I'm going to organize this different this year. Last yeah I grouped it by position, but then I have to go through each team for each position which I feel is inefficient. This year, I will group them by teams (which will be sorted alphabetically by city), which is probably easier for the readers when they want to look for a specific player.
*update* I have updated this through Friday.
Arizona Cardinals - Anquan Boldin feels better this week. He says he's still not quite 100%, but he's close. Of greater concern is Kurt Warner's performance, but I would start Boldin this week as a WR2/3. Understand there's a slight risk starting him when he's not 100%, but I don't think you can bench him this week as he'll play more. Steve Breaston aggravated his MCL sprain and should not be used this week.
Atlanta Falcons - None.
Baltimore Ravens - None.
Buffalo Bills - Marshawn Lynch is suspended through week 3, and the impressive Fred Jackson will start in his place.
Carolina Panthers - Jake Delhomme has contracted The Suck and will hope to shake that off in week 2.
Cincinnati Bengals - Keep an eye on Laveraneus Coles. No injury here, but if he continues to struggle with drops, he's probably going to lose his starting job because the Bengals are deep at WR. Make him earn his way back into your fantasy lineup in the mean time.
Chicago Bears - Cutler suffered a bruised ego, which might shrink it down to a tolerable level.
Cleveland Browns - James Davis played after his auto accident, but he wasn't effective. Jamal Lewis will make Davis earn the job after a solid week 1. Jamal Lewis will start in week 2 with Jerome Harrison behind him. James Davis might sit out.
Dallas Cowboys - Felix Jones suffered a bruised thigh in week 1, but he's fine for week 2.
Denver Broncos - Knowshon Moreno's snaps were limited in week 1, and while I expect him to see more work in week 2, I would not use him as a RB2 until his exact "100% healthy" role is clear. Brandon Marshall is obviously starting again and playing a full complement of snaps.
Detroit Lions - None.
Green Bay Packers - Greg Jennings supposedly has a minor wrist injury, but it will not cause him to miss week 2.
Houston Texans - Kevin Walter was expected to return in week 2, and put in a full practice earlier in the week, but he had a limited practice on Friday and will be listed as questionable. This leads some to believe he suffered a setback, so he'll be a GTD on Sunday.
Indianapolis Colts - Anthony Gonzalez is out indefinitely with a knee sprain. I wouldn't drop him unless the Colts put him on IR...he'll have value when he returns.
Jacksonville Jaguars - None.
Kansas City Chiefs - Matt Cassel reportedly looks better this week, and I'd expect him to start in week 2 barring a setback. I would not use him as a QB1 yet.
Miami Dolphins - None.
Minnesota Vikings - None.
New England Patriots - Wes Welker is probably going be limited in practice again, but he's going to start in week 2.
New Orleans Saints - Pierre Thomas's week 2 status is completely up in the air currently, so I'll continue to monitor this. He's been limited all week, and the Saints don't need him with Mike Bell running well. I'll guess that he will be inactive again, but at any rate, he is not startable in any format.
New York Giants - Hakeem Nicks will miss a couple weeks with his minor foot sprain. Domenik Hixon and Mario Manningham will pick up additional snaps while Nicks is out with Manningham having higher upside.
New York Jets - None.
Oakland Raiders - Chaz Schilens is expected to be out several more weeks with his foot sprain. Louis Murphy will continue to start in his place.
Philadelphia Eagles - The signing of Jeff Garcia makes it appear as though Donovan McNabb will miss at least 1 week with his broken ribs. Philly will probably play coy for a bit, but the signing shows what McNabb's true status is.
Pittsburgh Steelers - Willie Parker blamed his week 1 struggles on a hamstring issue, but says he feels better. Thanks to a lack of better options on the roster, he'll have to shit the bed some more before losing his starting job.
San Diego Chargers - LaDainian Tomlinson suffered an ankle injury in the 1st quarter, but looked fine running over the rest of the game. Despite this, LT is out for week 2. Darren Sproles will start and is a solid RB2 play despite a tough match up against Baltimore. Michael Bennett will back him up.
San Francisco 49ers - None.
Seattle Seahawks - Julius Jones is clearly the featured RB and can be considered as a RB2 option in the right match ups.
St. Louis Rams - Marc Bulger could lose his job shortly if he doesn't turn things around. Reports have him scared of the blitz, which is obviously very bad news.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Antonio Bryant is struggling with his surgically repaired knee, and he will miss week 2. Keep him benched until he proves that he's healthy.
Tennessee Titans - Nate Washington is expected to return and play a full complement of snaps in week 2, but I'd hold off on starting him as a WR until it's clear that Kenny Britt won't cut into his playing time.
Washington Redskins - None.
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
Week 2 Waiver Wire
I promise to get this article written before Tuesday night as most leagues run waivers that night. :) As always, I'm speaking from the premise of a 12 team league that starts 1 QB, 2 RB, 3 WR, and 1 TE.
QB:
Kyle Orton / Trent Edwards - These guys should have been drafted, but they didn't post huge numbers in week 1. These guys have the weapons around them to contend for QB1 status should things break right. They should be owned and on your bench.
Byron Leftwich - I question the weapons around him, especially since Antonio Bryant isn't 100%. That said, he looked good in the 1st week, so if you don't have anything that resembles a QB2 on your roster, go ahead and grab him. He's always been talented, but he's been held back by his lack of mobility and a slow release. He isn't going to fix that, but he's a starting QB in the NFL assuming he has a solid line in front of him, which Tampa Bay has.
Mark Sanchez - He has a decent #1 target in Jerricho Cotchery and a good TE in Dustin Keller. He will be protected by his running game and defense, so he's not going to throw a lot either. That all being said, he's a decent QB2. Think Flacco of last season, especially since the coaching staff and philosophy is very much the same as Baltimore. I think he has more poise thank Flacco, however, more along the line of Matt Ryan thanks to the quality competition he faced last season in the college ranks.
