Arizona Cardinals - Talk about bi-polar when it comes to Warner. He lit up Houston in the 1st half, and then sucked in the 2nd half as Houston almost came all the way back. Luckily his 1st half was so good that he put up a great fantasy outing. Fitz turned in a big game, and Boldin put up a solid receiving performance, but hurt his owners by losing a fumble. Wells and Hightower split carries evenly, but neither impressed as Arizona continues to pass as often as they can.
Atlanta Falcons - Matt Ryan was great again, and I hope you were able to buy low on Roddy White as the window of opportunity slammed shut with his ridiculous performance. Michael Turner looked much better coming out of the bye, putting up his first good game with respect to YPC and also scoring 3 TDs. Gonzalez took a backseat in the high scoring affair this week. This was a very impressive performance against a good defense. Ryan, Turner, White, and Gonzalez are all great options moving forward, but I maintain my concern regarding Michael Turner's workload.
Baltimore Ravens - Flacco has officially become a QB1 as the Ravens have moved from a run-first to a pass-first offense. Flacco struggled in this one, but still tossed a TD thanks to a ridiculous play from Ray Rice on a dump-off pass. Heap managed 7 catches, which was huge for PPR leaguers. Speaking of Ray Rice, he dominated touches in the backfield in this one. He has been one of the most productive RBs in football this year on a per-touch basis, and he's even scored twice despite not being the preferred goal line runner. I apologize to anyone who used McGahee on my "solid bye-week replacement" recommendation from last week...he saw two touches all game. We'll continue to monitor this seemingly inconsistent backfield, but there's no question that Rice is here to stay as a RB2.
Buffalo Bills - Trent Edwards still sucks, and this has dragged Owens down to a WR3 and Evans to a "stay on the bench" WR. In hindsight, we all should have seen this coming from a conservative coach with a conservative QB. Lynch lead the team in both carries and catches, although he only had 4 more than Fred Jackson. Most noteworthy, however, is the fact Lynch was definitely more productive with his touches. Lynch is sneaking his way back into RB2 territory, but with an upcoming game against the Jets, he's got a touch match up ahead.
Carolina Panthers - Carolina tried to run the ball more coming out of the bye week, but they weren't very effective doing it. Delhomme looked blah again. Williams posted a miserable day including a fumble while Jonathan Stewart was more productive per rush and added a TD run. Steve Smith did about as well as expected given his current situation, but he has regressed into a WR2 with the state of this offense. Williams and Stewart are both RB2/3 moving forward and that's it. Williams better not do so little again with his touches or he's going to lose his lead back title of this committee.
Cincinnati Bengals - Palmer started off hot with a big first half in regards to yardage, but then Cincy turned to the ground game as Benson became the first 100 yard runner against Baltimore in quite some time. Palmer then saved his best for last, again, marching his team down the field and throwing the go-ahead TD pass late in the 4th quarter. He posted another solid, but not spectacular fantasy line as he's moving along as a lower-end QB1 right now.
Chicago Bears - Bye week.
Cleveland Browns - Absolute barf. Jamal Lewis came back to wreck Jerome Harrison's day by taking 31 carries and being somewhat productive with them. He's a RB3 in the right match up, but that's about all I can say regarding this offense.
Dallas Cowboys - Romo's pretty productive when his WRs make ridiculous plays for him, as they did in both week 1 and week 5. He looked shaky again, even against KC, but Miles Austin obviously made things happen after the catch. We'll try not to over-react to one big game given he hasn't done much in his career thus far, but Austin has the skills and the opportunity to be the leading receiver for the Cowboys over the rest of the year. Roy Williams and Patrick Crayton aren't doing anything, and Witten is doing a bit more blocking than usual. Someone has to step up, and Austin has the talent to do just that. Barber was again hampered by his quad injury, so once again Choice stepped in and made the most of his touches. This has been the case for two weeks now, so the bye week comes at the perfect time for Barber.
Denver Broncos - They are for real. Orton played the best game of his year as this offense is starting to get comfortable with each other. Marshall has predictably emerged as the top target, using his size and speed to get open and make plays after the catch. The rest of the receivers are still in a rotation, but Eddie Royal finally gave his owners something to cheer about with a 10/90 performance. Until he shows some consistency, and given the coaching staff said his performance was match up-based even, it's not safe to say he's back. Moreno was good with his touches, but a fumble hurt him. Unfortunately he didn't get a crack at the end zone in this one
Detroit Lions - Well, that was about as much as could be expected. Culpepper was solid, and after Calvin left in the first drive with a knee injury, he spread the ball around and also made a play or two with his legs. He'll remain the starter while Stafford recovers, but with Green Bay and their tough secondary up next, he's a low end bye week fill-in. They aren't opening up holes for Kevin Smith, but thanks to his passing game production, he's posting solid weekly yardage totals.
Green Bay Packers - Bye week.
Houston Texans - Schaub posted another monster week thanks to the nature of this offense. With Slaton not providing the same spark on the ground that he provided last year, expect Houston to pass as much as ever this season, which means big things for Schaub in most weeks. It also means big things for AJ, who posted another monster week. He's been more inconsistent than last year, but his numbers are there. Daniels continues to rack up solid yardage as well and seems to be the secondary option for Schaub. Slaton was again ineffective on the ground, but thanks to his receiving yardage, he posted another solid yardage performance.
Indianapolis Colts - Manning continues to be on fire. Wayne would have had an even bigger game had he not dropped an easy TD in the end zone at the end of the game. Clark continues to see a ton of targets, and Garcon actually took a back seat to Austin Collie in this one. I think this was because TEN used a decent bit of zone and over-the-top coverage, so the Colts passed plenty to Clark and Collie over the middle. Collie has solid tackle breaking ability. The Colts weren't able to run, but Addai benefited quite a bit from the Colts underneath passing attack, hauling in 10 passes.
Jacksonville Jaguars - Mike Sims-Walker was declared inactive right before the game for violating teams rules, and unfortunately they haven't released exactly what he did wrong. Garrard and the rest of the passing attack sorely missed the downfield element that Sims-Walker gives them, so they struggled mightily against Seattle. Holt posted the best day of the season, but don't think he's back since they had no one else to throw to. Jones-Drew was hit in the backfield quite a bit, but luckily the handful of yards he picked up in the passing game saved it from being an absolute disaster. He probably would have scored, but a reception that he took to the 1 was called back by a stupid illegal formation penalty.
Kansas City Chiefs - Well, for one week this looked like a reasonable offensive attack. Cassel has done pretty well in a real football sense so far despite getting little help, and against a mediocre Dallas defense, he actually posted a solid fantasy day. His line still has him on the run quite a bit. Dwayne Bowe benefited too, although he again posted most of his damage late in the game on the last drive, including the game tying TD. The rushing attack is miserable, and LJ is barely worth owning at this point.
Miami Dolphins - Chad Henne still isn't being asked to do much yet, but his running game is making his life easy. When he was asked to make a play, he hit Ted Ginn on a perfectly thrown play-action bomb. He's definitely a game manager, he's out there less than most quarterbacks thanks to the continued success of the Wildcat, and his receiving targets are among the worst in the league, so it's hard to recommend him as a QB2 despite the solid numbers last night. Still, there are worse options out there. The running game continues to dominate thanks to Ronnie Brown and Ricky Williams. Brown has cemented himself as the top dog in this backfield since week 1, but Williams plays a very important part. Both have shown their all-around games in what makes this the best rushing attack in football through 5 weeks.
Minnesota Vikings - Favre posted another solid game this week, and while Peterson's work load was limited by the game situation, he was plenty productive with his touches, and he scored twice to make his fantasy owners plenty happy. Minnesota keeps humming along, and their defense is creating havoc.
New England Patriots - Once again, Brady looked a bit off. He's overthrowing Moss on big plays when Moss gets open, and he just doesn't look right. His ridiculous preseason performance definitely gave some false hope to all who drafted him as he has struggled to start the year, but expect him to get better. Welker continues to benefit from the situation, hauling in a bunch of passes and scoring this week. Without Fred Taylor, it appears as though Sammy Morris will carry the load of carries each week. Maroney isn't doing anything with his touches, but he's still worth stashing as a RB5 to see what happens.
New Orleans Saints - Bye week.
New York Giants - Eli Manning rewarded all who had the balls to start him by posting ridiculous numbers considering he didn't even play the full first half. Manningham bounced back with a big play TD, and Nicks also scored while Steve Smith was the leading receiver again. Jacobs continues to struggle and took a backseat production-wise to Bradshaw who posted a monster game. Jacobs continues to get his carries, but he's not doing much with them, and this has now become a serious concern. He couldn't even score from inside the 5 on their first drive, and Bradshaw replaced him on 4th down to plunge it in for the first of his two TDs.
New York Jets - Mark Sanchez had his 2nd straight shaky outing, but it was much improved over last week. He's still a decent QB2 that will improve as the season moves along. Edwards arrival gave him a big play threat, and he loved throwing it to him. It was perfect timing, too, as Cotchery did not look 100% last night and was barely targeted. Edwards is a WR3 with WR2 potential for the rest of the season now that he's in a solid offense, and the rushing attack will open up some big plays in the play-action game for him. Thomas Jones looks his age, but he's still the preferred option at the goal line, scoring twice last night. His YPC is way down, and he's a dicey RB2 moving forward who is reliant upon TDs. Leon Washington was more involved and looked great with his touches, but he tends to get himself in trouble sometimes with his dancing. He's a solid RB3.
Oakland Raiders - What's to say? Russell continues to prove his the worst QB in the NFL, and the entire team is suffering. Bush and Fargas split carries, but Bush tossed in a TD to reward those who used him on a bye week. Bush is the great part of this committee, but the fact Fargas is stealing carries on a bad offense severely limits whatever upside he could muster out of this offensive mess.
Philadelphia Eagles - McNabb looked perfectly healthy on his way to carving up the Bucs secondary, and both he and Westbrook took it easy in the 2nd half as the offense wasn't called upon to do much. Jeremy Maclin exploded onto the scene with Curtis' injury, so he'll be a hot add this week. Celek continues to rack up targets and catches. Westbrook scored to save his fantasy day.
Pittsburgh Steelers - Big Ben posted another big day by tossing 3 TDs. The Steelers inexplicably went to the air in the 2nd half despite nursing a lead, so Mendenhall was limited to 17 carries and was a slight disappointment from a fantasy standpoint, although he still generated solid yardage and a TD. The coaching staff acknowledged this mistake, so don't expect it to happen again.
San Diego Chargers - Bye week.
San Francisco 49ers - The whole team sucked this week, but at least Josh Morgan is showing some signs of life. This team will be happy to get Frank Gore back after the bye week.
