The Carolina Panthers have placed RB DeAngelo Williams on IR. This injury was initially called a foot sprain, but it's hard to see how that sort of injury would cost Williams 11 games, so I wonder what the real issue is. This offense is nose-diving anyways.
Fantasy Impact: Williams can obviously be dropped in all re-draft leagues. Jonathan Stewart will resume feature back duties once he returns from his concussion, but it will be Mike Goodson's show until then. Goodson is a weak RB2 this week against the Ravens. Given the overall ineptitude of this offense, it's hard to think of Stewart as anything more than an RB2 when he returns. His talent hasn't gone anywhere and he'll post some solid rushing totals, but he's not going to score much because Carolina won't score much. They'll be using some combination of Jimmy Clausen and Tony Pike under center for the rest of the year. Stewart and Goodson are the only two players worth start consideration in this offense. I don't think you have to drop Steve Smith given what little is left on waivers right now, but he certainly should be on your bench.
Wednesday, November 17, 2010
Tuesday, November 16, 2010
Week 11: Waiver Wire
QB:
Jon Kitna - He might not have been picked up all over, and he might have been dropped after a slow start. He needs to be owned in all leagues as a solid QB2 with QB1 potential in the right matchups. He defied all odds with a monster game against the Giants of all teams, and Jason Garrett clearly had the Cowboys playing in a way Wade Phillips couldn't. He will make mistakes, but he's surrounded by elite talent.
Shaun Hill - With Stafford likely out for the season, Hill will probably start for the remainder of it. He showed no ill effects from the fractured forearm that he was returning from. He profiles similarly to Kitna above, although he will make less big plays due to a weaker arm, but he'll also make less mistakes. He's also surrounded by excellent talent and makes for a solid QB2 down the stretch.
Kevin Kolb - Non-Vick owners are probably starting to drop Kevin Kolb, but all Vick owners would be smart to grab him as one of the few QB handcuffs worth owning. Should something happen to Vick, Kolb would immediately become a low-end QB1.
RB:
Keiland Williams - Williams filled in admirably in week 10's blowout. He's not especially talented, but if Torain and Portis sit out again in week 11, he'll get the bulk of the work for the Skins and be a reasonable RB2.
Mike Goodson - He unquestionable should have been picked up already, but since I didn't get to my waiver wire article last week, I'll profile him here. He's a small-ish scat back who performed well last week. Needless to say, his fantasy value is directly related to the absences of Williams and Stewart. The plan all along has been to get Williams back this week, but his owners would be smart to grab Goodson.
Jerome Harrison - Harrison looked outstanding, although by the time he started getting many carries the game was completely out of hand. Regardless, his skill set is a perfect fit within the Eagles offense, and he would have low-end RB1 value should McCoy get hurt. McCoy owners would be smart to grab him this week to protect their RB1.
WR:
Mike Thomas - The catch heard round the fantasy world made for good headlines, but this is not a guy you want starting on your team on a weekly basis. He does have another nice matchup this week, and he'd make for a solid WR3 option with additional upside if Mike Sims-Walker misses time. Might as well ride out the hot streak the Jaguars passing attack is on.
Nate Burleson - He's a decent stash given the Lions simply can't run the ball effectively, but he's clearly the 2nd fiddle in the offense for obvious reasons. He skill set does fit Shaun Hill better than Stafford, however, and that's why he's worth a shot.
TE:
Jermaine Gresham - Gresham had a huge game, but most of it came in the 4th quarter when the Bengals were passing incessantly. Don't bother.
Rob Gronkowski - It's curious that he played that much more than Aaron Hernandez who's had problems with drops recently. Given how much Brady likes throwing to his TEs this season, he's worth a TE2 stash to see if he overtakes Hernandez in the pecking order.
Jon Kitna - He might not have been picked up all over, and he might have been dropped after a slow start. He needs to be owned in all leagues as a solid QB2 with QB1 potential in the right matchups. He defied all odds with a monster game against the Giants of all teams, and Jason Garrett clearly had the Cowboys playing in a way Wade Phillips couldn't. He will make mistakes, but he's surrounded by elite talent.
Shaun Hill - With Stafford likely out for the season, Hill will probably start for the remainder of it. He showed no ill effects from the fractured forearm that he was returning from. He profiles similarly to Kitna above, although he will make less big plays due to a weaker arm, but he'll also make less mistakes. He's also surrounded by excellent talent and makes for a solid QB2 down the stretch.
Kevin Kolb - Non-Vick owners are probably starting to drop Kevin Kolb, but all Vick owners would be smart to grab him as one of the few QB handcuffs worth owning. Should something happen to Vick, Kolb would immediately become a low-end QB1.
RB:
Keiland Williams - Williams filled in admirably in week 10's blowout. He's not especially talented, but if Torain and Portis sit out again in week 11, he'll get the bulk of the work for the Skins and be a reasonable RB2.
Mike Goodson - He unquestionable should have been picked up already, but since I didn't get to my waiver wire article last week, I'll profile him here. He's a small-ish scat back who performed well last week. Needless to say, his fantasy value is directly related to the absences of Williams and Stewart. The plan all along has been to get Williams back this week, but his owners would be smart to grab Goodson.
Jerome Harrison - Harrison looked outstanding, although by the time he started getting many carries the game was completely out of hand. Regardless, his skill set is a perfect fit within the Eagles offense, and he would have low-end RB1 value should McCoy get hurt. McCoy owners would be smart to grab him this week to protect their RB1.