Matt Leinart - Sleeper. Kurt Warner looks bad, and some are predicting that Leinart will take over at some point this season. His weapons speak for themselves, and he's a great stash if you have a roster spot you're not doing much with. He could flirt with QB1 value should he take over at some point. Warner owners are strongly encouraged to handcuff him, especially with the price paid in drafts to get Warner.
RB:
Michael Bush - He should have been drafted, but in case he's still out there, Monday night proved why. He's my RB5 in all leagues. He's a big, powerful back who has some wiggle and quickness, plus he was excellent catching passes in college. He'll sit behind McFadden in per week touches, but he's still going to get 10+ carries, and he's favored at the goal line. He would be a great RB2 should anything happen to McFadden.
Cadillac Williams - He also should have been picked up prior to week 1 after his big preseason week 4 performance and perch atop the final week 1 depth chart, but he backed it up with a big week 1 despite only 12 carries. He's a good stash, but don't go throwing him into your yet lineup when he's only getting 10-12 carries, despite his week 1 numbers.
Mike Bell - He should have been picked up prior to week 1, especially by Pierre Thomas owners. That being said, he's available in one of my leagues (I didn't like him better than Michael Bush, my "worst" RB), so he's probably still out there in some others. If you have 4-5 RBs on your team that have a defined role, and you'd have to drop one of them to get him, pass. Otherwise, he's definitely the best waiver option this week. He might start again in week 2, and rumor has him forcing himself into a role even when Pierre Thomas gets healthy.
Kevin Faulk - He's worth a stash on the end of your bench as a RB4/5, but his upside is limited. He's going to see plenty of time on the field, catch passes, and run a few draws...but he just doesn't get the ball enough to have RB2 upside. That being said, depth is important, and he has a defined role.
Ladell Betts - Portis owners with a spot on their bench would be advised to grab Betts.
WR:
Louis Murphy - He's the best WR and the best deep threat Oakland has going for them. Once Chaz Schillens returns, there's no question in my mind that he'll start opposite Schilens and DHB will move to the 3rd WR role. He's probably better than a number of WR5s currently on a roster, so grab him. he has some upside as a big play WR even though he's limited by Russell's continued accuracy problems.
Laurent Robinson - He proved it was no fluke that he won the job by posting a solid week 1 despite poor QB play. His upside is dimmed by Bulger's steep decline, but he has more of the look of a top WR than Donnie Avery does thanks to his size/speed combination. Good WR5 to toss on your bench with upside.
Nate Burleson - Burleson has apparently recovered from last season's torn ACL by posting a great week 1. Given TJ Housh's inability to make plays down the field, Burleson could actually emerge as the guy to own in Seattle. All bets are off if Hasselbeck has more issues with his back, but it's worth riding the hot streak in the mean time.
Brandon Stokley - His numbers obviously rank him among the best WRs on the waiver wire, but if you didn't know, he caught a ridiculously fluky 87 yard TD off of a tipped pass. Don't add him.
Mark Clayton - He's always had the talent, and he's always had the injuries that have held him back. I don't like him as much as Murphy, but much like Murphy, he's probably better than many WR5s currently owned. Clayton will start as long as he's healthy.
Chansi Stuckey - He had a solid first game, and he got open for a TD on a blown coverage. He's not a bad WR, but he's 3rd on the target list behind Cotchery and Keller for a run-first team, so I'd leave him on the waiver wire.
Mario Manningham - With Hakeem Nicks set to miss 2-3 weeks with a foot sprain, there will be more targets to go around for WRs playing opposite Steve Smith. Manningham will be the biggest beneficiary here, and he could nail down a starting job for a while with a solid performance. He's not a bad speculator add.
Devery Henderson/Robert Meachem - The Saints will mix-and-match these 2 deep threats while Colston, Moore, and Shockey dominate the targets. They will be very high risk/reward WRs each and every week due to how the Saints use them, but they can be stashed and used to catch lightning in a bottle if you don't have other more solid options.
Michael Clayton - Remember him? 1193/7 his rookie year, and about that cumulatively over the last 4 years. It's hard to say what happened, but I do know he's had knee problems since there. The Bucs badly need someone to step up at WR while Bryant deals with his own knee issues, so he can be stashed.
Mark Bradley - The Chiefs also need a WR to step up opposite Dwayne Bowe, and Bradley certainly has the talent. Much like Mark Clayton, injuries have constantly held him back. He's also worth stashing as a WR5 to see how it shakes out.
Mike Sims-Walker - Deep sleeper here. He did nothing in week 1, but the Jaguars badly need someone to step up opposite Torry Holt and provide big play potential. Sims-Walker has the talent, but just like Clayton and Bradley, injuries have held him back. When the Jaguars eventually tire of Troy Williamson, Sims-Walker will step up and produce while he's healthy. Total speculatory stash.
TE:
Zach Miller - It boggles me that he's available in one of my leagues. This guy should be starting for a team in every 12+ team league, and arguably in 10 team leagues as well. I know the Raiders passing attack sucks, but he produced last year and will again this year. He's a TE1.
Todd Heap - Rebound candidate? He's likely available in all leagues, but he looked as good last Sunday as he's looked since 2006. Odds are he'll get hurt again, but he's worth owning until then. He could flirt with TE1 value if he can avoid all the nagging injuries.
Ben Watson - We've seen this before with his TD explosions, but he did catch 6 passes in all. He's never lacked the talent, but he has lacked the instincts and hands. The Patriots need someone other than Moss and Welker to threaten defenses, and Watson is most certainly a seam-buster. Grab him as a TE2.
Robert Royal - 60 yards and a TD from a TE certainly warrants consideration, and he's produced in a limited sense of the word in Buffalo before. I wouldn't waste a roster spot on him yet, but keep an eye to see if he repeats again in week 2.