Seattle Seahawks - Matt Hasselbeck continues to prove me wrong. Given he was playing at home against a bad Jacksonville secondary, I should have recommended him. It's obvious that he still has it and this offense can move the ball in the air when he's healthy. Housh and Burleson are both solid WR3s when Hasselbeck is starting. The running game can be ignored thanks to their horrible offensive line.
St. Louis Rams - Boller sucked it up again, and Bulger actually came in and looked great, although it was with an out-of-hand 31-3 game. He hooked up with Donnie Avery several times, including a TD, providing a glimmer of hope for this offense moving forward. He'll likely end up hurt again, however. Steven Jackson continues to amaze with the yardage he's cranking out behind the most inept offense in football, but he killed his owners by fumbling at the 1.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Josh Johnson actually put up solid yardage, but he didn't look that great doing it. He was under constant pressure and isn't very accurate when he has his feet set, much less throwing off of his back foot. 240 yards and 2 TDs looks good, but not when you contrast that with a 52% completion rate, 4.8 YPA, and 3 INTs. Winslow posted a huge game and Bryant looked solid, but they will be limited by Johnson for as long as he's starting. If you can sell high on Winslow after this game and get a proven stud TE on a better offense, go for it.
Tennessee Titans - 0-5...wow. What a difference a year makes. Their defensive holes are killing this team as it is not built to pass and score a lot of points. Collins looked poor again, and Chris Johnson is being held back by the state of this team. Johnson can be viewed as a RB1/2 moving forward, and Washington is a decent WR3 as their most explosive passing game option, but this has been bad news.
Washington Redskins - Campbell continues to look mediocre and will likely be gone at season's end. Moss suffered from this performance, but at least posted a few catches. Portis saved his day with 2 TDs, but he again wasn't productive with his touches. Nothing much has changed here.
Monday, October 12, 2009
Wednesday, October 7, 2009
Week 5 Injury/Depth Chart Report
Arizona Cardinals - I'm sure the bye week was just what Kurt Warner and Anquan Boldin needed. Warner should hopefully be moving around a little bit better and be more willing to go down the field, and a match up against the horrid Texans secondary is exactly what he'll need. Same goes for Boldin, although he looked on track in week 3. Hightower will continue to get more touches than Beanie Wells thanks to the pass-first philosophy of the offense, but I expect Wells to get more than the 2 carries he got in week 3. Hightower is a reasonable bye week replacement.
Atlanta Falcons - Matt Ryan had a week off to help him rebound from a rough week 3, and hopefully this time was spent re-kindling his chemistry with Roddy White, who is off to a slow start. My guess is that after 3 weeks of mediocre production and a bye week, this is the perfect time to go after him as a buy low. Gonzalez will eat into his production a bit, but the Falcons are passing more this year.
Baltimore Ravens - Flacco is emerging as a QB1 option with Baltimore's willingness to open up the playbook for him this year. You know the deal here with the backfield...Rice is a RB2 as the guy who gets more total touches, but McGahee is a solid bye week fill-in as he splits carries and gets the goal line work.
Buffalo Bills - Lynch and Jackson will continue to share touches moving forward, and neither is more than a RB3 at this point. Jackson didn't dominate passing down work as I expected previously, so this is a true split right now. I have a hunch that Lynch might be the preferred goal line option, but this is only my personal opinion.
Carolina Panthers - Hopefully the bye week fixed Carolina's offensive philosophy and they'll focus on what they do best...pound the rock and use play action to get it to Steve Smith down the field. Williams and Stewart will continue to annoy fantasy owners by splitting carries with a slight edge to Williams.
Cincinnati Bengals - Palmer continues to disappoint with his yardage, but at least he's producing TDs enough to keep him as a QB1. Ochocinco continues to be the only WR worth starting with some sort of rotation opposite him.
Chicago Bears - Bye week.
Cleveland Browns - Goodbye Edwards, hello...Mohamed Massaquoi? He's the new #1 WR for this squad, and expect Mike Furrey, Brian Robieski, and Josh Cribbs to split time opposite him until new acquisition Chansi Stuckey is ready to start. Jamal Lewis might start losing more time to Jerome Harrison when he returns from injury, whenever that might be. Harrison is the better RB at this stage in their careers.
Dallas Cowboys - Romo's latest hospital ball has cost Roy Williams some cartilage in his ribs, and while he's vowing to play this week, there's no way you can start him as less than 100%. If Williams is out, Patrick Crayton could be a sneaky WR3 play. Barber should start again in week 5, but expect Tashard Choice to play a committee role as Barber isn't 100% yet. Felix Jones is out for another week.
Denver Broncos- Brandon Marshall is anchored back in as the top option of the passing game, and the rest of the receivers (Royal, Stokley, Gaffney) appear to be in an unproductive rotation of some sort. Buckhalter is rumored to have a high ankle sprain, so Moreno is an excellent RB2 while he's out as his touches will see an increase.
Detroit Lions - Stafford has unfortunately suffered a knee injury, and there's no reason for Detroit to rush him back out there. They are fully aware that they aren't competing for a playoff spot. Expect Daunte Culpepper to start for a couple weeks while Stafford gets back to full health. This probably isn't good for Calvin Johnson, but we'll see how it plays out.
Green Bay Packers - Bye week.
Houston Texans - Slaton returned to a full workload in week 4, but his YPC remains a major concern. It was 4.8 last year, and it's plummeted to 3.3 this year. The Texans just don't have much else to turn to, so they'll stick it out with him for now.
Indianapolis Colts - Anthony Gonzalez will remain out through the Colts' bye week in week 6, and then he's expected to return. Garcon will man the outside and be a WR3 while he's out, and Austin Collie is worth a look as a bye week fill-in for week 5.
Jacksonville Jaguars - Mike Sims-Walker has turned into fantasy gold! I will repeat that selling high is a good option given his history of knee problems, but I would only give him up to fill a major hole, or if you can get a WR you know is better in return.
Kansas City Chiefs - Dwayne Bowe played all of week 4, but he was not 100% and was clearly limited by his injury. Unless he puts in a full practice this week, I would probably bench him if you have a solid alternative.
Miami Dolphins - Ted Ginn has regressed into a WR rotation, and he's not to be anywhere near lineups until he earned full starter snaps.
Minnesota Vikings - Adrian Peterson appeared to hurt himself while having the ball stolen from him by Clay Matthews. He put up horrible YPC numbers that game, but that appeared to be more to the credit of the Packers' defense as opposed to him being limited. Keep an eye on him, but there's no indication yet that this is a problem.
New England Patriots - Wes Welker appears to be back, so he's safe to start again. Even with Fred Taylor now out indefinitely due to ankle surgery, the RB situation is a frustrating 3 man committee. However, Sammy Morris and Laurence Maroney are both worth picking up to see if one of the two emerges.
New Orleans Saints - Bye week.
New York Giants - Eli Manning suffered a plantar fascitis injury in week 4, but he appears willing to start in week 5. He was told that he can't re-injure it, but it's a painful injury. Oakland is actually solid against the pass while bad against the run, so I would avoid using Eli this week unless you have to. Ahmad Bradshaw is still dealing with an ankle injury that will limit him some in practice this week, but he is expected to be fine for week 5. He's a solid bye week fill-in against a horrible Oakland run defense.
New York Jets - They traded for Braylon Edwards, and he's fully expected to start and play the majority of snaps on Monday Night. My biggest question was how the two offensive schemes compared between the Browns and Jets, and apparently they have a lot of similarities. This makes Edwards usable as a WR3. He's a risky start, but there's no question the Jets will draw up some plays to get him the ball this week. Leon Washington had a down week, but he's going to get the ball plenty in week 5.
Oakland Raiders - Darren McFadden suffered a torn meniscus and will miss 2-4 weeks. This should be time for Michael Bush to shine, but who knows how Oakland will force Justin Fargas into the mix. The problem is they face the Giants, so I wouldn't mess with Bush unless totally desperate.
Philadelphia Eagles - The bye week has done both McNabb and Westbrook good as they will start in week 5. McNabb still isn't 100%, so he could see scaled back passing attempts against the horrid Tampa Bay rush defense, but his match up is solid, and he is a lower end QB1.
Pittsburgh Steelers - Rashard Mendenhall. He'll start again in week 5 and makes for an outstanding play against the Lions. Let's hope he finally gets it and turns in another great performance.
San Diego Chargers - Bye week.
San Francisco 49ers - Glen Coffee will start again, and he has a solid match up against Atlanta. He's a solid RB2 this week as the 49ers will continue to rely on the run.
Seattle Seahawks - Matt Hasselbeck might return this week, but he's in no way a fantasy option with the putrid offensive line that would attempt to protect him. Housh is a decent WR3, but that's about it for this offense.
St. Louis Rams - Marc Bulger is probably going to be held out again, so Kyle Boller will get another chance to start. After the mirage that was Boller's clean up performance in week 3, it seems as though Bulger is probably the best option here, but maybe Boller can do something this week for Steven Jackson's sake. Donnie Avery will continue to be the "#1" WR and is worth stashing as a WR5, but I would bench him until he shows something.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Josh Johnson will continue to start, but he had a less than stellar passing day in week 4. Antonio Bryant has returned and looks close to 100%, but his upside is severely limited by Johnson behind center. He's a WR3 in the right match up.
Tennessee Titans - Kenny Britt is pushing Justin Gage to start opposite Nate Washington, so keep an eye on their production. Britt is worth stashing as a WR5 to see how this plays out as TEN will have to pass more this season thanks to their defensive woes.
Washington Redskins - Clinton Portis is back to the full time starter despite his injury woes, and he's a reasonable RB2 in a favorable match up against Carolina.
Atlanta Falcons - Matt Ryan had a week off to help him rebound from a rough week 3, and hopefully this time was spent re-kindling his chemistry with Roddy White, who is off to a slow start. My guess is that after 3 weeks of mediocre production and a bye week, this is the perfect time to go after him as a buy low. Gonzalez will eat into his production a bit, but the Falcons are passing more this year.
Baltimore Ravens - Flacco is emerging as a QB1 option with Baltimore's willingness to open up the playbook for him this year. You know the deal here with the backfield...Rice is a RB2 as the guy who gets more total touches, but McGahee is a solid bye week fill-in as he splits carries and gets the goal line work.
Buffalo Bills - Lynch and Jackson will continue to share touches moving forward, and neither is more than a RB3 at this point. Jackson didn't dominate passing down work as I expected previously, so this is a true split right now. I have a hunch that Lynch might be the preferred goal line option, but this is only my personal opinion.
Carolina Panthers - Hopefully the bye week fixed Carolina's offensive philosophy and they'll focus on what they do best...pound the rock and use play action to get it to Steve Smith down the field. Williams and Stewart will continue to annoy fantasy owners by splitting carries with a slight edge to Williams.