WR:
Mike Thomas - The catch heard round the fantasy world made for good headlines, but this is not a guy you want starting on your team on a weekly basis. He does have another nice matchup this week, and he'd make for a solid WR3 option with additional upside if Mike Sims-Walker misses time. Might as well ride out the hot streak the Jaguars passing attack is on.
Nate Burleson - He's a decent stash given the Lions simply can't run the ball effectively, but he's clearly the 2nd fiddle in the offense for obvious reasons. He skill set does fit Shaun Hill better than Stafford, however, and that's why he's worth a shot.
TE:
Jermaine Gresham - Gresham had a huge game, but most of it came in the 4th quarter when the Bengals were passing incessantly. Don't bother.
Rob Gronkowski - It's curious that he played that much more than Aaron Hernandez who's had problems with drops recently. Given how much Brady likes throwing to his TEs this season, he's worth a TE2 stash to see if he overtakes Hernandez in the pecking order.
Week 10: Injury Ward
QB:
Chad Henne / Chad Pennington - The flying Chads both suffered injuries this week. Henne might return shortly after it was determined that his knee injury is not severe, but Pennington is done for the season, and likely for his career with another throwing shoulder injury. Tyler Thigpen will start in week 11.
Brett Favre - Add shoulder to his growing list of ailments, but it seems like he'll play without any issues.
Kerry Collins - Collins suffered a calf injury, and he might miss some time. Vince Young will likely be healthy in week 11 and should keep the job the rest of the season, barring injury.
WR:
Percy Harvin - Harvin suffered another ankle injury, but given he finished the game, it seems likely that he'll play this week. Still, you should keep an eye on his practice schedule and ensure he's active in week 11.
Hines Ward - Ward was knocked out of Sunday night's game with a concussion, although given his spirits after the game, it seems unlikely that he'll miss week 11, but much like Harvin, keep an eye on the usual outlets and ensure he's ready this week before using him.
Jerricho Cotchery - I have no idea who'd be using him at this point in the season, but he's likely going to miss at least one week with a groin injury. His absence will be good news for both Edwards and Holmes who figure to be targeted more often.
TE:
Jacob Tamme - Tamme suffered a back injury and "could barely walk" after the game, so his status is worth monitoring this week. He's been an excellent addition to all fantasy teams and will hopefully suit up this week, but keep an eye on practice reports.
K:
Mike Nugent - What's with the kicker injuries the last two weeks? Nugent will miss at least this week, and he'll likely miss the season with a knee injury. Nugent was kicked well this year, but you'll have to find someone else for the rest of the year.
Chad Henne / Chad Pennington - The flying Chads both suffered injuries this week. Henne might return shortly after it was determined that his knee injury is not severe, but Pennington is done for the season, and likely for his career with another throwing shoulder injury. Tyler Thigpen will start in week 11.
Brett Favre - Add shoulder to his growing list of ailments, but it seems like he'll play without any issues.
Kerry Collins - Collins suffered a calf injury, and he might miss some time. Vince Young will likely be healthy in week 11 and should keep the job the rest of the season, barring injury.
WR:
Percy Harvin - Harvin suffered another ankle injury, but given he finished the game, it seems likely that he'll play this week. Still, you should keep an eye on his practice schedule and ensure he's active in week 11.
Hines Ward - Ward was knocked out of Sunday night's game with a concussion, although given his spirits after the game, it seems unlikely that he'll miss week 11, but much like Harvin, keep an eye on the usual outlets and ensure he's ready this week before using him.
Jerricho Cotchery - I have no idea who'd be using him at this point in the season, but he's likely going to miss at least one week with a groin injury. His absence will be good news for both Edwards and Holmes who figure to be targeted more often.
TE:
Jacob Tamme - Tamme suffered a back injury and "could barely walk" after the game, so his status is worth monitoring this week. He's been an excellent addition to all fantasy teams and will hopefully suit up this week, but keep an eye on practice reports.
K:
Mike Nugent - What's with the kicker injuries the last two weeks? Nugent will miss at least this week, and he'll likely miss the season with a knee injury. Nugent was kicked well this year, but you'll have to find someone else for the rest of the year.
Monday, November 8, 2010
Week 9: Injury Ward
I will only be covering injuries here that will affect their availability moving forward. Guys like Schaub, Roddy White, and Hakeem Nicks are not at risk, given current information, of missing any time. The messed up thing is that I'll be mentioning two kickers here as these guys are owned in many leagues.
QB:
Matthew Stafford - Stafford suffered another injury to this throwing shoulder, and you have to wonder if he was actually 100% when he returned. He was played great the last two weeks, finally cashing in on hype he had heading into the season, but he's likely out for several more weeks now, if not the season. He can be dropped in all formats. Shaun Hill ran the offense well in his absence the first time, but it's looking likely that Drew Stanton will start this week. Downgrade Calvin Johnson slightly, but he's still an every week starter.
Matt Moore - Moore tore his labrum and is out for the season. This crushes Steve Smith's already declining value, and you can no longer start him with Claussen likely taking over again.
RB:
Jonathan Stewart - So much for that. Stewart failed in his first start 2 weekends ago, but he was off to a promising start before a concussion knocked him out of the game. He's likely out at least a week and won't have fantasy value again this season unless DeAngelo re-injures himself.