QB:
Kyle Orton / Trent Edwards - These guys should have been drafted, but they didn't post huge numbers in week 1. These guys have the weapons around them to contend for QB1 status should things break right. They should be owned and on your bench.
Byron Leftwich - I question the weapons around him, especially since Antonio Bryant isn't 100%. That said, he looked good in the 1st week, so if you don't have anything that resembles a QB2 on your roster, go ahead and grab him. He's always been talented, but he's been held back by his lack of mobility and a slow release. He isn't going to fix that, but he's a starting QB in the NFL assuming he has a solid line in front of him, which Tampa Bay has.
Mark Sanchez - He has a decent #1 target in Jerricho Cotchery and a good TE in Dustin Keller. He will be protected by his running game and defense, so he's not going to throw a lot either. That all being said, he's a decent QB2. Think Flacco of last season, especially since the coaching staff and philosophy is very much the same as Baltimore. I think he has more poise thank Flacco, however, more along the line of Matt Ryan thanks to the quality competition he faced last season in the college ranks.
Matt Leinart - Sleeper. Kurt Warner looks bad, and some are predicting that Leinart will take over at some point this season. His weapons speak for themselves, and he's a great stash if you have a roster spot you're not doing much with. He could flirt with QB1 value should he take over at some point. Warner owners are strongly encouraged to handcuff him, especially with the price paid in drafts to get Warner.
RB:
Michael Bush - He should have been drafted, but in case he's still out there, Monday night proved why. He's my RB5 in all leagues. He's a big, powerful back who has some wiggle and quickness, plus he was excellent catching passes in college. He'll sit behind McFadden in per week touches, but he's still going to get 10+ carries, and he's favored at the goal line. He would be a great RB2 should anything happen to McFadden.
Cadillac Williams - He also should have been picked up prior to week 1 after his big preseason week 4 performance and perch atop the final week 1 depth chart, but he backed it up with a big week 1 despite only 12 carries. He's a good stash, but don't go throwing him into your yet lineup when he's only getting 10-12 carries, despite his week 1 numbers.
Mike Bell - He should have been picked up prior to week 1, especially by Pierre Thomas owners. That being said, he's available in one of my leagues (I didn't like him better than Michael Bush, my "worst" RB), so he's probably still out there in some others. If you have 4-5 RBs on your team that have a defined role, and you'd have to drop one of them to get him, pass. Otherwise, he's definitely the best waiver option this week. He might start again in week 2, and rumor has him forcing himself into a role even when Pierre Thomas gets healthy.
Kevin Faulk - He's worth a stash on the end of your bench as a RB4/5, but his upside is limited. He's going to see plenty of time on the field, catch passes, and run a few draws...but he just doesn't get the ball enough to have RB2 upside. That being said, depth is important, and he has a defined role.
Ladell Betts - Portis owners with a spot on their bench would be advised to grab Betts.
WR:
Louis Murphy - He's the best WR and the best deep threat Oakland has going for them. Once Chaz Schillens returns, there's no question in my mind that he'll start opposite Schilens and DHB will move to the 3rd WR role. He's probably better than a number of WR5s currently on a roster, so grab him. he has some upside as a big play WR even though he's limited by Russell's continued accuracy problems.
Laurent Robinson - He proved it was no fluke that he won the job by posting a solid week 1 despite poor QB play. His upside is dimmed by Bulger's steep decline, but he has more of the look of a top WR than Donnie Avery does thanks to his size/speed combination. Good WR5 to toss on your bench with upside.
Nate Burleson - Burleson has apparently recovered from last season's torn ACL by posting a great week 1. Given TJ Housh's inability to make plays down the field, Burleson could actually emerge as the guy to own in Seattle. All bets are off if Hasselbeck has more issues with his back, but it's worth riding the hot streak in the mean time.
Brandon Stokley - His numbers obviously rank him among the best WRs on the waiver wire, but if you didn't know, he caught a ridiculously fluky 87 yard TD off of a tipped pass. Don't add him.
Mark Clayton - He's always had the talent, and he's always had the injuries that have held him back. I don't like him as much as Murphy, but much like Murphy, he's probably better than many WR5s currently owned. Clayton will start as long as he's healthy.
Chansi Stuckey - He had a solid first game, and he got open for a TD on a blown coverage. He's not a bad WR, but he's 3rd on the target list behind Cotchery and Keller for a run-first team, so I'd leave him on the waiver wire.
Mario Manningham - With Hakeem Nicks set to miss 2-3 weeks with a foot sprain, there will be more targets to go around for WRs playing opposite Steve Smith. Manningham will be the biggest beneficiary here, and he could nail down a starting job for a while with a solid performance. He's not a bad speculator add.
Devery Henderson/Robert Meachem - The Saints will mix-and-match these 2 deep threats while Colston, Moore, and Shockey dominate the targets. They will be very high risk/reward WRs each and every week due to how the Saints use them, but they can be stashed and used to catch lightning in a bottle if you don't have other more solid options.
Michael Clayton - Remember him? 1193/7 his rookie year, and about that cumulatively over the last 4 years. It's hard to say what happened, but I do know he's had knee problems since there. The Bucs badly need someone to step up at WR while Bryant deals with his own knee issues, so he can be stashed.
Mark Bradley - The Chiefs also need a WR to step up opposite Dwayne Bowe, and Bradley certainly has the talent. Much like Mark Clayton, injuries have constantly held him back. He's also worth stashing as a WR5 to see how it shakes out.
Mike Sims-Walker - Deep sleeper here. He did nothing in week 1, but the Jaguars badly need someone to step up opposite Torry Holt and provide big play potential. Sims-Walker has the talent, but just like Clayton and Bradley, injuries have held him back. When the Jaguars eventually tire of Troy Williamson, Sims-Walker will step up and produce while he's healthy. Total speculatory stash.
