and fondness for the home-run ball, but shaky accuracy and poor decision-making have caught up to him. Over the past eight games dating back to last season, he's completed just 54.9 percent of his passes for an average of 6.1 yards per throw while being picked off 13 times versus just nine scores. During that span, Cleveland is 3-5.

It's possible that he'll make it through Week 4 without being replaced no matter how poorly he plays, but if the Browns are at 0-4 heading into their bye it'll be a perfect chance to hand the team over to Quinn. However, the Giants are looming in Week 6, followed by road matchups against the Redskins and Jaguars, and a home date against the Ravens, so he'd hardly be a great fantasy bet initially.

While the Browns regret not selling high on Anderson when they had the chance this offseason, here are some other notes from around football ?

* Marc Bulger's decline hasn't been nearly as rapid as Anderson's drop, because his fall from fantasy stardom has run parallel with the Rams' team-wide collapse. Without a decent offensive line to protect him or an elite receiving corps to catch his passes, Bulger's yearly yards per attempt have gone from 8.2 to 8.0 to 7.3 to 6.3 over the past four seasons.

With the team at 0-3 and coach Scott Linehan scrambling to save his job, Bulger was benched Tuesday in favor of Trent Green. In 15 games since the beginning of last year Bulger has completed just 58.4 percent of his throws for an average of 6.2 yards per attempt while being picked off 17 times versus just 13 scores. In other words, he's certainly played poorly enough to warrant a demotion.

However, given the Rams' pathetic supporting cast the odds are heavily stacked against Green doing any better considering he's a brittle 38-year-old who hasn't played well since 2005. It'd be nice if a quarterback change could save the Rams and rescue Torry Holt's fantasy value, but in reality the roster needs a complete overhaul and Holt needs the fountain of youth. Expect to see Bulger again soon.

* As if averaging just 1.5 yards on 13 carries Sunday against the Eagles wasn't a bad enough Week 3 for Willie Parker, the Steelers announced Tuesday that he finished the game on a sprained left knee. Parker has already been ruled out for Monday night's game against the Ravens, which is seemingly an indication that the injury could keep him sidelined for multiple weeks.

Rashard Mendenhall will make his first start after totaling just 10 carries through three games, but will likely lose plenty of touches to Mewelde Moore, who's been serving as the team's third-down back. Toss in the very tough matchup against a stout Baltimore run defense that has allowed just 71.5 yards per game and 3.7 yards per carry, and Mendenhall isn't more than a low-level RB2 play this week.

Two-Minute Drill: Along with injuries to Marques Colston, Jeremy Shockey, and Jammal Brown, New Orleans lost starting left guard Jamar Nesbit to a four-game suspension Tuesday for violating the league's anabolic steroids policy ? Coach John Harbaugh said Monday that he's "comfortable" continuing to split carries between Willis McGahee, Ray Rice, and LeRon McClain, joining Mike Shanahan as an enemy of fantasy nation ? Coach Gary Kubiak announced Monday that Matt Schaub will make the Week 4 start versus Jacksonville, but he's clearly on thin ice heading into his third straight tough matchup ? Coming to Randy Moss' defense Monday after failing to get him the ball Sunday, Matt Cassel called him "very uplifting" and "a great teammate" ? Coach Herm Edwards said Tuesday that he's "leaning" toward turning back to Damon Huard as the starter after Tyler Thigpen's awful Week 3 performance ? Jamal Lewis called his 15-touch Week 3 workload "pathetic" and coach Romeo Crennel agreed Monday that he should've gotten the ball more versus the Ravens ? A 2002 second-round pick whose career was wrecked by injuries, Mark Bradley was waived Tuesday by the Bears.

Red Zone: Asked Monday afternoon about Donovan McNabb's chest contusion, coach Andy Reid speculated that "he'll get progressively better as the week goes on" ? Meanwhile, when asked about Brian Westbrook's ankle injury Reid noted that "it'll be a race to get him ready for Sunday" ? After racking up 87 yards and two touchdowns on 29 touches Monday night, LaDainian Tomlinson said that his injured toe is "pretty close" to being healthy ? According to coach Mike Tomlin, Ben Roethlisberger is not expected to miss any practice time this week despite leaving Sunday's game with an injured right hand ? Despite rolling his ankle in the third quarter Monday night, Brett Favre is expected to extend his NFL-record streak to 257 consecutive starts Sunday ? Coach Romeo Crennel said Monday that he's hoping Donte' Stallworth (quadriceps) will be able to make his Browns debut this week ? Drew Stanton revealed Tuesday that his sprained thumb was healthy enough for him to play if needed in Week 3, potentially setting the Lions up for a quarterback change following their bye.