Ryan Mathews - The lineup pinball is back out again after a strong start to his week 9 game when he re-injured his ankle. The Chargers are on bye in week 10, so he'll have a chance to return in week 11. Speculative owners should consider adding Mike Tolbert just in case.
Chris Ivory - Ivory was running fairly well prior to separating his shoulder, and despite the week 10 bye, he might be out a few weeks. This backfield is a mess until Pierre Thomas returns, if he ever does this season.
WR:
Austin Collie - Collie took the weekly shot heard around the world yesterday, and despite the severity on the field, it seems as though he's escaped a serious injury. He still has a long way to go prior to being able to play this week, however, so keep an eye on him.
K:
Jason Hanson - Hanson suffered a knee injury that seems likely to cost him several weeks, so you can safely cut him for another option. He had looked like a nice 2nd half kicker, but between Stafford's and his injuries, that has vanished.
Stephen Gostkowski - Gostkowski suffered a thigh injury that will likely cost him a few weeks, so you can cut him as well. Gostkowski wasn't having a good fantasy season anyways.
QB:
Matthew Stafford - Stafford suffered another injury to this throwing shoulder, and you have to wonder if he was actually 100% when he returned. He was played great the last two weeks, finally cashing in on hype he had heading into the season, but he's likely out for several more weeks now, if not the season. He can be dropped in all formats. Shaun Hill ran the offense well in his absence the first time, but it's looking likely that Drew Stanton will start this week. Downgrade Calvin Johnson slightly, but he's still an every week starter.
Matt Moore - Moore tore his labrum and is out for the season. This crushes Steve Smith's already declining value, and you can no longer start him with Claussen likely taking over again.
RB:
Jonathan Stewart - So much for that. Stewart failed in his first start 2 weekends ago, but he was off to a promising start before a concussion knocked him out of the game. He's likely out at least a week and won't have fantasy value again this season unless DeAngelo re-injures himself.
Ryan Mathews - The lineup pinball is back out again after a strong start to his week 9 game when he re-injured his ankle. The Chargers are on bye in week 10, so he'll have a chance to return in week 11. Speculative owners should consider adding Mike Tolbert just in case.
Chris Ivory - Ivory was running fairly well prior to separating his shoulder, and despite the week 10 bye, he might be out a few weeks. This backfield is a mess until Pierre Thomas returns, if he ever does this season.
WR:
Austin Collie - Collie took the weekly shot heard around the world yesterday, and despite the severity on the field, it seems as though he's escaped a serious injury. He still has a long way to go prior to being able to play this week, however, so keep an eye on him.
K:
Jason Hanson - Hanson suffered a knee injury that seems likely to cost him several weeks, so you can safely cut him for another option. He had looked like a nice 2nd half kicker, but between Stafford's and his injuries, that has vanished.
Stephen Gostkowski - Gostkowski suffered a thigh injury that will likely cost him a few weeks, so you can cut him as well. Gostkowski wasn't having a good fantasy season anyways.
Wednesday, November 3, 2010
WR Randy Moss Claimed By Titans
Former Vikings WR Randy Moss was claimed by the Titans today. It's a fairly good fit for Moss because he's got a no-nonsense coach that doesn't tolerate crap from his players, a team that has a chance to make a Super Bowl run, and two quarterbacks that proved with Kenny Britt that they aren't afraid to throw the ball down the field when the situation presents itself. The only bad news is that this is a run-first team, but Moss has no competition for targets with Britt injured.
Fantasy Impact: Because of the run-first nature of the Titans offense, it's not an ideal landing spot for Moss, but he'll probably receive plenty of targets given the lack of receiver talent with Kenny Britt hurt. It's hard to say if this is an indication of Britt's injury severity, but we probably won't find out until the Titans return to practice in week 10. That also being said, it's good news for Moss as he'll have a week and a half to pick up the Titans' offense, so he should have a chance at a more profound impact in his first week. It's fairly positive news for Moss' fantasy outlook, but he's probably more of a WR2 for the rest of the season than the WR1 he was drafted to be.
Fantasy Impact: Because of the run-first nature of the Titans offense, it's not an ideal landing spot for Moss, but he'll probably receive plenty of targets given the lack of receiver talent with Kenny Britt hurt. It's hard to say if this is an indication of Britt's injury severity, but we probably won't find out until the Titans return to practice in week 10. That also being said, it's good news for Moss as he'll have a week and a half to pick up the Titans' offense, so he should have a chance at a more profound impact in his first week. It's fairly positive news for Moss' fantasy outlook, but he's probably more of a WR2 for the rest of the season than the WR1 he was drafted to be.
Tuesday, November 2, 2010
Week 9 Waiver Wire
QB:
No one emerged this week. I already profiled Stafford, so hopefully you picked him up and even started him.
RB:
Keiland Williams - It's unclear exactly how badly Torain is hurt, but Williams is the last man standing. James Davis would also play a role, but it'd be mostly Williams' backfield. He's a great speculatory pick.
Tashard Choice - It's hard to nominate the third member of a 3-way RB committee on a team that's falling apart, but there's no question that the Cowboys need to do something at RB. Barber has been completely unproductive, and Felix Jones continues to be unreliable. He's a great stash to see what happens.
WR:
James Jones - As I mentioned in the injury ward column, Donald Driver is out, and Jones is not only going to step into Driver's role, but he's also the 2nd most talented WR on GB. He's normally rather inconsistent, but he's immediately a WR3 and should be a top add this week.