Cincinnati Bengals - Palmer continues to disappoint with his yardage, but at least he's producing TDs enough to keep him as a QB1. Ochocinco continues to be the only WR worth starting with some sort of rotation opposite him.
Chicago Bears - Bye week.
Cleveland Browns - Goodbye Edwards, hello...Mohamed Massaquoi? He's the new #1 WR for this squad, and expect Mike Furrey, Brian Robieski, and Josh Cribbs to split time opposite him until new acquisition Chansi Stuckey is ready to start. Jamal Lewis might start losing more time to Jerome Harrison when he returns from injury, whenever that might be. Harrison is the better RB at this stage in their careers.
Dallas Cowboys - Romo's latest hospital ball has cost Roy Williams some cartilage in his ribs, and while he's vowing to play this week, there's no way you can start him as less than 100%. If Williams is out, Patrick Crayton could be a sneaky WR3 play. Barber should start again in week 5, but expect Tashard Choice to play a committee role as Barber isn't 100% yet. Felix Jones is out for another week.
Denver Broncos- Brandon Marshall is anchored back in as the top option of the passing game, and the rest of the receivers (Royal, Stokley, Gaffney) appear to be in an unproductive rotation of some sort. Buckhalter is rumored to have a high ankle sprain, so Moreno is an excellent RB2 while he's out as his touches will see an increase.
Detroit Lions - Stafford has unfortunately suffered a knee injury, and there's no reason for Detroit to rush him back out there. They are fully aware that they aren't competing for a playoff spot. Expect Daunte Culpepper to start for a couple weeks while Stafford gets back to full health. This probably isn't good for Calvin Johnson, but we'll see how it plays out.
Green Bay Packers - Bye week.
Houston Texans - Slaton returned to a full workload in week 4, but his YPC remains a major concern. It was 4.8 last year, and it's plummeted to 3.3 this year. The Texans just don't have much else to turn to, so they'll stick it out with him for now.
Indianapolis Colts - Anthony Gonzalez will remain out through the Colts' bye week in week 6, and then he's expected to return. Garcon will man the outside and be a WR3 while he's out, and Austin Collie is worth a look as a bye week fill-in for week 5.
Jacksonville Jaguars - Mike Sims-Walker has turned into fantasy gold! I will repeat that selling high is a good option given his history of knee problems, but I would only give him up to fill a major hole, or if you can get a WR you know is better in return.
Kansas City Chiefs - Dwayne Bowe played all of week 4, but he was not 100% and was clearly limited by his injury. Unless he puts in a full practice this week, I would probably bench him if you have a solid alternative.
Miami Dolphins - Ted Ginn has regressed into a WR rotation, and he's not to be anywhere near lineups until he earned full starter snaps.
Minnesota Vikings - Adrian Peterson appeared to hurt himself while having the ball stolen from him by Clay Matthews. He put up horrible YPC numbers that game, but that appeared to be more to the credit of the Packers' defense as opposed to him being limited. Keep an eye on him, but there's no indication yet that this is a problem.
New England Patriots - Wes Welker appears to be back, so he's safe to start again. Even with Fred Taylor now out indefinitely due to ankle surgery, the RB situation is a frustrating 3 man committee. However, Sammy Morris and Laurence Maroney are both worth picking up to see if one of the two emerges.
New Orleans Saints - Bye week.
New York Giants - Eli Manning suffered a plantar fascitis injury in week 4, but he appears willing to start in week 5. He was told that he can't re-injure it, but it's a painful injury. Oakland is actually solid against the pass while bad against the run, so I would avoid using Eli this week unless you have to. Ahmad Bradshaw is still dealing with an ankle injury that will limit him some in practice this week, but he is expected to be fine for week 5. He's a solid bye week fill-in against a horrible Oakland run defense.
New York Jets - They traded for Braylon Edwards, and he's fully expected to start and play the majority of snaps on Monday Night. My biggest question was how the two offensive schemes compared between the Browns and Jets, and apparently they have a lot of similarities. This makes Edwards usable as a WR3. He's a risky start, but there's no question the Jets will draw up some plays to get him the ball this week. Leon Washington had a down week, but he's going to get the ball plenty in week 5.
Oakland Raiders - Darren McFadden suffered a torn meniscus and will miss 2-4 weeks. This should be time for Michael Bush to shine, but who knows how Oakland will force Justin Fargas into the mix. The problem is they face the Giants, so I wouldn't mess with Bush unless totally desperate.
Philadelphia Eagles - The bye week has done both McNabb and Westbrook good as they will start in week 5. McNabb still isn't 100%, so he could see scaled back passing attempts against the horrid Tampa Bay rush defense, but his match up is solid, and he is a lower end QB1.
Pittsburgh Steelers - Rashard Mendenhall. He'll start again in week 5 and makes for an outstanding play against the Lions. Let's hope he finally gets it and turns in another great performance.
San Diego Chargers - Bye week.
San Francisco 49ers - Glen Coffee will start again, and he has a solid match up against Atlanta. He's a solid RB2 this week as the 49ers will continue to rely on the run.
Seattle Seahawks - Matt Hasselbeck might return this week, but he's in no way a fantasy option with the putrid offensive line that would attempt to protect him. Housh is a decent WR3, but that's about it for this offense.
St. Louis Rams - Marc Bulger is probably going to be held out again, so Kyle Boller will get another chance to start. After the mirage that was Boller's clean up performance in week 3, it seems as though Bulger is probably the best option here, but maybe Boller can do something this week for Steven Jackson's sake. Donnie Avery will continue to be the "#1" WR and is worth stashing as a WR5, but I would bench him until he shows something.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Josh Johnson will continue to start, but he had a less than stellar passing day in week 4. Antonio Bryant has returned and looks close to 100%, but his upside is severely limited by Johnson behind center. He's a WR3 in the right match up.
Tennessee Titans - Kenny Britt is pushing Justin Gage to start opposite Nate Washington, so keep an eye on their production. Britt is worth stashing as a WR5 to see how this plays out as TEN will have to pass more this season thanks to their defensive woes.
Washington Redskins - Clinton Portis is back to the full time starter despite his injury woes, and he's a reasonable RB2 in a favorable match up against Carolina.
WR Braylon Edwards Traded To New York Jets
The Cleveland Browns have traded WR Braylon Edwards to the New York Jets for WR Chansi Stuckey, LB Jason Trusnik, a 2010 3rd round pick, and a 2010 5th round pick.
This is a win for both sides. The Jets add a WR opposite Jerricho Cotchery who has the pure talent to be the best WR on the team, so it's a huge win for Mark Sanchez and the passing game. Whether or not they can get him to concentrate and not drop passes all the time is another story. The Browns get something for an unhappy player they probably weren't going to keep after the season was over, especially considering his clashes with head coach Eric Mangini, his bar fight, and then his public spat with Cleveland icon Lebron James. They add a solid possession WR, a LB I've never heard of, and two fairly valuable draft picks.
Fantasy Impact: Braylon Edwards' value takes a small short term hit as he'll need some time to pick up the offense, but it's not like he was producing anything in Cleveland prior to the trade. I definitely like him in the 2nd half better with the Jets than I did with Cleveland, so his 2009 fantasy value gets a slight boost, and his future value gets a big boost. This also helps Mark Sanchez quite a bit moving forward with a bigger play maker than Cotchery was. Cotchery's value unfortunately takes a hit as he'll eventually be sharing more targets with Edwards than he did anyone else on his team prior to the trade. Both guys should be WR2/3 options moving foward, but it's no slam dunk that Edwards will be a big part of the offense this week. I'll touch on that in my depth chart/injury report. Massaquoi's value is uncertain...he's a better pick up now as he's the #1 WR in Cleveland, but he did his week 4 damage with Edwards drawing constant double teams. That will be a situation to monitor before plugging him into your lineup, but he'll receive more targets as their top WR now.
This is a win for both sides. The Jets add a WR opposite Jerricho Cotchery who has the pure talent to be the best WR on the team, so it's a huge win for Mark Sanchez and the passing game. Whether or not they can get him to concentrate and not drop passes all the time is another story. The Browns get something for an unhappy player they probably weren't going to keep after the season was over, especially considering his clashes with head coach Eric Mangini, his bar fight, and then his public spat with Cleveland icon Lebron James. They add a solid possession WR, a LB I've never heard of, and two fairly valuable draft picks.
Fantasy Impact: Braylon Edwards' value takes a small short term hit as he'll need some time to pick up the offense, but it's not like he was producing anything in Cleveland prior to the trade. I definitely like him in the 2nd half better with the Jets than I did with Cleveland, so his 2009 fantasy value gets a slight boost, and his future value gets a big boost. This also helps Mark Sanchez quite a bit moving forward with a bigger play maker than Cotchery was. Cotchery's value unfortunately takes a hit as he'll eventually be sharing more targets with Edwards than he did anyone else on his team prior to the trade. Both guys should be WR2/3 options moving foward, but it's no slam dunk that Edwards will be a big part of the offense this week. I'll touch on that in my depth chart/injury report. Massaquoi's value is uncertain...he's a better pick up now as he's the #1 WR in Cleveland, but he did his week 4 damage with Edwards drawing constant double teams. That will be a situation to monitor before plugging him into your lineup, but he'll receive more targets as their top WR now.
Week 5 Waiver Wire
I sincerely apologize to the 5 of you that read my blog that I didn't get to my waiver wire article in time this week. I had sat down to do it, got distracted, and then went to softball and didn't have time to write it when I got back. Still, I'll run down who should be picked up. I continue to not repeat guys from previous articles unless they've gone from stashable to must-have.
QB:
Derek Anderson - He went from intriguing QB2 to blah QB2 with the Braylon Edwards trade. He has no proven WR to throw the ball to, and the options left lack for talent. Massaquoi could be decent, and Chansi Stuckey's addition gives them a solid possession guy, but Anderson ultimately makes a lot of bad throws and doesn't have a playmaker to overcome that. If you're desperate for QB depth he should be decent, but that's about it.
RB:
Rashard Mendenhall - You league has too many people that don't pay attention if he was still available, but he was obviously the top add of the week.
Jerome Harrison - With Jamal Lewis fading away and James Davis headed to IR, Harrison is the lead back while Lewis is injured. If Lewis is out again, Harrison is definitely RB2 material as they don't have anyone else that can help carry the ball. He's explosive and posted a solid game in week 4. He's worth a waiver add.
Michael Bush - Some may have dropped him when he disappeared after week 1, but with McFadden's knee injury, Bush has a chance to shine as long as the Raiders don't do something stupid and give Fargas a bunch of carries...which means Fargas will get a bunch of carries. Still, he's well worth adding.