TE:
Zach Miller - It boggles me that he's available in one of my leagues. This guy should be starting for a team in every 12+ team league, and arguably in 10 team leagues as well. I know the Raiders passing attack sucks, but he produced last year and will again this year. He's a TE1.
Todd Heap - Rebound candidate? He's likely available in all leagues, but he looked as good last Sunday as he's looked since 2006. Odds are he'll get hurt again, but he's worth owning until then. He could flirt with TE1 value if he can avoid all the nagging injuries.
Ben Watson - We've seen this before with his TD explosions, but he did catch 6 passes in all. He's never lacked the talent, but he has lacked the instincts and hands. The Patriots need someone other than Moss and Welker to threaten defenses, and Watson is most certainly a seam-buster. Grab him as a TE2.
Robert Royal - 60 yards and a TD from a TE certainly warrants consideration, and he's produced in a limited sense of the word in Buffalo before. I wouldn't waste a roster spot on him yet, but keep an eye to see if he repeats again in week 2.
Monday, September 14, 2009
Week 1 Thoughts
Since the first week is complete, I'm going to go through each team with some week 1 analysis. I feel this is particularly important as fantasy owners tend to want to panic too early each year, so I'd like to address what I feel is actually worth worrying about. I have sorted the teams so it's easier to find who you're looking for.
Arizona Cardinals - Warner looked old, just like he did in the preseason. This simply isn't going to be the same offense this season, and it's a concern for Warner/Fitz/Boldin owners. Boldin didn't look 100% yet, and he was on a snap count. Hightower was still dancing too much, and Beanie Wells ran with no nonsense. Wells will eventually dominate carries here if he can stay healthy, so he's a high upside RB3. The Cardinals will have to run more this year.
Atlanta Falcons - Ryan was a bit inaccurate down the field, missing on some big plays where receivers got open. I'll attribute that to rust as his final numbers still were solid. Michael Turner was bottled up by a good run D, and this is a bit concerning as Turner will be facing much better run defenses this year than last. Plus, Tony Gonzalez gives them another option at the goal line. I still stand firm that Turner will not live up to his top 3 draft billing this year, but will definitely put up some big games mixed in. It's the consistency that will be a problem thanks to a lack of receiving ability.
Baltimore Ravens - Flacco was given the green light and set a career high in both attempts and yardage while tossing 3 TDs. Now this is the Chiefs defense we're talking about here, so we can't get too excited, especially with his mundane weapons. However, Flacco is looking like a stronger QB2 than expected at the moment. Ray Rice looked great, but McGahee was exclusive at the goal line. I'd like to see how Rice does against a tough defense first, but it's clear that he'll get his carries and receptions this year. Mark Clayton and Todd Heap are healthy, which helps Flacco quite a bit, but with as injury prone as those two are, it's hard to say for how long.
Buffalo Bills - Trent Edwards did a good job with his play calling, keeping the Patriots off balance for a lot of the game, but he again was completely reliant on underneath passing despite having 2 excellent deep threats. I did hear during the game that the Patriots were often doubling both WRs, which makes sense given the lack of other receiving options they possess. Both Owens and Evans were undertargeted and not very effective. Fred Jackson, however, looked very impressive and will be forcing a timeshare with Marshawn Lynch if he keeps this up. He's a complete RB.
Carolina Panthers - What a disaster. Delhomme is going to kill Steve Smith at this rate. I don't want to overreact to one game, but he looked just as bad as he did in the playoff game against Arizona last season, and that can't be good for his confidence. If Delhomme goes in the tank, newly signed AJ Feeley will start. Furthermore, Stewart completely cut into DeAngelo's carries with a 14/11 split in favor of DA. Luckily Williams made up for some of it in the air (4/42), but Stewart actually replaced him on the goal line a few times. This has the potential to turn into a mess, and it's something that Williams owners have to honestly be concerned about. The fact they nursed Stewart's injury for so long totally threw me off, but a healthy Stewart was going to play more.
Chicago Bears - I swear Grossman underwent plastic surgery and had us all fooled out there, looks-wise at least. The offense looked pretty brutal, but Cutler did have a couple nice deep throws to Knox who stepped out of bounds, and to Hester for a TD. Olsen was doubled relentlessly, so they'll need to find a way to fix that. There's going to be some growing pains here, but I still think Cutler will manage borderline QB1 numbers when all is said and done. He's more of a match-up play this season though. Forte was completely bottled up and will need the passing game to come around to give him some room. He wasn't quite as explosive, which is a concern. With the Steelers up next, it doesn't get any easier.
Cincinnati Bengals - Palmer looked good, and both of his INTs were not really his fault. One came on a ball that bounced high up in the air on an attempted catch, and the other came as a last second heave. Coles dropped a ton of passes, and he could arguably be the 4th best WR on this team behind Ochocinco (very solid first game), Chris Henry, and Andre Caldwell. Benson also looked solid with workman-like numbers and a TD. Feel confident with Palmer and Ochocinco moving forward, but I'd probably shy away from Coles until he bounces back. Since he's a veteran, he'll have a chance.
Cleveland Browns - Ugh. Quinn looked bad, and it killed Edwards. Lewis looked surprisingly spry, so he's not giving up his job without a fight. James Davis did nothing, but he did suffer through an auto accident earlier in the weekend, so we'll give him a week 1 pass. This passing game worries me.
Dallas Cowboys - Who needs TO? Romo looked great, and Roy Williams showed he still has explosion the slant he busted for a 66 yard TD. On top of this, Barber dominated the backfield (14-6) while back in his closer role. If the passing attack can keep this up, Barber will be a borderline RB1 again, just like he was in 2006/2007. He'll score 10+ times. Crayton had a fluky game aided by an uncharacteristic 80 yard TD. Don't rush to throw him in your lineup.
Denver Broncos - Orton was shaky again, but this was to be expected as he works out the kinks in the new offense. I know I sound like an Orton apologist, but I believe in the players he has around him. Marshall was back to dropping passes again, and he didn't target Royal enough. Stay with the Broncos passing game; it'll come around. Their backfield looks like a nightmare right now, and Moreno can't be started.