Anthony Gonzalez - He was relatively productive in week 8, and he's still talented enough to be stashed to see how things play out. Once Collie comes back, however, he'll lose his value.
Brandon Tate - Tate has taken over Moss' role as the deep threat, but he rarely gets looks. He posted a great game last week, so it's worth it to see if he can build on it. He's worth a stash, but not a start.
TE:
Jacob Tamme - Tamme perfectly filled the role of Dallas Clark last week, and he should be the top add this week. The guy can play, and he's going to be an every week starter from here on out with Clark out for the season. Grab him.
No one emerged this week. I already profiled Stafford, so hopefully you picked him up and even started him.
RB:
Keiland Williams - It's unclear exactly how badly Torain is hurt, but Williams is the last man standing. James Davis would also play a role, but it'd be mostly Williams' backfield. He's a great speculatory pick.
Tashard Choice - It's hard to nominate the third member of a 3-way RB committee on a team that's falling apart, but there's no question that the Cowboys need to do something at RB. Barber has been completely unproductive, and Felix Jones continues to be unreliable. He's a great stash to see what happens.
WR:
James Jones - As I mentioned in the injury ward column, Donald Driver is out, and Jones is not only going to step into Driver's role, but he's also the 2nd most talented WR on GB. He's normally rather inconsistent, but he's immediately a WR3 and should be a top add this week.
Anthony Gonzalez - He was relatively productive in week 8, and he's still talented enough to be stashed to see how things play out. Once Collie comes back, however, he'll lose his value.
Brandon Tate - Tate has taken over Moss' role as the deep threat, but he rarely gets looks. He posted a great game last week, so it's worth it to see if he can build on it. He's worth a stash, but not a start.
TE:
Jacob Tamme - Tamme perfectly filled the role of Dallas Clark last week, and he should be the top add this week. The guy can play, and he's going to be an every week starter from here on out with Clark out for the season. Grab him.
Week 8 Injury Ward
QB:
Matt Hasselbeck - Hasselbeck suffered a concussion, but it seems like he'll be ready for week 9. Whether or not he survives the QB-killing Giants defense is a whole different story, however.
Brett Favre - Favre got knocked out of the game with a jaw laceration, but as someone who watched the game, it certainly appeared as though he was concussed. He'll be back in week 9, but you have to wonder how much good he's doing his team at this point.
Vince Young - Young sprained his ankle in some fashion, but we probably won't have any idea as to how severe it is until week 10 after their bye week.
RB:
Ryan Torain - Torain suffered a hamstring injury, and much like Young above, we won't have any sort of clear picture until after Washington's week 9 bye week.
WR:
Kenny Britt - What a screw job. After a 40 point performance on many benches last week, we all plug him in and he injures his hamstring before even registering a catch. Then we come to find out he had hamstring issues all week long. Regardless, it looks like a multiple week and fairly severe injury, but as is the running theme here, we won't know more until after their bye week.
Percy Harvin - The good news about his injury is that it was suffered early in the game and Harvin was productive throughout, but post-game indications are that it will threaten his availability this week. Keep a close eye on injury reports.
Donald Driver - He suffered a setback with his quad, and he is out for week 9. James Jones becomes a quality replacement as he'll take Driver's role.
TE:
Vernon Davis - Another ankle injury, another unknown status until after a week 9 bye.
Matt Hasselbeck - Hasselbeck suffered a concussion, but it seems like he'll be ready for week 9. Whether or not he survives the QB-killing Giants defense is a whole different story, however.
Brett Favre - Favre got knocked out of the game with a jaw laceration, but as someone who watched the game, it certainly appeared as though he was concussed. He'll be back in week 9, but you have to wonder how much good he's doing his team at this point.
Vince Young - Young sprained his ankle in some fashion, but we probably won't have any idea as to how severe it is until week 10 after their bye week.
RB:
Ryan Torain - Torain suffered a hamstring injury, and much like Young above, we won't have any sort of clear picture until after Washington's week 9 bye week.
WR:
Kenny Britt - What a screw job. After a 40 point performance on many benches last week, we all plug him in and he injures his hamstring before even registering a catch. Then we come to find out he had hamstring issues all week long. Regardless, it looks like a multiple week and fairly severe injury, but as is the running theme here, we won't know more until after their bye week.
Percy Harvin - The good news about his injury is that it was suffered early in the game and Harvin was productive throughout, but post-game indications are that it will threaten his availability this week. Keep a close eye on injury reports.
Donald Driver - He suffered a setback with his quad, and he is out for week 9. James Jones becomes a quality replacement as he'll take Driver's role.
TE:
Vernon Davis - Another ankle injury, another unknown status until after a week 9 bye.
Friday, October 29, 2010
Week 8 Team by Team Notes
Arizona Cardinals - Max Hall returned to practice this week, but I'm not sure if Hall or Derek Anderson will start. Regardless of who's under center, Larry Fitzgerald is the only receiver worth playing on this team. Hall may have looked bad, but he's the best bet to get Fitz the ball consistently. Breaston and Doucet's returns will help keep some defensive attention away as well. Wells has been disappointing so far, but he will have a breakout game soon. Given all the byes this week, it's a great week to get him in your lineup. Hightower's mediocre talent is finally getting pushed aside, although he'll still remain relevant on passing downs.