WR:
Mohamed Massaquoi - Massaquoi exploded in week 1, and with Braylon Edwards gone, he'll be the top WR on the team. He's their best down field threat and playmaker. He's definitely worth adding, but I'd like to see another game with him, especially without Edwards commanding double teams, to see if he's a WR3. Those in a bye week pinch can give him a shot as he'll presumably get plenty of targets.
Kenny Britt - Britt had been quiet after a great week 1, but he exploded again in week 4. He's a great WR5 stash as a legit talent, but I wouldn't start him unless he takes Justin Gage's job. There aren't enough targets to go around for 3 WRs on Tennessee.
Austin Collie - Another WR5 stash. With Indy's passing game on fire, and a match up against the decimated TEN secondary up next, Collie is a reasonable bye week fill-in this week. Just keep your expectations tempered a bit as he's the #4 target behind Wayne/Clark/Garcon, and that he'll likely become worthless once Anthony Gonzalez returns.
TE:
Jermichael Finley - Finley busted out with a monster week 4, and it's clear that Rodgers likes throwing to him when he's on the field. He's not starting yet with Donald Lee still a superior blocker, so his upside is limited, but he'll post a few big games this week. He's a solid TE2 for bye week purposes.
Heath Miller - Miller, as I've stated before in my writing, is a very good pass catcher who has been under-utilized in Pittsburgh's run-first offense, especially since Miller is such an accomplished blocker. He's one of the most unheralded all-around TEs in the game. Pittsburgh is throwing more this year thanks to their lack of a rushing attack, and Miller exploded in week 4 as a result. Mendenhall could get their rushing attack back on track, so Miller is more of a TE2 for now, but he's definitely worth owning.
QB:
Derek Anderson - He went from intriguing QB2 to blah QB2 with the Braylon Edwards trade. He has no proven WR to throw the ball to, and the options left lack for talent. Massaquoi could be decent, and Chansi Stuckey's addition gives them a solid possession guy, but Anderson ultimately makes a lot of bad throws and doesn't have a playmaker to overcome that. If you're desperate for QB depth he should be decent, but that's about it.
RB:
Rashard Mendenhall - You league has too many people that don't pay attention if he was still available, but he was obviously the top add of the week.
Jerome Harrison - With Jamal Lewis fading away and James Davis headed to IR, Harrison is the lead back while Lewis is injured. If Lewis is out again, Harrison is definitely RB2 material as they don't have anyone else that can help carry the ball. He's explosive and posted a solid game in week 4. He's worth a waiver add.
Michael Bush - Some may have dropped him when he disappeared after week 1, but with McFadden's knee injury, Bush has a chance to shine as long as the Raiders don't do something stupid and give Fargas a bunch of carries...which means Fargas will get a bunch of carries. Still, he's well worth adding.
WR:
Mohamed Massaquoi - Massaquoi exploded in week 1, and with Braylon Edwards gone, he'll be the top WR on the team. He's their best down field threat and playmaker. He's definitely worth adding, but I'd like to see another game with him, especially without Edwards commanding double teams, to see if he's a WR3. Those in a bye week pinch can give him a shot as he'll presumably get plenty of targets.
Kenny Britt - Britt had been quiet after a great week 1, but he exploded again in week 4. He's a great WR5 stash as a legit talent, but I wouldn't start him unless he takes Justin Gage's job. There aren't enough targets to go around for 3 WRs on Tennessee.
Austin Collie - Another WR5 stash. With Indy's passing game on fire, and a match up against the decimated TEN secondary up next, Collie is a reasonable bye week fill-in this week. Just keep your expectations tempered a bit as he's the #4 target behind Wayne/Clark/Garcon, and that he'll likely become worthless once Anthony Gonzalez returns.
TE:
Jermichael Finley - Finley busted out with a monster week 4, and it's clear that Rodgers likes throwing to him when he's on the field. He's not starting yet with Donald Lee still a superior blocker, so his upside is limited, but he'll post a few big games this week. He's a solid TE2 for bye week purposes.
Heath Miller - Miller, as I've stated before in my writing, is a very good pass catcher who has been under-utilized in Pittsburgh's run-first offense, especially since Miller is such an accomplished blocker. He's one of the most unheralded all-around TEs in the game. Pittsburgh is throwing more this year thanks to their lack of a rushing attack, and Miller exploded in week 4 as a result. Mendenhall could get their rushing attack back on track, so Miller is more of a TE2 for now, but he's definitely worth owning.
Monday, October 5, 2009
Week 4 Thoughts
Arizona Cardinals - Bye week.
Atlanta Falcons - Roddy White is an awesome buy low. Try to get him.
Baltimore Ravens - Flacco continues to amaze. He's turned into one of the best QB2s around. Ray Rice continues to produce at an impressive clip despite receiving limited carries and no goal line chances. Despite 19 carries in week 1 and no more than 11 carries the next 3 weeks, he has scored no less than 8.2 points during the first month of the season. Rice is a legit RB2 thanks to his pass catching supplementing his limited carries.
Buffalo Bills - Edwards and the Bills offensive line are killing both Owens and Evans. He simply doesn't have enough time to set up to throw down the field. Both have regressed to WR4 material for the time being. Marshawn Lynch returned, and sure enough, this was about an even timeshare, even though Fred Jackson predictably outproduced him. The annoying part of this was the fact that Jackson even lost passing down work to Lynch. Neither guy is worth using as more than a RB3 until this situation becomes clearer.
Carolina Panthers - Bye week.
Cincinnati Bengals - Palmer was disappointing against a questionable Cleveland secondary, but led another late TD drive and ended up with solid fantasy numbers. It hasn't been pretty so far, but in the end, the numbers have been there for him except for week 1. I expect continued improvement.
Chicago Bears - Cutler continues a torrid fantasy pace after bombing in week 1. Those who stepped away from the ledge after one game are being rewarded as he has settled in very nicely. Forte showed some signs of life, but it was against one of the worst run Ds in the NFL, and it was mostly on 2 big runs. The Bears have clearly adjusted their game plan to pass more, and Forte doesn't appear to be the preferred option near the goal line any more either. I think he'll improve, but I don't think he has the upside many of us thought when the season began.
Cleveland Browns - Derek Anderson replaced Brady Quinn as the starter, and that wasn't good news for Braylon Edwards. At least Edwards caught a few passes with Quinn behind center. The good news for Edwards is that rookie Mohammad Massaquoi had a huge game, and if he can step up opposite Edwards, it will eliminate the relentless double teaming Edwards is seeing right now. Things will get better for Edwards...for all of Anderson's faults, he is willing to go down the field, as to where Quinn won't. Hang in there.
Dallas Cowboys - Tony Romo just doesn't have it right now. Without a WR to make plays for him like Owens did, he's stuck with mediocre options who don't consistently get open. He's also making horrible decisions and is showing inaccuracy. He's a QB2 until he proves otherwise. Barber looked pretty good, but his quad tightened up on him, and it kept him off the field in the 2nd half. Since Choice was playing so well, the Cowboys probably played it safe.
Denver Broncos - Kyle Orton has looked every bit the part of a QB2 thus far. He continues to post solid weeks despite not really making big plays down the field. Brandon Marshall is officially back and a great WR2 moving forward. Eddie Royal has officially disappeared and shouldn't see your starting lineup. I wouldn't drop him though. Keep an eye on Buckhalter's injury as that would help Moreno's already RB2 value moving forward.
Detroit Lions - Stafford looked good again while getting the ball down the field, but he's still struggling with his accuracy. CJ would have turned in an even bigger day had Stafford not misfired on 2 different passes where he was open in the end zone. Still, it's a great sign for CJ moving forward. Kevin Smith was absolutely gobbled up by the Bears D, but he scored twice and he's the lone wolf of the backfield...a rarity these days.
Green Bay Packers - Rodgers certainly didn't disappoint with a monster statistical game, but imagine what he could have accomplished with some protection? He performed great despite the circumstances. He can say it was just another game all he wanted...but you know he badly wanted to post huge numbers and a win. Ryan Grant was productive with his touches, but the nature of the game didn't allow him many. It was disappointing that Jennings didn't have a big game despite Rodgers' final numbers, but stay patient with him. The Packers lack of trust in him at the goal line showed. He was stuffed once, and then the Packers tried to throw it a couple times. That says a lot about their confidence in his goal line running.
Houston Texans - Schaub struggled a bit, but Oakland's secondary actually isn't that bad. No worries there. Slaton finally turned in a good game with a couple scores, but his YPC sucked even with the big run. The good news was that Chris Brown was barely on the field, but Slaton needs to be more productive with is touches.
Indianapolis Colts - This offense is on fire right now, and with TEN's decimated secondary next on the schedule, continued good times are ahead.
Jacksonville Jaguars - Apparently a struggling QB's remedy is to face the above mentioned TEN secondary as Garrard absolutely torched them. Mike Sims-Walker turned in another monster game, and it might be time to shop him around. He should remain productive as the top option for the Jaguars, while healthy, but I simply can't get past his long history of knee problems.
Kansas City Chiefs - This offense is such an absolute mess, there's little to say. Bowe didn't look 100%, and until he proves he's 100%, I wouldn't start him. Us owners lucked out with a TD in his first two games, but his yardage has been awful even when healthy.
Miami Dolphins - The Dolphins had a perfect first match up with Chad Henne behind center as they were able to use the ground game to punish Buffalo, and they didn't have to ask Henne to do much. Ronnie Brown looks awesome, and Ricky Williams is doing a very good job behind him. The problem is that this passing game will allow stronger run defenses, like the upcoming match up with MIN, to focus on shutting down the rushing attack. Temper expectations against said defenses, but you can't sit Brown.
Minnesota Vikings - For those who started Brett Favre expecting an inspired performance, you certainly were rewarded. The playbook is starting to open up for him, and while this remains a run-first team, Favre is starting to take more shots down the field. Given the respect the defenses have for Peterson, Favre will have some games like this. Berrian and Rice both scored. I view Berrian as a WR3, and Rice is emerging a solid bye week replacement. He's limiting Harvin to a slot WR role for now. Peterson was swallowed up by a vicious Packers run defenses, but he scored to post a decent game.
New England Patriots - Brady looks more like pre-2007 self than anything else at this point. He's a QB1, but he's not the explosive option people were expecting, especially after his excellent preseason. As I warned, Taylor's usage went back down the toilet again this week. He'll probably be worth a shot as a RB3 in the right match up, but he's nothing more than that.
New Orleans Saints - Now might be a great time to shoot an offer for Brees. You'll still have to pay full price, but you might find an owner willing to listen to deals for him after 2 straight zero TD performances instead of laughing at you. Still, the smart owners will laugh at you. Pierre Thomas looked great once more and is arguably a RB1 moving forward. His skills are legit and he's playing for a great offense.