Detroit Lions - That went about as well as could be expected. Stafford wasn't accurate and threw 3 INTs, but he was clearly willing to throw the ball down the field, which is an extension from the preseason. That's great news for CJ who produced 90 yards on only 3 catches. He should have had a TD, but the refs blew the call on the field, and then blew the challenge. Ridiculous. Kevin Smith didn't generate much on the ground, but he scored and got 22 touches thanks to 7 catches. He might threaten RB1 value in PPR leagues this year.
Green Bay Packers - Rodgers had trouble, but the Bears defensive pressure was dominant and forced some bad throws when WRs were open. No worries...Rodgers won't be facing this sort of pass rush each week. He salvaged his day with a game winning bomb to Jennings with just over a minute left, which was the opposite of last year when he posted huge numbers and often came up short late in games. Ryan Grant had a good burst and looked like a solid RB2 on the field. I think I might have been wrong about him this year, assuming he can stay healthy.
Houston Texans - Disaster. Also, patience. They faced a ferocious Jets defense who attacked them all game long with a very aggressive pass rush. There is way too much talent on the Houston offense to be worried. Darrell Revis is evolving into one of the elite shutdown corners in the NFL, and he held AJ in check.
Indianapolis Colts - It wasn't pretty, but they got it done. Manning looked good outside of an awful forced throw to Wayne on a fade in the endzone. Wayne was absolutely dominant. Gonzalez's injury will help Dallas Clark's fantasy value. The running game looked bad, especially Addai, and Brown actually got most of the 4th quarter work. The committee is in full effect, but if Addai can't make some plays, he could start losing even more touches.
Jacksonville Jaguars - MJD was featured, and was really the only offense. Garrard did the best he could to make some plays, but his receivers didn't help him out at all. Holt struggled to separate, and there's nothing going on opposite him. They badly need the talented Mike Sims-Walker to cash in on his talent and start producing.
Kansas City Chiefs - Nobody expected 24 points against Baltimore, but a blocked punt TD and a long INT return inside the 10 certainly helped change that. Croyle did a reasonable job filling in for Cassel, but only lead one good TD drive all game. LJ was completely ineffective. Bowe scored to save his owners on his first catch in the 3rd quarter, and he didn't catch another pass until hauling in a couple in the 4th quarter. He is going to be doubled relentlessly, so we'll have to keep an eye on how he handles that. Mark Bradley's good game was definitely a positive moving forward. He certainly has the talent to help Bowe out opposite him.
Miami Dolphins - Despite a lot of outlets talking about Ricky Williams looking slow in the preseason, he looked plenty quick, and the 13/9 touch ratio between Ronnie and Ricky is a true concern moving forward. This looked exactly like last year, and when Ricky replaced Ronnie at the 9 and caught a TD pass, it felt like a kick to the crotch. Miami clearly needs to establish the run next game as they looked lost on offense. Ronnie Brown is still this team's best offensive weapon. I'm not overly worried as Ronnie is probably everyone's RB2, and he'll be able to produce at that level, but his RB1 upside will be killed if they continue to use the same split as last year.
Minnesota Vikings - Favre spent most of the game handing off to Peterson, who mauled in the 2nd half and posted a monster game. As Favre gets up to speed, expect better things from Bernard Berrian. Percy Harvin was used all over and got 5 touches, so also expect him to become more involved as well. Sydney Rice looks like a red zone weapon with his size. He's going to score some TDs this year.
New England Patriots - Brady certainly didn't start as hot as he showed in the preseason, but he certainly finished that way. He's definitely back, using Welker underneath and Moss down the field exactly as you'd expect. Watson also turned in a huge game, and he's worth owning as a TE2. They do need a 3rd receiving option to continue to leave things open for Moss and Welker. True to form they used a full out committee, and Taylor even scored on a goal line carry. Maroney and Taylor are worth RB5 roster stashes, and Faulk is definitely worth owning in PPR.
New Orleans Saints - That went according to plan. Everyone looked great, although I'm sure Colston owners were fuming a bit...thankfully he scored once. Mike Bell looked terrific, and this is pretty much worst case scenario for Pierre Thomas owners. Bell might have just forced his way into a 3 man committee, but let's not overreact yet until Thomas returns. Thomas owners need to own Bell, obviously.
New York Giants - Eli actually looked good...he spread the ball around to all his receivers. Unfortunately, Nicks sustained a sprained foot and will be lost for a few weeks. Jacobs struggled, but the Skins' defense projected to be tougher this year. No worries. Bradshaw looked great with his touches and will be a RB3 this season...he has clearly assumed Derrick Ward's role from last year.
New York Jets - Mark Sanchez looked great, spreading the ball around to his receivers well and remaining calm. Thomas Jones looked explosive again, so Shonn Greene is an afterthought for now, but I don't believe he'll last the season. Leon Washington, as promised, was given 15 carries and 4 catches as well. Washington looks like a good RB3 this season as he's clearly a bigger part of the offense. Cotchery and Keller both look like good options moving forward, but expect ups and downs as you normally would with a rookie QB. It won't always look this good.
Oakland Raiders - Russell looked horribly inaccurate yet again for most of the game, which is his biggest downfall right now. DHB also continued his dropped passes.Louis Murphy, on the other hand, looked pretty good and will probably start opposite Chaz Schilens when he returns. Zach Miller dominated the middle of the field and put up TE1 numbers. He's a favorite of Russell's, and there's no reason he shouldn't be owned. The rushing attack looked dominant in the 1st half, but San Diego caught on and started slowing it down in the 2nd half. The Raiders used a full committee of McFadden and Bush, and both looked very good, with Bush getting the call at the goal line. Expect this to be their strategy this year.