Atlanta Falcons - The big 3 of Ryan, White, and Turner all had their best games of the season in week 7 right before the bye week. Gonzalez has been quite disappointing this year, but unless you have a good backup, it's best to stick with him. The Falcons are on bye this week.
Baltimore Ravens - Joe Flacco has had two straight good weeks, so he's built up some nice momentum heading into the bye week. Unfortunately Boldin is the only receiver on the Ravens worth using. Ray Rice continues to disappoint as a top 5 pick, and judging from last week, McGahee might have taken back goal line duties. The Ravens are on bye this week.
Buffalo Bills - Holy Ryan Fitzpatrick. Not many people saw this coming, but as I mentioned in this week's waiver wire article, Chan Gailey has a history of creating unique offenses based around mobile, but marginally talented QBs. Scouting reports seem to think Fitzpatrick can maintain some level of success over the rest of the season. He's obviously playing out of his mind right now and that won't continue, but thanks to the emergence of Steve Johnson as a big bodied WR who can get open, he has a nice pair of WRs to throw to. Fred Jackson owners smart enough to keep him stashed now have a solid RB3 as it's clear that Jackson will be the featured RB compared to CJ Spiller.
Carolina Panthers - Matt Moore re-energized this offense last week, and it certainly helped that Steve Smith returned as well. David Gettis and Brandon Lafell both had the best receiving yardage games of the season for this team, but expect Smith to regain #1 WR status this week. Gettis and Lafell emerging will only help. DeAngelo Williams is out, possibly for a couple weeks, with a foot sprain. Jonathan Stewart is set to explode in the meantime as the featured RB.
Chicago Bears - The offense has gone to shit, to put it bluntly. The problems are threefold: the offensive line is playing horribly, Cutler hangs onto the ball too long trying to make a play down the field, and Martz hasn't modified the offense to overcome his team's weakness up front. This has all played a part in a swift downfall in what looked like a very promising situation to start the season. Luckily Johnny Knox has remained very consistent from week to week when Cutler has been under center, so he's been a steady WR3. The running game has been a disaster, and it only gets worse for Matt Forte owners as Chester Taylor has taken over as the new goal line back. Forte is now a weak RB2 outside of PPR leagues. The Bears are on bye this week.
Cincinnati Bengals - Carson Palmer has been rather jeckyl/hyde so far this season. He's had 3 amazing games and 3 terrible games. I still don't believe in him as anything other than a QB2, but Terrell Owens' playmaking has indeed helped his fantasy value. Cedric Benson has been chugging along as a solid RB2 all season, and he's the focal point of the offense, so I don't expect that to change.
Cleveland Browns - Peyton Hillis continues to post solid RB2 numbers, and he also continues to be the only player worth discussing here.
Dallas Cowboys - Losing Tony Romo obviously hurts, but Jon Kitna is a solid veteran QB who can help this team win a few games. He's surrounded by talented weapons and has a decent line in front of him. Miles Austin will probably no longer be as explosive with the QB switch, but he should still post solid numbers. Dez Bryant was targeted heavily and has a chance to break out in the 2nd half of the season. Jason Witten was also targeted heavily and will arguably see a slight rise in value with Kitna not looking down the field as much. Roy Williams will probably be impacted the most and shouldn't be started. Felix Jones will likely see more work. With all the good RBs on bye this week, he's a solid RB2.
Denver Broncos - Kyle Orton had a miserable game last week against Oakland of all teams, but he should bounce back somewhat this week against a mediocre SF secondary. Just keep your expectations in check due to the forecast of sloppy weather. Lloyd and Gaffney will remain solid WR3s, but Royal is battling an injury and shouldn't be used. Unfortunately it's starting to look like a lost season for Demaryius Thomas. Knowshon Moreno had another issue with his hamstring at practice this week, and while it looks like he'll play, he's even riskier with the chance for re-injury. I'd only use him if he's clearly better than your other options.
Detroit Lions - With all of its playmakers now healthy, the arrow is pointing back up for this offense. Matthew Stafford returns this week, and while I expect some rust, he's a solid QB1 with the big bye week. Calvin Johnson is off the injury report, so he's set to resume beast mode. Nate Burleson is healthy, and he'll provide a solid secondary target. Tony Scheffler will likely take over as a preferred TE target down the field, so Brandon Pettigrew owners should take note. Jahvid Best isn't 100%, but he's close and should resume being an explosive RB2. I think this offense will be quite good, especially the passing game, in the 2nd half.
Green Bay Packers - Aaron Rodgers has been a bit disappointing after being the #1 fantasy QBs drafted in numerous leagues, but he's still been quite good. The loss of Finley has hurt the explosiveness a bit, as has the nagging injuries that Donald Driver is starting to accumulate. Greg Jennings has benefited by posting his 2 of his best games this year in back to back weeks. James Jones was also quite involved last week, and he makes for an interesting WR3 this week. Brandon Jackson has slowly started to come around, and he's turned himself into a solid RB2 with his recent play.
Houston Texans - With the bye week coming at a perfect time to get AJ some additional rest, Schaub and company are set to embark and what should be an improved 2nd half. Jacoby Jones is healthy, and Owen Daniels posted his best game of the season in week 6. Unfortunately Kevin Walter he has mostly disappeared, but Jones is the better talent and could take the job away. Arian Foster has been lighting it up all season. Kubiak has actually incited some concern saying that Ward will get more touches, but don't over-react to this. I think Kubiak fully understands that Foster has never been a featured RB at the NFL level before, and there's no reason to run him into the ground. There's no concern here as Foster is clearly the superior talent.