New York Giants - The Giants keep rollin, rollin, rollin. Eli loves Steve Smith, and his young WRs are certainly stepping up to the plate and making plays. Manningham has kinda fallen off, and he's picked a bad time to do with Hakeem Nicks battling for playing time now. Expect some snap splitting between these two for now. Unfortunately for the rushing attack, the passing attack has stolen both some thunder and scoring opportunities. Jacobs should still see an uptick in scoring with the passing attack humming, so I wouldn't worry yet. All in all, hopefully Eli's injury isn't too bad.
New York Jets - Mark Sanchez turned into a toad this weekend, bombing in horrible fashion. He is just a normal rookie, after all. Not to fear, though, as I expect him to bounce back. He's still a decent QB2. This was a forgettable game on all fronts, but it was nice to see Cotchery post solid yardage despite the situation. He's been an excellent value so far.
Oakland Raiders - Barf sandwich. Much like KC, there's just nothing much to say here. To further the negative, Fargas came into the game and led the team in carries with 10. McFadden was worthless, but it's annoying that Michael Bush wasn't used more. There zero upside in giving Fargas any carries unless an injury necessitates it.
Philadelphia Eagles - Bye week.
Pittsburgh Steelers - Big Ben looked good, and Hines Ward continues to be the most reliable Steelers WR. Holmes drops too many passes and just doesn't possess the skills to go over the middle like Ward continues to do. The biggest news here, obviously, is the emergence of Rashard Mendenhall. He fully took advantage of the chance to shine, running hard and finishing his runs with authority. I'd like to see him prove it again, but he's going to have the opportunity to become the lead back here. I said Moore was a sleeper, and he posted an amusing pair of TDs on a reception and a HB toss. :) Moving forward, obviously, he's just a 3rd down back unless injuries befall the backfield again.
San Diego Chargers - This isn't your normal Chargers team. They tried to run their normal offense, but it just didn't work. Once they spread the field and started passing, granted it was against more of a prevent defense, they moved the ball at will. LT looked slow and unexplosive again, and they didn't give Sproles the chance to run much. Rivers preferred Gates in this one as he dominated the middle of the field and found holes where blitzing LBs once were. This will continue to be a pass-first offense, and Rivers, Jackson, and Gates are all top tier options at their respective positions.
San Francisco 49ers - Shaun Hill was slow and steady in this one, and if Morgan had better hands, he would have had an additional TD. Vernon Davis continues to break out and has earned the right to start every week. Glen Coffee struggled again in terms of what he did with this touches, but luckily the high amount of carries and solid passing game work allowed him to post a solid fantasy day. Ultimately the defense dominated this one with 3 scores.
Seattle Seahawks - The Seahawks offense predictably fell on it's face against a tough secondary. Given this team is not built to run the ball, they stood no chance, especially with their decimated offensive line. Seneca Wallace actually posted a solid fantasy line for a QB2, but that was about the only positive that came out of this.
St. Louis Rams - Disaster. Boller proved that last week was another fluky performance in his mostly mediocre career. Props to the heart-filled effort Steven Jackson puts on the field each and every week...he's doing everything he can.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Josh Johnson looked reasonable in his debut, although he didn't challenge down the field at all. He put his athleticism on display with 7 carries for 41 yards, and he'll continue to post Tavaris Jackson type numbers with low passing yardage, an occasional TD, and solid rushing yardage. He could be a QB2 consideration in the right match up thanks to his rushing ability.
Tennessee Titans - It's safe to wonder how long the Titans will continue to start Kerry Collins. He's making more mistakes this year, and he's not making up for it with big plays. Given the state of their defense, they need him to make more plays, and he's just not that type of QB anymore. Kenny Britt posted a huge week, and if he continues to post good numbers, he might actually overtake Gage as opposed to Washington. This is worth monitoring. Chris Johnson posted a solid yardage game in spite of the massacre, which is good news.
Washington Redskins - Campbell turned in a solid outing, but Washington ultimately relied upon Clinton Portis in this one, who carried 25 times despite injury, and almost got his 100 yards. Unfortunately for his owners, the only TD came on a bomb to Santana Moss, who only mustered 2 catches, but he made them count. He's posted back to back numbers in good match ups...just what his owners like to see.
Atlanta Falcons - Roddy White is an awesome buy low. Try to get him.
Baltimore Ravens - Flacco continues to amaze. He's turned into one of the best QB2s around. Ray Rice continues to produce at an impressive clip despite receiving limited carries and no goal line chances. Despite 19 carries in week 1 and no more than 11 carries the next 3 weeks, he has scored no less than 8.2 points during the first month of the season. Rice is a legit RB2 thanks to his pass catching supplementing his limited carries.
Buffalo Bills - Edwards and the Bills offensive line are killing both Owens and Evans. He simply doesn't have enough time to set up to throw down the field. Both have regressed to WR4 material for the time being. Marshawn Lynch returned, and sure enough, this was about an even timeshare, even though Fred Jackson predictably outproduced him. The annoying part of this was the fact that Jackson even lost passing down work to Lynch. Neither guy is worth using as more than a RB3 until this situation becomes clearer.
Carolina Panthers - Bye week.
Cincinnati Bengals - Palmer was disappointing against a questionable Cleveland secondary, but led another late TD drive and ended up with solid fantasy numbers. It hasn't been pretty so far, but in the end, the numbers have been there for him except for week 1. I expect continued improvement.
Chicago Bears - Cutler continues a torrid fantasy pace after bombing in week 1. Those who stepped away from the ledge after one game are being rewarded as he has settled in very nicely. Forte showed some signs of life, but it was against one of the worst run Ds in the NFL, and it was mostly on 2 big runs. The Bears have clearly adjusted their game plan to pass more, and Forte doesn't appear to be the preferred option near the goal line any more either. I think he'll improve, but I don't think he has the upside many of us thought when the season began.
Cleveland Browns - Derek Anderson replaced Brady Quinn as the starter, and that wasn't good news for Braylon Edwards. At least Edwards caught a few passes with Quinn behind center. The good news for Edwards is that rookie Mohammad Massaquoi had a huge game, and if he can step up opposite Edwards, it will eliminate the relentless double teaming Edwards is seeing right now. Things will get better for Edwards...for all of Anderson's faults, he is willing to go down the field, as to where Quinn won't. Hang in there.
Dallas Cowboys - Tony Romo just doesn't have it right now. Without a WR to make plays for him like Owens did, he's stuck with mediocre options who don't consistently get open. He's also making horrible decisions and is showing inaccuracy. He's a QB2 until he proves otherwise. Barber looked pretty good, but his quad tightened up on him, and it kept him off the field in the 2nd half. Since Choice was playing so well, the Cowboys probably played it safe.
Denver Broncos - Kyle Orton has looked every bit the part of a QB2 thus far. He continues to post solid weeks despite not really making big plays down the field. Brandon Marshall is officially back and a great WR2 moving forward. Eddie Royal has officially disappeared and shouldn't see your starting lineup. I wouldn't drop him though. Keep an eye on Buckhalter's injury as that would help Moreno's already RB2 value moving forward.
Detroit Lions - Stafford looked good again while getting the ball down the field, but he's still struggling with his accuracy. CJ would have turned in an even bigger day had Stafford not misfired on 2 different passes where he was open in the end zone. Still, it's a great sign for CJ moving forward. Kevin Smith was absolutely gobbled up by the Bears D, but he scored twice and he's the lone wolf of the backfield...a rarity these days.
Green Bay Packers - Rodgers certainly didn't disappoint with a monster statistical game, but imagine what he could have accomplished with some protection? He performed great despite the circumstances. He can say it was just another game all he wanted...but you know he badly wanted to post huge numbers and a win. Ryan Grant was productive with his touches, but the nature of the game didn't allow him many. It was disappointing that Jennings didn't have a big game despite Rodgers' final numbers, but stay patient with him. The Packers lack of trust in him at the goal line showed. He was stuffed once, and then the Packers tried to throw it a couple times. That says a lot about their confidence in his goal line running.
Houston Texans - Schaub struggled a bit, but Oakland's secondary actually isn't that bad. No worries there. Slaton finally turned in a good game with a couple scores, but his YPC sucked even with the big run. The good news was that Chris Brown was barely on the field, but Slaton needs to be more productive with is touches.
Indianapolis Colts - This offense is on fire right now, and with TEN's decimated secondary next on the schedule, continued good times are ahead.
Jacksonville Jaguars - Apparently a struggling QB's remedy is to face the above mentioned TEN secondary as Garrard absolutely torched them. Mike Sims-Walker turned in another monster game, and it might be time to shop him around. He should remain productive as the top option for the Jaguars, while healthy, but I simply can't get past his long history of knee problems.
Kansas City Chiefs - This offense is such an absolute mess, there's little to say. Bowe didn't look 100%, and until he proves he's 100%, I wouldn't start him. Us owners lucked out with a TD in his first two games, but his yardage has been awful even when healthy.
Miami Dolphins - The Dolphins had a perfect first match up with Chad Henne behind center as they were able to use the ground game to punish Buffalo, and they didn't have to ask Henne to do much. Ronnie Brown looks awesome, and Ricky Williams is doing a very good job behind him. The problem is that this passing game will allow stronger run defenses, like the upcoming match up with MIN, to focus on shutting down the rushing attack. Temper expectations against said defenses, but you can't sit Brown.
Minnesota Vikings - For those who started Brett Favre expecting an inspired performance, you certainly were rewarded. The playbook is starting to open up for him, and while this remains a run-first team, Favre is starting to take more shots down the field. Given the respect the defenses have for Peterson, Favre will have some games like this. Berrian and Rice both scored. I view Berrian as a WR3, and Rice is emerging a solid bye week replacement. He's limiting Harvin to a slot WR role for now. Peterson was swallowed up by a vicious Packers run defenses, but he scored to post a decent game.
New England Patriots - Brady looks more like pre-2007 self than anything else at this point. He's a QB1, but he's not the explosive option people were expecting, especially after his excellent preseason. As I warned, Taylor's usage went back down the toilet again this week. He'll probably be worth a shot as a RB3 in the right match up, but he's nothing more than that.
New Orleans Saints - Now might be a great time to shoot an offer for Brees. You'll still have to pay full price, but you might find an owner willing to listen to deals for him after 2 straight zero TD performances instead of laughing at you. Still, the smart owners will laugh at you. Pierre Thomas looked great once more and is arguably a RB1 moving forward. His skills are legit and he's playing for a great offense.
New York Giants - The Giants keep rollin, rollin, rollin. Eli loves Steve Smith, and his young WRs are certainly stepping up to the plate and making plays. Manningham has kinda fallen off, and he's picked a bad time to do with Hakeem Nicks battling for playing time now. Expect some snap splitting between these two for now. Unfortunately for the rushing attack, the passing attack has stolen both some thunder and scoring opportunities. Jacobs should still see an uptick in scoring with the passing attack humming, so I wouldn't worry yet. All in all, hopefully Eli's injury isn't too bad.