Philadelphia Eagles - Thanks to the defense doing the heavy lifting, McNabb and Westbrook weren't asked to do much, and luckily both scored at least once to keep the owners happy. McNabb's rib injury needs to be monitored this week, and the fact they signed Jeff Garcia is probably indicative that he won't play. They've lost a ton of confidence in Kevin Kolb. Westbrook looked great, helping ease concerns about his offseason surgeries. I'm not confident he'll last (who is?), but he's the man while healthy. McCoy looked good filling in, but most of his carries came with the game out of hand. The receivers will bounce back, but they need to be downgraded if McNabb misses time.
San Diego Chargers - Phillip Rivers started slow, but turned it on the 4th quarter when it was time to step up. He finished with respectable numbers. Vincent Jackson posted a solid game despite being blanketed by Nnamdi Asomugha all game, and Gates dominated the middle of the field while looking healthy again...he missed a TD by inches. Sorry LT owners, your high pick is in a full out committee. He also sprained an ankle in the 1st quarter and was constantly coming out of the game after a rush. Sproles looked explosive while LT did not, and Sproles is the official 3rd down RB.
San Francisco 49ers - Gore was the clear focal point of the offense, and while he certainly didn't impress with his YPC, he scored twice and caught some passes to turn in a good fantasy day. Josh Morgan was absent the entire 2nd half after posting a solid 1st half. I would assume an injury would have been announced, so my guess was he did something wrong and Singletary isn't making a spectacle out of it like he erroneously did with Vernon Davis last year. Speaking of Davis, he looked solid and they tried to get him the ball. Make sure he's owned as a TE2.
Seattle Seahawks - Wow, I was totally surprised by this. Now they were playing the Rams, so like with the Ravens, expectations have to be kept in check, but Hasselbeck did a great job spreading the ball around. He's going to be effective while healthy. Housh caught 6 passes, but had a long of 9. I read he did absolutely nothing after the catch, so he's going to have a very hard time fulfilling fantasy expectations if that continues. Carlson looked good, but he's going to have to block more than he did this game against better defensive fronts. I'm not sold on him as a TE1 despite the big game. Julius Jones dominated carries until the game got out of hand, so he's the clear starter here, and a low end RB2/solid RB3 much like Cedric Benson. He's only a match up play.
St. Louis Rams - Steve Spagnolo's season couldn't have started off any worse. Marc Bulger reportedly looks shell shocked out there, and people are calling for him to be benched immediately. Steven Jackson started hot, but the game got way out of hand. The most disappointing part of this was Jackson's lack of involvement in the passing game, but don't worry, I guarantee you they'll fix that. Laurent Robinson looked very good and along with Donnie Avery, the Rams actually have a good duo at WR. Now if only they had a QB...
Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Leftwich, per usual, took some hits but moved the offense. Cadillac most certainly is back, but he's evenly splitting with Derrick Ward. Earnest Graham owners can forget about him for the time being. Cadillac will be a popular add this week, but he's not worth starting if he's only seeing 10-15 carries, especially since neither Caddy nor Ward are the official goal line back. Both can succeed in that role as evidenced by their 1 yard TDs. Caddy has a better chance of staying healthy in this timeshare situation. Antonio Bryant's knee acted up again, and this is a serious concern. I'd keep him benched until he proves he's healthy. Winslow looked solid.
Washington Redskins - The offense looked about as expected...mediocre. Cambell was OK, Portis did nothing outside of his 34 yard first run, Cooley turned in a fine day, and Randle-El surprised people (don't go picking him up). Blah all around. I wouldn't start anyone but Cooley here.
Arizona Cardinals - Warner looked old, just like he did in the preseason. This simply isn't going to be the same offense this season, and it's a concern for Warner/Fitz/Boldin owners. Boldin didn't look 100% yet, and he was on a snap count. Hightower was still dancing too much, and Beanie Wells ran with no nonsense. Wells will eventually dominate carries here if he can stay healthy, so he's a high upside RB3. The Cardinals will have to run more this year.
Atlanta Falcons - Ryan was a bit inaccurate down the field, missing on some big plays where receivers got open. I'll attribute that to rust as his final numbers still were solid. Michael Turner was bottled up by a good run D, and this is a bit concerning as Turner will be facing much better run defenses this year than last. Plus, Tony Gonzalez gives them another option at the goal line. I still stand firm that Turner will not live up to his top 3 draft billing this year, but will definitely put up some big games mixed in. It's the consistency that will be a problem thanks to a lack of receiving ability.
Baltimore Ravens - Flacco was given the green light and set a career high in both attempts and yardage while tossing 3 TDs. Now this is the Chiefs defense we're talking about here, so we can't get too excited, especially with his mundane weapons. However, Flacco is looking like a stronger QB2 than expected at the moment. Ray Rice looked great, but McGahee was exclusive at the goal line. I'd like to see how Rice does against a tough defense first, but it's clear that he'll get his carries and receptions this year. Mark Clayton and Todd Heap are healthy, which helps Flacco quite a bit, but with as injury prone as those two are, it's hard to say for how long.
Buffalo Bills - Trent Edwards did a good job with his play calling, keeping the Patriots off balance for a lot of the game, but he again was completely reliant on underneath passing despite having 2 excellent deep threats. I did hear during the game that the Patriots were often doubling both WRs, which makes sense given the lack of other receiving options they possess. Both Owens and Evans were undertargeted and not very effective. Fred Jackson, however, looked very impressive and will be forcing a timeshare with Marshawn Lynch if he keeps this up. He's a complete RB.
Carolina Panthers - What a disaster. Delhomme is going to kill Steve Smith at this rate. I don't want to overreact to one game, but he looked just as bad as he did in the playoff game against Arizona last season, and that can't be good for his confidence. If Delhomme goes in the tank, newly signed AJ Feeley will start. Furthermore, Stewart completely cut into DeAngelo's carries with a 14/11 split in favor of DA. Luckily Williams made up for some of it in the air (4/42), but Stewart actually replaced him on the goal line a few times. This has the potential to turn into a mess, and it's something that Williams owners have to honestly be concerned about. The fact they nursed Stewart's injury for so long totally threw me off, but a healthy Stewart was going to play more.