Indianapolis Colts - Manning has been dealt some adversity with injuries to both Austin Collie and Dallas Clark. Indy will look to newbie TE Jacob Tamme, Anthony Gonzalez, and Blair White to pick up the slack over the middle while Reggie Wayne and Pierre Garcon continue to dominate outside the hashmarks. Tamme is not a bad stash to see how he's used, especially since Clark is out for the season. If Gonzalez was healthy he'd be the no brainer replacement for Collie, but that's rarely been the case over the past two seasons. I'd hold off on using him unless you're desperate, even though he does still possess upside. Joseph Addai is out as well, and there is conflicting opinions on whether Donald Brown will suit up. If he's healthy and ready to go, some sort of split will occur between Brown and Hart, making both much weaker RB2 plays. If Brown sits, then Hart might border on RB1 value this week. Keep an eye to see if Brown is active or not before making a final decision.
Jacksonville Jaguars - This offense is still an absolute mess, and only MJD is worth starting.
Kansas City Chiefs - Cassel and Bowe have exploded the last two weeks, but allow me to remind everyone that they faced two of the absolute worst secondaries in football in Houston and Jacksonville. I don't think it's a bad time to sell high on Bowe if someone thinks he's reached his potential as a top WR talent. While I don't doubt his actual talent, my greater concern lies with Cassel. It's possible that he's turned the corner for this team, but I need to see it against a legit secondary before I believe. Thomas Jones has been solid, and as the normal goal line back, he's a solid RB2. Charles did score from 4 yards out last week, but that was after a 70 yard run by Jones that left him winded. A nice bonus for us Charles owners!
Miami Dolphins - This offense has been somewhat of a mess. Henne has been very inconsistent, and thus Marshall has as well. Davone Bess has been a great story and a surprise WR3 this year, and his emergence can only help Marshall in the 2nd half to give the defense someone else to pay attention to. The running game has been non-existent, and both RBs are sharing carries as well. The good news is the schedule is a creampuff one during the playoff weeks, so trying to get Brown or Williams for cheap with an eye on those weeks isn't a terrible idea.
Minnesota Vikings - Brett Favre's ankle is yet again a big story, but it looks like he'll start in week 8. Whether or not he finishes the game is a completely different story, so I wouldn't start him unless you're out of options. His likelihood of starting certainly increases the prospects of solid games from Moss and Harvin, so you can use them like you normally would. Peterson has been his normal beast self all season.
New England Patriots - This offense is starting to warrant some concern, and for good reason. Without a legit deep threat on the roster, defenses are starting to sag in to cover the short and intermediate routes the Patriots are consistently running with the possession receivers, tight ends, and RBs. Aaron Hernandez remains a decent TE1 and Danny Woodhead is emerging as the lead RB for this team, and a solid RB3, but that's about where it stop. Welker is only useful as a WR3 in PPR leagues.
New Orleans Saints - Well, that was the worst Saints game in quite some time. Drew Brees had a pretty terrible game with 4 INTs, including a back-breaking pick 6 with the game on the line. Marques Colston is still an every week WR even though he's been rather quiet, but Sean Payton is so intent on spreading the ball around and getting so many people involved that it's become impossible to rely on anyone else. I think he'd be better off attempting to get Colston and Meachem the ball as much as he can when they pass. Chris Ivory crashed back to earth last week, but he'll remain the lead RB for this offense until Thomas returns. Speaking of Thomas, there's still no timetable on his return.
New York Giants - The Giants have completely turned things around and are arguably the hottest team in football right now. Eli was on fire last week, utilizing Hakeem Nicks and Steve Smith to perfection as they shredded the Dallas secondary. Both Nicks and Smith are every week starters. Ahmad Bradshaw has been amazing so far in his first season as the featured RB, but there's concern that he's going to break down given his injury history and lack of experience handling this many touches. It's hard to sell on someone who's had consistent success, but if you can use him to get a more reliable workhorse, it's not a bad idea. His owners should at least try to acquire Brandon Jacobs as insurance. The Giants are on bye this week.
New York Jets - Sanchez has come back down to earth prior to the Jets' bye week, and after an early season hot streak, he has settled back into managing the game. Braylon Edwards has been shockingly consistent as their big play threat, and hopefully the bye week will allow Santonio Holmes to get up to speed in the offense. His snap count has been in the 40% range while Cotchery and Edwards hover in the 80% range. It's only a matter of time before Holmes passes Cotchery as Cotchery is doing very little. LT is going to be spelled a bit more in the 2nd half, and given he's a 31 year old with a lot of carries in his career, it's a great idea, especially since their backup is the ultra-talented Shaun Greene. LT will remain a very solid RB2 moving forward, and with the way the Jets like to run, Greene could work his way back into the fantasy picture as well.
Oakland Raiders - Darren McFadden ruined several fantasy owners on Sunday...both those who played against him and those who sat him after he claimed he was only 70%. Turns out there was a bit of gamesmanship on hand there. Louis Murphy is hurt again, and all Raiders receivers are hands off outside of Zach Miller. Defenses are really keying in on Miller, but you can't sit him as he's the focal point of the Raiders passing attack. It would be nice if either Murphy stayed healthy or someone else emerged to open up the middle some more.