New York Jets - Mark Sanchez turned into a toad this weekend, bombing in horrible fashion. He is just a normal rookie, after all. Not to fear, though, as I expect him to bounce back. He's still a decent QB2. This was a forgettable game on all fronts, but it was nice to see Cotchery post solid yardage despite the situation. He's been an excellent value so far.
Oakland Raiders - Barf sandwich. Much like KC, there's just nothing much to say here. To further the negative, Fargas came into the game and led the team in carries with 10. McFadden was worthless, but it's annoying that Michael Bush wasn't used more. There zero upside in giving Fargas any carries unless an injury necessitates it.
Philadelphia Eagles - Bye week.
Pittsburgh Steelers - Big Ben looked good, and Hines Ward continues to be the most reliable Steelers WR. Holmes drops too many passes and just doesn't possess the skills to go over the middle like Ward continues to do. The biggest news here, obviously, is the emergence of Rashard Mendenhall. He fully took advantage of the chance to shine, running hard and finishing his runs with authority. I'd like to see him prove it again, but he's going to have the opportunity to become the lead back here. I said Moore was a sleeper, and he posted an amusing pair of TDs on a reception and a HB toss. :) Moving forward, obviously, he's just a 3rd down back unless injuries befall the backfield again.
San Diego Chargers - This isn't your normal Chargers team. They tried to run their normal offense, but it just didn't work. Once they spread the field and started passing, granted it was against more of a prevent defense, they moved the ball at will. LT looked slow and unexplosive again, and they didn't give Sproles the chance to run much. Rivers preferred Gates in this one as he dominated the middle of the field and found holes where blitzing LBs once were. This will continue to be a pass-first offense, and Rivers, Jackson, and Gates are all top tier options at their respective positions.
San Francisco 49ers - Shaun Hill was slow and steady in this one, and if Morgan had better hands, he would have had an additional TD. Vernon Davis continues to break out and has earned the right to start every week. Glen Coffee struggled again in terms of what he did with this touches, but luckily the high amount of carries and solid passing game work allowed him to post a solid fantasy day. Ultimately the defense dominated this one with 3 scores.
Seattle Seahawks - The Seahawks offense predictably fell on it's face against a tough secondary. Given this team is not built to run the ball, they stood no chance, especially with their decimated offensive line. Seneca Wallace actually posted a solid fantasy line for a QB2, but that was about the only positive that came out of this.
St. Louis Rams - Disaster. Boller proved that last week was another fluky performance in his mostly mediocre career. Props to the heart-filled effort Steven Jackson puts on the field each and every week...he's doing everything he can.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Josh Johnson looked reasonable in his debut, although he didn't challenge down the field at all. He put his athleticism on display with 7 carries for 41 yards, and he'll continue to post Tavaris Jackson type numbers with low passing yardage, an occasional TD, and solid rushing yardage. He could be a QB2 consideration in the right match up thanks to his rushing ability.
Tennessee Titans - It's safe to wonder how long the Titans will continue to start Kerry Collins. He's making more mistakes this year, and he's not making up for it with big plays. Given the state of their defense, they need him to make more plays, and he's just not that type of QB anymore. Kenny Britt posted a huge week, and if he continues to post good numbers, he might actually overtake Gage as opposed to Washington. This is worth monitoring. Chris Johnson posted a solid yardage game in spite of the massacre, which is good news.
Washington Redskins - Campbell turned in a solid outing, but Washington ultimately relied upon Clinton Portis in this one, who carried 25 times despite injury, and almost got his 100 yards. Unfortunately for his owners, the only TD came on a bomb to Santana Moss, who only mustered 2 catches, but he made them count. He's posted back to back numbers in good match ups...just what his owners like to see.
Thursday, October 1, 2009
Week 4 Injury/Depth Chart Report
Arizona Cardinals - Bye week.
Atlanta Falcons - Bye week.
Baltimore Ravens - Ray Rice and Willis McGahee are still splitting carries, with McGahee getting the goal line looks, and Rice dominating passing down work. This will continue as it's obviously working well for the Ravens right now. Kelley Washington continues to outproduce Mark Clayton.
Buffalo Bills - Marshawn Lynch returns in week 4, and all indications are that Lynch and Jackson will share carries just about down the middle. It's hard to recommend either of them in week 4, but given the prowess Fred Jackson has on passing downs, it's hard to imagine Jackson not being the RB of choice in those situations, giving his PPR value a boost.
Carolina Panthers - Bye week.
Cincinnati Bengals - The Coles/Caldwell watch continues, and it seems like it's a matter of "when" and not "if" Caldwell replaces him in the starting lineup.
Chicago Bears - Bennett struck back, looking better last week, even though Knox scored. This appears to be a timeshare for now, even though Bennett is technically the starter, but neither are worth starting.
Cleveland Browns - Derek Anderson has replaced Brady Quinn as the starter, and that's good news for Braylon Edwards. Anderson is far more willing to go down the field, and it's something this lame duck offense sorely needs. Give Edwards one more chance this week. The RB situation is a mess, but it looks like Jamal Lewis will miss another week, and Jerome Harrison will start. He's a reasonable bye week RB2 as James Davis did nothing with his limited chances last week.
Dallas Cowboys - Marion Barber should start in week 4. I don't think he'll play his usual set of snaps, but he'll be worth using as a RB2. Felix Jones is out, so Tashard Choice will probably split snaps in some fashion with Barber. Choice could be a decent RB3 play.
Denver Broncos- Moreno and Buckhalter are in a timeshare, although Moreno will get more carries and the goal line chances. Marshall has emerged as the top option, and I am done defending Eddie Royal. It's not the fault of Royal's...this coaching staff simply isn't using him the way they should. Don't start him until they do, although with injuries mounting on one of my teams, I have to give him another chance this week.
Detroit Lions -Stafford rebounded with no turnovers, and he led the team to their first win since 2007. He's safely entrenched as the starter. Kevin Smith is hurting and he'll be a game time decision this week. Check the game day inactives on Sunday.
Green Bay Packers - Greg Jennings is battling a wrist injury, but produced amazingly well despite only 2 catches. Keep him going.
Houston Texans - Steve Slaton rebounded well in week 3 and secured himself an even bigger role thanks to Chris Brown's goal line fumble. Kevin Walter returned and looked great, so no worries about him moving forward.
Indianapolis Colts - Anthony Gonzalez is out indefinitely with a knee sprain. Pierre Garcon has stepped up in his place and is a viable WR3 option while Gonzalez is out. Joseph Addai continues to lose serious snaps, especially late in the game, to Donald Brown. Neither are an RB2 option, but I would give a slight edge to Addai as he's the better short yardage runner.
Jacksonville Jaguars - Mike Sims-Walker cemented himself as the top option in the passing game, and I think he's a solid WR3.
Kansas City Chiefs - Dwayne Bowe is questionable to play in week 4, so plan on alternatives. Even if he plays, he has a horrible match up against the Giants. I'm going to keep him benched.
Miami Dolphins - Chad Pennington is done for the year, so Chad Henne will replace him as the starting QB. He's not a QB2 option yet, but keep an eye on his progress as he does possess some potential.
Minnesota Vikings - None.
New England Patriots - Wes Welker was limited in practice again this week, and he'll be a game time decision for the 3rd straight week. Julian Edelman crashed back down to earth next week, and his production differential between weeks 2 and 3 make him a dicey WR3 should Welker sit out again. Fred Taylor dominated carries in week 3, but he's far from a sure thing to do that on a weekly basis.
New Orleans Saints - Lance Moore might play in week 4, but he's far too risky to use until he shows something on the field this season. Pierre Thomas has obviously returned and reclaimed the starting RB job. He's immediately an RB2 for all owners.
New York Giants - Ahmad Bradshaw suffered a minor ankle injury that will limit him some in practice this week, but he appears to be set to play in week 4 in his usual role.
New York Jets - Thomas Jones continues to lose a significant amount of carries to Leon Washington, who is proving to be the better RB at this stage in their careers. Jones has regressed into a RB3.
Oakland Raiders - Chaz Schilens is expected to be out at least one more week with his foot sprain. Louis Murphy will continue to start in his place.
Philadelphia Eagles - Bye week.
Pittsburgh Steelers - Sure enough, the week after I say Willie Parker isn't a RB2, he posts RB2 numbers. However, he's suffered yet another injury, this time turf toe. He is out in week 4, so there will be some split between Rashard Mendenhall and Mewelde Moore. Moore has a chance to be a sleeper here as he was the most productive RB for the Steelers last year when given the opportunity.
San Diego Chargers - LaDainian Tomlinson is practicing again, but it remains to be seen if he'll play. He'll probably be a game time decision this week, so Darren Sproles owners need to check the game day inactives to make sure LT isn't playing before using Sproles. Malcolm Floyd will probably be stealing Chris Chambers' starting job from him sometime soon.
San Francisco 49ers - Frank Gore re-injured his sprained ankle and looks to be out for 2-3 weeks. Glen Coffee will replace him in the starting lineup, and he will carry the full load with only Michael Robinson behind him. He's a solid RB2 with 2 good match ups the next two weeks while Gore is out.
Seattle Seahawks - Matt Hasselbeck is likely out again in week 4, so Seneca Wallace will fill in for him again. Julius Jones played well again last week, so he'll keep the starting job for now, but he's not going to be on a long leash given he hasn't played consistently well in years.
St. Louis Rams - Marc Bulger is out for week 4, so Kyle Boller will start in his place. I wouldn't touch him in fantasy leagues, but the hope is that he'll use his big arm to keep the defense from putting 11 guys and a water boy into the box against Steven Jackson. Laurent Robinson is done for the year with a broken leg, so that doesn't help, and the Rams will need Donnie Avery to step up and beat defenses deep. Keenan Burton will replace Robinson, but he is not worth picking up.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Antonio Bryant will supposedly be ready for week 4, but we'll see about that. He'll likely be a game time decision, and I wouldn't play him.
Tennessee Titans - None.
Washington Redskins - Clinton Portis is battling bone spurs in both ankles along with a sore calf, and he hasn't practiced all week. He'll be a game time decision. He's going against Tampa's horrible run D this week, so he's usable as a RB2 if he's up. Ladell Betts and Marcus Mason will split snaps in some fashion, and I think Betts would make a fine bye week fill-in should Portis not play.
Atlanta Falcons - Bye week.
Baltimore Ravens - Ray Rice and Willis McGahee are still splitting carries, with McGahee getting the goal line looks, and Rice dominating passing down work. This will continue as it's obviously working well for the Ravens right now. Kelley Washington continues to outproduce Mark Clayton.