Chicago Bears - I swear Grossman underwent plastic surgery and had us all fooled out there, looks-wise at least. The offense looked pretty brutal, but Cutler did have a couple nice deep throws to Knox who stepped out of bounds, and to Hester for a TD. Olsen was doubled relentlessly, so they'll need to find a way to fix that. There's going to be some growing pains here, but I still think Cutler will manage borderline QB1 numbers when all is said and done. He's more of a match-up play this season though. Forte was completely bottled up and will need the passing game to come around to give him some room. He wasn't quite as explosive, which is a concern. With the Steelers up next, it doesn't get any easier.
Cincinnati Bengals - Palmer looked good, and both of his INTs were not really his fault. One came on a ball that bounced high up in the air on an attempted catch, and the other came as a last second heave. Coles dropped a ton of passes, and he could arguably be the 4th best WR on this team behind Ochocinco (very solid first game), Chris Henry, and Andre Caldwell. Benson also looked solid with workman-like numbers and a TD. Feel confident with Palmer and Ochocinco moving forward, but I'd probably shy away from Coles until he bounces back. Since he's a veteran, he'll have a chance.
Cleveland Browns - Ugh. Quinn looked bad, and it killed Edwards. Lewis looked surprisingly spry, so he's not giving up his job without a fight. James Davis did nothing, but he did suffer through an auto accident earlier in the weekend, so we'll give him a week 1 pass. This passing game worries me.
Dallas Cowboys - Who needs TO? Romo looked great, and Roy Williams showed he still has explosion the slant he busted for a 66 yard TD. On top of this, Barber dominated the backfield (14-6) while back in his closer role. If the passing attack can keep this up, Barber will be a borderline RB1 again, just like he was in 2006/2007. He'll score 10+ times. Crayton had a fluky game aided by an uncharacteristic 80 yard TD. Don't rush to throw him in your lineup.
Denver Broncos - Orton was shaky again, but this was to be expected as he works out the kinks in the new offense. I know I sound like an Orton apologist, but I believe in the players he has around him. Marshall was back to dropping passes again, and he didn't target Royal enough. Stay with the Broncos passing game; it'll come around. Their backfield looks like a nightmare right now, and Moreno can't be started.
Detroit Lions - That went about as well as could be expected. Stafford wasn't accurate and threw 3 INTs, but he was clearly willing to throw the ball down the field, which is an extension from the preseason. That's great news for CJ who produced 90 yards on only 3 catches. He should have had a TD, but the refs blew the call on the field, and then blew the challenge. Ridiculous. Kevin Smith didn't generate much on the ground, but he scored and got 22 touches thanks to 7 catches. He might threaten RB1 value in PPR leagues this year.
Green Bay Packers - Rodgers had trouble, but the Bears defensive pressure was dominant and forced some bad throws when WRs were open. No worries...Rodgers won't be facing this sort of pass rush each week. He salvaged his day with a game winning bomb to Jennings with just over a minute left, which was the opposite of last year when he posted huge numbers and often came up short late in games. Ryan Grant had a good burst and looked like a solid RB2 on the field. I think I might have been wrong about him this year, assuming he can stay healthy.
Houston Texans - Disaster. Also, patience. They faced a ferocious Jets defense who attacked them all game long with a very aggressive pass rush. There is way too much talent on the Houston offense to be worried. Darrell Revis is evolving into one of the elite shutdown corners in the NFL, and he held AJ in check.
Indianapolis Colts - It wasn't pretty, but they got it done. Manning looked good outside of an awful forced throw to Wayne on a fade in the endzone. Wayne was absolutely dominant. Gonzalez's injury will help Dallas Clark's fantasy value. The running game looked bad, especially Addai, and Brown actually got most of the 4th quarter work. The committee is in full effect, but if Addai can't make some plays, he could start losing even more touches.
Jacksonville Jaguars - MJD was featured, and was really the only offense. Garrard did the best he could to make some plays, but his receivers didn't help him out at all. Holt struggled to separate, and there's nothing going on opposite him. They badly need the talented Mike Sims-Walker to cash in on his talent and start producing.
Kansas City Chiefs - Nobody expected 24 points against Baltimore, but a blocked punt TD and a long INT return inside the 10 certainly helped change that. Croyle did a reasonable job filling in for Cassel, but only lead one good TD drive all game. LJ was completely ineffective. Bowe scored to save his owners on his first catch in the 3rd quarter, and he didn't catch another pass until hauling in a couple in the 4th quarter. He is going to be doubled relentlessly, so we'll have to keep an eye on how he handles that. Mark Bradley's good game was definitely a positive moving forward. He certainly has the talent to help Bowe out opposite him.
Miami Dolphins - Despite a lot of outlets talking about Ricky Williams looking slow in the preseason, he looked plenty quick, and the 13/9 touch ratio between Ronnie and Ricky is a true concern moving forward. This looked exactly like last year, and when Ricky replaced Ronnie at the 9 and caught a TD pass, it felt like a kick to the crotch. Miami clearly needs to establish the run next game as they looked lost on offense. Ronnie Brown is still this team's best offensive weapon. I'm not overly worried as Ronnie is probably everyone's RB2, and he'll be able to produce at that level, but his RB1 upside will be killed if they continue to use the same split as last year.
Minnesota Vikings - Favre spent most of the game handing off to Peterson, who mauled in the 2nd half and posted a monster game. As Favre gets up to speed, expect better things from Bernard Berrian. Percy Harvin was used all over and got 5 touches, so also expect him to become more involved as well. Sydney Rice looks like a red zone weapon with his size. He's going to score some TDs this year.