Philadelphia Eagles - Kolb bombed in his final audition to remain the starting QB over the rest of the season, so Vick will take the starting job back after the bye. DeSean Jackson's week 9 status is completely up in the air. The Eagles are on bye this week.
Pittsburgh Steelers - Big Ben picked up right where he left off last year and has been awesome through 2 weeks. His return has allowed both Mike Wallace and Hines Ward to re-emerge as every week starters in fantasy leagues. There was a bit of concern when the Steelers said they wanted to reduce Mendenhall's touches a bit, but considering how Isaac Redman is a battering ram and Mendenhall was on pace for a monster workload, it makes a lot of sense. This doesn't change anything about how Mendenhall is a RB1 for the rest of the season.
San Diego Chargers - Rivers continues to chug along despite the loss of Malcolm Floyd. He's not throwing deep down the field as often for obvious reasons, but Crayton, Davis, and the rest of the receivers made enough plays to keep the offense moving. Antonio Gates is obviously not 100%, but he's probably not going to miss a game, and he proved last week that you can't bench him. He'll probably have some off games while battling his toe injury, but those will have to be lived with. The greatest concern here is how often they abandon the running game. Ryan Mathews is finally healthy, but they went very pass heavy even in a close game against NE last week. Mathews belongs on benches until they show a willingness to keep him involved. There's no reason not to.
San Francisco 49ers - Alex Smith is out a couple of weeks, and instead of turn to backup David Carr, they're going with Troy Smith. If they felt Troy Smith was the better QB, then he should have been working with the second team all along. You can't tell me that Carr's terrible, albeit very limited, action last week was what made this decision. It just goes to show how inept this coaching staff is right now. Frank Gore will continue to post yardage, but his TDs are down thanks to this mess. Vernon Davis needs to be started as well as you figure Smith will target him often. Crabtree belongs on benches.
Seattle Seahawks - Hasselbeck has been fairly solid so far, and Mike Williams has emerged as his go-to receiver over the last two weeks. Before we get too crazy here, Mike Williams is a big bodied WR who lacks the speed to get open on a weekly basis. He uses his size well, but his abysmal 10.9 YPC tells a different tale. He's a possession receiver and a red zone threat, but that's it. If you can get someone that will overvalue him, take advantage. If Williams starts seeing extra defensive attention, Deon Butler could emerge. Marshawn Lynch has taken over this backfield, and while he's not going to break big runs, he's going to get enough carries and redzone looks to remain a low end RB2.
St. Louis Rams - Sam Bradford has his work cut out for him now. First Clayton tears his knee and goes out for the year, then Danario Alexander has yet another setback with his knee and probably won't play for some time. There's simply not enough talent left, and the Rams should have given more consideration to dealing for Vincent Jackson. They should at least go after him this offseason. Steven Jackson had minor surgery on his finger, but he'll be just fine and ready to roll this week.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Josh Freeman and Mike Williams continue to show impressive chemistry, and they are the foundation of this passing game. Freeman has been a rock solid QB2, and Williams has emerged as an every week WR3. The bigger news is the rushing attack as LaGarrette Blount was featured in the 2nd half of last week, and he racked up 72 yards on 11 carries, and had 2 big runs called back on unrelated penalties as well. It's possible that he'll emerge as the primary ball carrier for this team, and considering Cadillac Williams is just a name at this point, there's no reason not to. Williams will remain the passing down back at least, though. Blount is not a bad bye week fill-in for this week.
Tennessee Titans - Vince Young will return to the starting lineup this week, but he's not going to be 100%, and he'll be facing a very tough SD secondary, so he's hands-off for this matchup. It was just announced that Kenny Britt will face no further punishment from his team, but keep in mind the league could still send down further punishment if he's convicted later on. He's in the clear for the short term, however, so he's fine to use this week. Chris Johnson continues to struggle in the YPC category, but he's made up for it with a big workload.
Washington Redskins - McNabb has been decent, and he's been proficient and getting the ball to both Santana Moss and Chris Cooley, both of whom are every week starters. Ryan Torain has emerged as a force on the ground, but after this week's game against Detroit, his schedule gets awfully tough. Given his injury history, it's a great idea to sell high.
Tuesday, October 26, 2010
Week 8 Waiver Wire
QB:
Matthew Stafford - I mentioned him last week, and I'll do it again this week. He's surrounded by weapons that are all getting healthy after the bye week, he's playing at home this week, and he's going against a weak Washington secondary. He's a perfect week 8 starter in a week where 6 teams are on bye, although given the likely rust, keep your expectations in check. Moving forward, he's a perfect grab for Tony Romo and Brett Favre owners as he's the most likely QB1 left on the wire.
Ryan Fitzpatrick - I'm still a bit wary here, but he certainly opened up some eyes last week with a huge performance against a great defense. Don't go chasing last week's points, but offensive coordinator Chan Gailey has a nice history of getting the most out of mobile QBs. With Lee Evans and the emergence of Steve Johnson, Fitzpatrick has weapons to throw to. He's another solid guy to use this week with so many QBs on bye.
Josh Freeman - He's unowned in too many leagues. He's a solid QB2 and has posted respectable numbers all season long. He's arguably a safer bet than Fitzpatrick, although oddly with less upside as well. He's another good grab for this week.