Buffalo Bills - Marshawn Lynch returns in week 4, and all indications are that Lynch and Jackson will share carries just about down the middle. It's hard to recommend either of them in week 4, but given the prowess Fred Jackson has on passing downs, it's hard to imagine Jackson not being the RB of choice in those situations, giving his PPR value a boost.
Carolina Panthers - Bye week.
Cincinnati Bengals - The Coles/Caldwell watch continues, and it seems like it's a matter of "when" and not "if" Caldwell replaces him in the starting lineup.
Chicago Bears - Bennett struck back, looking better last week, even though Knox scored. This appears to be a timeshare for now, even though Bennett is technically the starter, but neither are worth starting.
Cleveland Browns - Derek Anderson has replaced Brady Quinn as the starter, and that's good news for Braylon Edwards. Anderson is far more willing to go down the field, and it's something this lame duck offense sorely needs. Give Edwards one more chance this week. The RB situation is a mess, but it looks like Jamal Lewis will miss another week, and Jerome Harrison will start. He's a reasonable bye week RB2 as James Davis did nothing with his limited chances last week.
Dallas Cowboys - Marion Barber should start in week 4. I don't think he'll play his usual set of snaps, but he'll be worth using as a RB2. Felix Jones is out, so Tashard Choice will probably split snaps in some fashion with Barber. Choice could be a decent RB3 play.
Denver Broncos- Moreno and Buckhalter are in a timeshare, although Moreno will get more carries and the goal line chances. Marshall has emerged as the top option, and I am done defending Eddie Royal. It's not the fault of Royal's...this coaching staff simply isn't using him the way they should. Don't start him until they do, although with injuries mounting on one of my teams, I have to give him another chance this week.
Detroit Lions -Stafford rebounded with no turnovers, and he led the team to their first win since 2007. He's safely entrenched as the starter. Kevin Smith is hurting and he'll be a game time decision this week. Check the game day inactives on Sunday.
Green Bay Packers - Greg Jennings is battling a wrist injury, but produced amazingly well despite only 2 catches. Keep him going.
Houston Texans - Steve Slaton rebounded well in week 3 and secured himself an even bigger role thanks to Chris Brown's goal line fumble. Kevin Walter returned and looked great, so no worries about him moving forward.
Indianapolis Colts - Anthony Gonzalez is out indefinitely with a knee sprain. Pierre Garcon has stepped up in his place and is a viable WR3 option while Gonzalez is out. Joseph Addai continues to lose serious snaps, especially late in the game, to Donald Brown. Neither are an RB2 option, but I would give a slight edge to Addai as he's the better short yardage runner.
Jacksonville Jaguars - Mike Sims-Walker cemented himself as the top option in the passing game, and I think he's a solid WR3.
Kansas City Chiefs - Dwayne Bowe is questionable to play in week 4, so plan on alternatives. Even if he plays, he has a horrible match up against the Giants. I'm going to keep him benched.
Miami Dolphins - Chad Pennington is done for the year, so Chad Henne will replace him as the starting QB. He's not a QB2 option yet, but keep an eye on his progress as he does possess some potential.
Minnesota Vikings - None.
New England Patriots - Wes Welker was limited in practice again this week, and he'll be a game time decision for the 3rd straight week. Julian Edelman crashed back down to earth next week, and his production differential between weeks 2 and 3 make him a dicey WR3 should Welker sit out again. Fred Taylor dominated carries in week 3, but he's far from a sure thing to do that on a weekly basis.
New Orleans Saints - Lance Moore might play in week 4, but he's far too risky to use until he shows something on the field this season. Pierre Thomas has obviously returned and reclaimed the starting RB job. He's immediately an RB2 for all owners.
New York Giants - Ahmad Bradshaw suffered a minor ankle injury that will limit him some in practice this week, but he appears to be set to play in week 4 in his usual role.
New York Jets - Thomas Jones continues to lose a significant amount of carries to Leon Washington, who is proving to be the better RB at this stage in their careers. Jones has regressed into a RB3.
Oakland Raiders - Chaz Schilens is expected to be out at least one more week with his foot sprain. Louis Murphy will continue to start in his place.
Philadelphia Eagles - Bye week.
Pittsburgh Steelers - Sure enough, the week after I say Willie Parker isn't a RB2, he posts RB2 numbers. However, he's suffered yet another injury, this time turf toe. He is out in week 4, so there will be some split between Rashard Mendenhall and Mewelde Moore. Moore has a chance to be a sleeper here as he was the most productive RB for the Steelers last year when given the opportunity.
San Diego Chargers - LaDainian Tomlinson is practicing again, but it remains to be seen if he'll play. He'll probably be a game time decision this week, so Darren Sproles owners need to check the game day inactives to make sure LT isn't playing before using Sproles. Malcolm Floyd will probably be stealing Chris Chambers' starting job from him sometime soon.
San Francisco 49ers - Frank Gore re-injured his sprained ankle and looks to be out for 2-3 weeks. Glen Coffee will replace him in the starting lineup, and he will carry the full load with only Michael Robinson behind him. He's a solid RB2 with 2 good match ups the next two weeks while Gore is out.
Seattle Seahawks - Matt Hasselbeck is likely out again in week 4, so Seneca Wallace will fill in for him again. Julius Jones played well again last week, so he'll keep the starting job for now, but he's not going to be on a long leash given he hasn't played consistently well in years.
St. Louis Rams - Marc Bulger is out for week 4, so Kyle Boller will start in his place. I wouldn't touch him in fantasy leagues, but the hope is that he'll use his big arm to keep the defense from putting 11 guys and a water boy into the box against Steven Jackson. Laurent Robinson is done for the year with a broken leg, so that doesn't help, and the Rams will need Donnie Avery to step up and beat defenses deep. Keenan Burton will replace Robinson, but he is not worth picking up.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Antonio Bryant will supposedly be ready for week 4, but we'll see about that. He'll likely be a game time decision, and I wouldn't play him.
Tennessee Titans - None.
Washington Redskins - Clinton Portis is battling bone spurs in both ankles along with a sore calf, and he hasn't practiced all week. He'll be a game time decision. He's going against Tampa's horrible run D this week, so he's usable as a RB2 if he's up. Ladell Betts and Marcus Mason will split snaps in some fashion, and I think Betts would make a fine bye week fill-in should Portis not play.
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
Week 4 Waiver Wire
QB:
Seneca Wallace - Wallace has always proven to be a reasonable backup QB, and he posted a solid line against the Bears last weekend. Now the Bears secondary is hardly an imposing defensive unit, so discretion is advised, but Wallace is a reasonable QB2 for as long as Hasselbeck is out.
Kyle Boller - Boller has never lacked talent, especially with his big arm, but he's always been erratic and does not have many weapons around him. He's not recommended.
Chad Henne / Josh Johnson - The final 2 of the 4 new starters, and both of them lack a start at the NFL level. Henne is a pure pocket passer with a nice arm, but he plays for a run-first team with little receiving talent to talk about. Johnson is a very good athlete, but his surrounding situation is very similar to Henne's. Leave both alone for now, but I would favor Henne over Johnson as he's far less raw.
RB:
Glen Coffee - Frank Gore will miss a couple weeks, so Coffee will step in as the undisputed starting RB for the 49ers. Coffee is worth burning a top waiver position on, especially if you need RB depth. He posted a rough week 3 filling in for Gore, but he was facing a very good Minnesota rush defense, so I wouldn't hold that against him. What is worth noting, however, is SF's commitment to the run as Coffee racked up 20+ carries despite not churning out chunks of yardage. Coffee faces STL in week 4, so he's a solid RB2 in a very positive match up.
Tashard Choice - Choice filled in admirably when Felix Jones went down again in the wake of Barber's injury, and he'd be a great RB2 in week 4 if Barber misses another game. I wouldn't burn a high waiver pick on him if you're solid at RB because of the risk that Barber returns in week 4, but he'll most certainly have a Bradshaw-like role while Felix Jones is out.
Fred Taylor - I wouldn't go crazy over Taylor given the unpredictable usage of the Patriot's backfield, but he's not a bad guy to stash to see what happens. He's not going to get 20 carries each week at his age, and if he does, he won't hold up. However, he's the most valuable Patriots RB currently. If you own him already, try to sell him to an owner that needs RB help.
WR:
Pierre Garcon - Garcon had a coming out party of sorts the past two weeks, utilizing his speed to get into the end zone 2 Sunday nights ago, and then again last night. He's established himself as the outside receiver while Anthony Gonzalez is out. He's the third read behind Wayne and Clark, but Indy will continue to air it out, so Garcon can be used as a WR3 moving forward until Gonzalez returns.
Andre Caldwell - Caldwell will probably be starting sooner than later for the Bengals, and it's clear he has a nice chemistry with Carson Palmer. He's more of a possession WR than a deep threat, especially with Ochocinco and Henry dominated the downfield targets, but he could post WR3 type numbers if he gets the starting nod. He's a good bench stash.
Donnie Avery - With Laurent Robinson done for the season, the Rams need Avery to step up and show the promise of last season. He'll be the primary read on deep passes, and Kyle Boller definitely has the arm to get it to him. He's a guy to stash on your bench to see what happens.
Malcolm Floyd - Sleeper here. There's little question in my mind that he'll start over Chris Chambers sooner than later. He'd be the third option behind Jackson and Gates, so he doesn't have a lot of upside, but he could post some nice weeks with the Chargers passing so much. Speculatory add.
Jacoby Jones - He's scored two weeks in a row, but I wouldn't add him yet with Kevin Walter healthy again. He's a name to keep in mind down the line should another injury hit the Texans WR group.
TE:
Vernon Davis - He probably posted what will go down as his best week of the season on Sunday, but he's actually available in one of my two leagues. Go get him if you need TE help or depth. He's making a case to be a TE1 for someone in every league.
Seneca Wallace - Wallace has always proven to be a reasonable backup QB, and he posted a solid line against the Bears last weekend. Now the Bears secondary is hardly an imposing defensive unit, so discretion is advised, but Wallace is a reasonable QB2 for as long as Hasselbeck is out.
Kyle Boller - Boller has never lacked talent, especially with his big arm, but he's always been erratic and does not have many weapons around him. He's not recommended.
Chad Henne / Josh Johnson - The final 2 of the 4 new starters, and both of them lack a start at the NFL level. Henne is a pure pocket passer with a nice arm, but he plays for a run-first team with little receiving talent to talk about. Johnson is a very good athlete, but his surrounding situation is very similar to Henne's. Leave both alone for now, but I would favor Henne over Johnson as he's far less raw.