New England Patriots - Brady certainly didn't start as hot as he showed in the preseason, but he certainly finished that way. He's definitely back, using Welker underneath and Moss down the field exactly as you'd expect. Watson also turned in a huge game, and he's worth owning as a TE2. They do need a 3rd receiving option to continue to leave things open for Moss and Welker. True to form they used a full out committee, and Taylor even scored on a goal line carry. Maroney and Taylor are worth RB5 roster stashes, and Faulk is definitely worth owning in PPR.
New Orleans Saints - That went according to plan. Everyone looked great, although I'm sure Colston owners were fuming a bit...thankfully he scored once. Mike Bell looked terrific, and this is pretty much worst case scenario for Pierre Thomas owners. Bell might have just forced his way into a 3 man committee, but let's not overreact yet until Thomas returns. Thomas owners need to own Bell, obviously.
New York Giants - Eli actually looked good...he spread the ball around to all his receivers. Unfortunately, Nicks sustained a sprained foot and will be lost for a few weeks. Jacobs struggled, but the Skins' defense projected to be tougher this year. No worries. Bradshaw looked great with his touches and will be a RB3 this season...he has clearly assumed Derrick Ward's role from last year.
New York Jets - Mark Sanchez looked great, spreading the ball around to his receivers well and remaining calm. Thomas Jones looked explosive again, so Shonn Greene is an afterthought for now, but I don't believe he'll last the season. Leon Washington, as promised, was given 15 carries and 4 catches as well. Washington looks like a good RB3 this season as he's clearly a bigger part of the offense. Cotchery and Keller both look like good options moving forward, but expect ups and downs as you normally would with a rookie QB. It won't always look this good.
Oakland Raiders - Russell looked horribly inaccurate yet again for most of the game, which is his biggest downfall right now. DHB also continued his dropped passes.Louis Murphy, on the other hand, looked pretty good and will probably start opposite Chaz Schilens when he returns. Zach Miller dominated the middle of the field and put up TE1 numbers. He's a favorite of Russell's, and there's no reason he shouldn't be owned. The rushing attack looked dominant in the 1st half, but San Diego caught on and started slowing it down in the 2nd half. The Raiders used a full committee of McFadden and Bush, and both looked very good, with Bush getting the call at the goal line. Expect this to be their strategy this year.
Philadelphia Eagles - Thanks to the defense doing the heavy lifting, McNabb and Westbrook weren't asked to do much, and luckily both scored at least once to keep the owners happy. McNabb's rib injury needs to be monitored this week, and the fact they signed Jeff Garcia is probably indicative that he won't play. They've lost a ton of confidence in Kevin Kolb. Westbrook looked great, helping ease concerns about his offseason surgeries. I'm not confident he'll last (who is?), but he's the man while healthy. McCoy looked good filling in, but most of his carries came with the game out of hand. The receivers will bounce back, but they need to be downgraded if McNabb misses time.
San Diego Chargers - Phillip Rivers started slow, but turned it on the 4th quarter when it was time to step up. He finished with respectable numbers. Vincent Jackson posted a solid game despite being blanketed by Nnamdi Asomugha all game, and Gates dominated the middle of the field while looking healthy again...he missed a TD by inches. Sorry LT owners, your high pick is in a full out committee. He also sprained an ankle in the 1st quarter and was constantly coming out of the game after a rush. Sproles looked explosive while LT did not, and Sproles is the official 3rd down RB.
San Francisco 49ers - Gore was the clear focal point of the offense, and while he certainly didn't impress with his YPC, he scored twice and caught some passes to turn in a good fantasy day. Josh Morgan was absent the entire 2nd half after posting a solid 1st half. I would assume an injury would have been announced, so my guess was he did something wrong and Singletary isn't making a spectacle out of it like he erroneously did with Vernon Davis last year. Speaking of Davis, he looked solid and they tried to get him the ball. Make sure he's owned as a TE2.
Seattle Seahawks - Wow, I was totally surprised by this. Now they were playing the Rams, so like with the Ravens, expectations have to be kept in check, but Hasselbeck did a great job spreading the ball around. He's going to be effective while healthy. Housh caught 6 passes, but had a long of 9. I read he did absolutely nothing after the catch, so he's going to have a very hard time fulfilling fantasy expectations if that continues. Carlson looked good, but he's going to have to block more than he did this game against better defensive fronts. I'm not sold on him as a TE1 despite the big game. Julius Jones dominated carries until the game got out of hand, so he's the clear starter here, and a low end RB2/solid RB3 much like Cedric Benson. He's only a match up play.
St. Louis Rams - Steve Spagnolo's season couldn't have started off any worse. Marc Bulger reportedly looks shell shocked out there, and people are calling for him to be benched immediately. Steven Jackson started hot, but the game got way out of hand. The most disappointing part of this was Jackson's lack of involvement in the passing game, but don't worry, I guarantee you they'll fix that. Laurent Robinson looked very good and along with Donnie Avery, the Rams actually have a good duo at WR. Now if only they had a QB...
Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Leftwich, per usual, took some hits but moved the offense. Cadillac most certainly is back, but he's evenly splitting with Derrick Ward. Earnest Graham owners can forget about him for the time being. Cadillac will be a popular add this week, but he's not worth starting if he's only seeing 10-15 carries, especially since neither Caddy nor Ward are the official goal line back. Both can succeed in that role as evidenced by their 1 yard TDs. Caddy has a better chance of staying healthy in this timeshare situation. Antonio Bryant's knee acted up again, and this is a serious concern. I'd keep him benched until he proves he's healthy. Winslow looked solid.
Washington Redskins - The offense looked about as expected...mediocre. Cambell was OK, Portis did nothing outside of his 34 yard first run, Cooley turned in a fine day, and Randle-El surprised people (don't go picking him up). Blah all around. I wouldn't start anyone but Cooley here.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)