Jon Kitna - He's not a horrible pickup, either. He's going to start, and with the way things are right now, there's at least a solid chance it'll be for the rest of the season. He's surrounded by good weapons, and he has a history of being a fairly aggressive QB. I think he'll at least be a solid QB2 with startability in the right matchups.
Matt Moore - Moore closed very strong last year, so it was a bit shocking to see him yanked after only two games this season even though he was playing very poorly. He looked quite good last week, and he gets a banged up Rams secondary this week. He's not a terrible one week emergency fill-in.
RB:
LaGarrette Blount - Blount took over as the lead RB for the Bucs in the 2nd half on Sunday and looked very good. The coaching staff loves Cadillac Williams too much for Blount to completely seize all early down work, but he should see plenty and is probably the best RB left on waiver at this point.
Mike Hart - The Colts backfield is a mess, but if you're looking for an upside stash, here's one. Addai seems likely to miss at least one week, and he could miss up to a month. Brown is expected to return this week, but you never know. Hart is the only certain healthy member of the backfield, although it's likely he'll take a secondary role to Brown. Still, with Brown's injury history so far, who knows how he'll fare.
Javon Ringer / Derrick Ward - Just another reminder to back up your stud RB1s with their clearcut backups. These guys would be instant RB2s should something happen.
WR:
Jacoby Jones - The Houston offense, by all accounts, should get pretty nasty in the 2nd half of the season. Jones is a great upside pick to grab. Kevin Walter isn't impressing anyone, and Jones has a ton of talent.
James Jones - Jones flashed his big play potential in the first half last week, although he did disappear in the 2nd half. However, just like Jacoby above, this Jones has an declining veteran in front of him, and the Packers would be better off moving Jones outside and kicking Driver to the slot. He's another good upside stash.
David Gettis - Meh. He's certainly surpassed Lafell to start opposite Steve Smith, but he's not a fantasy option. Steve Smith will undoubtedly return to fantasy prominence, and Gettis' big game might get some attention from defenses. Carolina isn't going to support 2 fantasy WRs, but you could stash if you have an empty spot with nothing better to do.
Jordan Shipley - Don't bother. Freak amount of passing attempts and a freak game. There's no way Cincy is going to support 3 fantasy WRs...it can barely support Ochocinco.
Week 7 Injury Ward
Tony Romo - Romo broke his collarbone on Monday night, and his recovery time ranges from 6 weeks to the rest of the season. It appears as though most outlets expect him to miss 8 weeks, and if that's the case, the Cowboys will likely toss him on IR. It should only take another loss or two, so while that might be a couple weeks, Romo is likely finished in 2010. I'd drop him. Kitna is a veteran QB who will throw it down the field, so while this certainly doesn't help Austin, Bryant, Williams, and Witten, I don't think it hurts them as bad as it may seem. Austin is still a WR2, Bryant showed signs of life, and Witten did just fine. I think the guy this hurts the most is Williams as he finally was getting on the same page as Romo, but it appeared as though Kitna preferred Bryant.
Brett Favre - There seems to be conflict (regarding Favre? No way...) with exactly what the injury is. It was commonly believed that he had multiple fractures in his ankle, but now some say it's a glorified sprain. Despite all of this, he'll likely be a gametime decision. Unfortunately Minnesota plays late this week, so if you plan on using Favre, you'll have to roster yourself a later starting QB like Josh Freeman to ensure you have a starter. You can't bench Moss because of his redzone skills, but Harvin will likely suffer if Jackson starts.
Alex Smith - Smith suffered some sort of AC joint injury in his shoulder, and he's almost certainly out in week 8. Nobody knows how severe it is yet, but it's likely that only 2 QB leagues had him rostered anyways. This will hurt the offense, however, because I think Singletary knew how bad David Carr is when he didn't pull Smith at any point this season. Frank Gore will probably suffer a bit more, Vernon Davis will suffer a bit, and Crabtree becomes very shaky while Smith is out.
DeAngelo Williams - Williams limped off late, and it's not known how serious his injury is. Jonathan Stewart might have been dropped in your league, so grab him if he's surprisingly out there. Williams is nothing more than a RB2 at this point, but Stewart would be a borderline RB1 if he started in a week where a number of good RBs are on bye.
Brett Favre - There seems to be conflict (regarding Favre? No way...) with exactly what the injury is. It was commonly believed that he had multiple fractures in his ankle, but now some say it's a glorified sprain. Despite all of this, he'll likely be a gametime decision. Unfortunately Minnesota plays late this week, so if you plan on using Favre, you'll have to roster yourself a later starting QB like Josh Freeman to ensure you have a starter. You can't bench Moss because of his redzone skills, but Harvin will likely suffer if Jackson starts.
Alex Smith - Smith suffered some sort of AC joint injury in his shoulder, and he's almost certainly out in week 8. Nobody knows how severe it is yet, but it's likely that only 2 QB leagues had him rostered anyways. This will hurt the offense, however, because I think Singletary knew how bad David Carr is when he didn't pull Smith at any point this season. Frank Gore will probably suffer a bit more, Vernon Davis will suffer a bit, and Crabtree becomes very shaky while Smith is out.
DeAngelo Williams - Williams limped off late, and it's not known how serious his injury is. Jonathan Stewart might have been dropped in your league, so grab him if he's surprisingly out there. Williams is nothing more than a RB2 at this point, but Stewart would be a borderline RB1 if he started in a week where a number of good RBs are on bye.
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