RB:
Glen Coffee - Frank Gore will miss a couple weeks, so Coffee will step in as the undisputed starting RB for the 49ers. Coffee is worth burning a top waiver position on, especially if you need RB depth. He posted a rough week 3 filling in for Gore, but he was facing a very good Minnesota rush defense, so I wouldn't hold that against him. What is worth noting, however, is SF's commitment to the run as Coffee racked up 20+ carries despite not churning out chunks of yardage. Coffee faces STL in week 4, so he's a solid RB2 in a very positive match up.
Tashard Choice - Choice filled in admirably when Felix Jones went down again in the wake of Barber's injury, and he'd be a great RB2 in week 4 if Barber misses another game. I wouldn't burn a high waiver pick on him if you're solid at RB because of the risk that Barber returns in week 4, but he'll most certainly have a Bradshaw-like role while Felix Jones is out.
Fred Taylor - I wouldn't go crazy over Taylor given the unpredictable usage of the Patriot's backfield, but he's not a bad guy to stash to see what happens. He's not going to get 20 carries each week at his age, and if he does, he won't hold up. However, he's the most valuable Patriots RB currently. If you own him already, try to sell him to an owner that needs RB help.
WR:
Pierre Garcon - Garcon had a coming out party of sorts the past two weeks, utilizing his speed to get into the end zone 2 Sunday nights ago, and then again last night. He's established himself as the outside receiver while Anthony Gonzalez is out. He's the third read behind Wayne and Clark, but Indy will continue to air it out, so Garcon can be used as a WR3 moving forward until Gonzalez returns.
Andre Caldwell - Caldwell will probably be starting sooner than later for the Bengals, and it's clear he has a nice chemistry with Carson Palmer. He's more of a possession WR than a deep threat, especially with Ochocinco and Henry dominated the downfield targets, but he could post WR3 type numbers if he gets the starting nod. He's a good bench stash.
Donnie Avery - With Laurent Robinson done for the season, the Rams need Avery to step up and show the promise of last season. He'll be the primary read on deep passes, and Kyle Boller definitely has the arm to get it to him. He's a guy to stash on your bench to see what happens.
Malcolm Floyd - Sleeper here. There's little question in my mind that he'll start over Chris Chambers sooner than later. He'd be the third option behind Jackson and Gates, so he doesn't have a lot of upside, but he could post some nice weeks with the Chargers passing so much. Speculatory add.
Jacoby Jones - He's scored two weeks in a row, but I wouldn't add him yet with Kevin Walter healthy again. He's a name to keep in mind down the line should another injury hit the Texans WR group.
TE:
Vernon Davis - He probably posted what will go down as his best week of the season on Sunday, but he's actually available in one of my two leagues. Go get him if you need TE help or depth. He's making a case to be a TE1 for someone in every league.
Monday, September 28, 2009
Week 3 Thoughts
Another week, another set of excitements and disappointments. Let's take a look:
Arizona Cardinals - Warner was simply abused by the Colts ends. He looked pretty solid when he had time, but that wasn't often. With the Cardinals still not running the ball, it's allowing pass rushers to pin their ears back and come after Warner without worrying about off-tackle runs and draws to make them pay for their aggression. This whole offense is under-achieving, and the play calling doesn't show that there's any light at the end of the tunnel. Continue using Warner/Fitzgerald/Boldin as you normally would, but understand that expectations need to be tempered, especially against teams with a strong pass rush.
Atlanta Falcons - Belichick get the best of Ryan and Turner as the Patriots game planned very well for this offense. Just a simple off-game for Ryan against a very clever coaching staff. Luckily, Turner scored again to make up for the fact that he's nowhere near as proficient on the ground this season. Roddy White has been a disappointment so far, but with Matt Ryan looking better the last season, White is an excellent buy-low candidate.
Baltimore Ravens - Flacco simply can't be stopped, apparently. Those who took a chance on him, despite the lack of explosive passing game options and a run-first offense, have to be grinning to own one of the biggest QB surprises thus far this season. Rice and McGahee continue to split carries and annoy owners, although both are arguably RB2s with Rice generating solid yardage each week and McGahee scoring each week. Mason exploded and Heap also posted a solid outing.
Buffalo Bills - Trent Edwards went back to his dink-and-dunk ways while also mis-firing on the couple deep throws he did attempt. This is shaping up to be yet another lost season for Lee Evans who continues to frustrate thanks to his horrible QB situation. Terrell Owens was held catch-less for the first time in almost 200 games. It's hard to say if it's the play calling or Edwards reluctance to look down field, but there is absolutely no excuse for the pathetic passing game thus far.
Carolina Panthers - Delhomme was a mixed bag...he made a few nice throws and a few horrible ones, but mostly wasn't accurate throwing down the field. Steve Smith is going to have an up and down year if Delhomme can't get him the ball deep at least once a game. Given how little he threw the ball down the field, especially during crunch time after his pick six...I wonder if all these interceptions since the postseason last year are mentally affecting him. To combat that, it seems like the Panthers are panicking with the rushing attack. They're still busting off solid gains when they want, but they don't seem as committed to pounding the rock as they did last season. With Stewart continuously eating into DeAngelo's time, Williams is no longer a RB1 as Carolina can't seem to sustain drives. I apologize for reversing my opinion on Williams after Stewart's injury-wrecked preseason.
Chicago Bears - Cutler continued his week 2 rebound with another solid performance capped off by a game-winning drive. Hester has been producing at a WR3 level, and Greg Olsen is slowly getting better each week as the offense gets comfortable with each other. Forte finally posted good yardage, but he again frustrated with a horrible YPC. I think the problem is that their offensive line is built for pass blocking rather than run blocking. By moving Chris Williams to RT, they now have essentially 2 pass blocking specialists in Pace and Williams manning the perimeter, and they don't have 2 road-grading guards to balance it out. Things should get a little better for Forte once Cutler continues to open up the passing game, but I worry about the offensive line in regards to Forte.
Cincinnati Bengals - Palmer predictably struggled against a good Pittsburgh defense, but turned it on down the stretch by leading a game winning TD drive. Benson continued his resurgence by posting yet another quality game. He's an every week RB2 at this point. Caldwell continues to impress and has to be close to replacing Coles in the starting lineup.
Cleveland Browns - Boy what a mess. Quinn gets yanked after another mediocre start, and then Anderson comes in to toss 3 INTs. At least Anderson tries to go down the field. Edwards owners, like myself, should debate alternatives for the time being. Anderson would provide some upside, but it's in the Browns best interest to let Quinn continue to play and see what they have in him. They already know what they have in Anderson. This offense continues to be a wasteland.
Dallas Cowboys - Romo had a pretty solid game football-wise, but threw up another stinker fantasy-wise. He made mostly good decisions and also kept several plays alive with his feet, but with Roy Williams not making plays for him, his fantasy upside is extremely limited as there's no WR even close to Owens on this roster. He mauled Tampa's secondary, but that was heavily aided by multiple blown coverages leading to long TDs. Romo is a low-end QB1 thanks to the talent being on the running side of the offensive scheme. The rushing attack looked good, but I think it's officially time to call Felix Jones injury-prone. He flashes when on the field, but he's always seemingly getting nicked up, including last night when Choice played most of the 2nd half in their game without Barber.
Denver Broncos - Orton posted another workman-like game as the rushing attack took center stage. With Moreno finally healthy and Buckhalter hitting big plays, the Broncos have a great 1-2 punch to base their offense around. Moreno can be used as a RB2 now that he's healthy, but Buckhalter will definitely continue to be a part of the rushing attack. Marshall had a good game and is rounding into form. I think he can be started now that he has his attitude right and is getting consistent playing time. What a difference a week makes, huh? Eddie Royal is absolutely lost and can be benched now. I hate Josh McDaniels...this team is going to have a rude awakening when they stop racking up wins off of fluke plays and against the worst the NFL has to offer.
Detroit Lions - Stafford showed improved accuracy and decision making yesterday in the Lions first win since 2007. It appears he's still going to take shots down the field, so as long as the improvement doesn't take a toll on his willingness to go down the field to CJ and company, CJ owners will like it. Kevin Smith posted another solid game, but keep an eye on his mysterious shoulder injury.
Green Bay Packers - Rodgers got right back on the horse with a big day, and Jennings also righted the ship, making the most of his 2 receptions for over 100 yards. Grant almost got 100 yards, falling 1 yard short, although it took him 26 carries to get there. Grant just isn't busting big plays like he made a habit of doing during the 2nd half of 2007, but with the lack of quality options to take carries for him, his volume will make him a solid RB2.
Houston Texans - Schaub again blew up with a big game, and Kevin Walter picked up right where he left off last season after missing the first two weeks with an injury. This passing game is cruising now, but Slaton continues to disappoint. He actually ran the ball very well, but he was always replaced in the red zone by Chris Brown. Brown lost a huge fumble at the end zone, however, so that warrants monitoring.
Indianapolis Colts - This passing game is absolutely on fire now with everyone except slot receiver Austin Collie posting good numbers. Addai continues disappointing, but at least he scored on a middle screen pass at the goal line. Donald Brown still looks like the better of the 2 RBs, although Manning did state that he views Addai as more reliable in the passing game right now. Brown's 72 yard reception utilizing his great acceleration begs to differ. Addai is nothing more than a RB3.
Jacksonville Jaguars - Apparently Houston's pathetic defense is all you need to rebound. Garrard looked pretty good, often looking to new #1 wideout Mike Sims-Walker, who posted another solid receiving game despite the lost fumble. MJD was a beast against a bad defense. Sims-Walker is a WR3 moving forward and has provided great bench depth to all who picked him up. I'd suggest attempting to sell high on him given his lengthy injury history, but few know who the hell he is. Expect continued production while healthy.
Kansas City Chiefs - Without Bowe, this offense looked even more awful. Nobody but Bowe from this sack of crap is worth starting.
Miami Dolphins - I'm a bit conflicted with Chad Pennington's injury. He's an excellent game manager and is very accurate, but his arm strength is well below average. Henne will probably take more shots down the field, but he's going to make more mistakes. This offense was having problems anyways, so change can't be bad, can it? None of the passing game was worth using anyways, but hopefully this doesn't mean even more men in the box to slow down Ronnie Brown and company.
Minnesota Vikings - Favre had the reigns removed, taking more shots down the field and posting a solid fantasy day. Peterson was a bit of a disappointment not getting into the end zone with the Vikings attempting to throw more than usual despite it being a close game. Consider this an anomaly.
New England Patriots - Brady posted another workman-like effort, failing to throw for 300 yards or multiple scores again. Certainly those who drafted him have been disappointed with the past two weeks, and I regret changing my stance after watching him light it up in the preseason. He's clearly rusty and is taking some time to get back into synch with his offense. Welker's injury certainly hurts as well, and Edelman wasn't nearly as productive as he was in week 2. Is there some clarity to the rushing attack? Fred Taylor dominated the carries and looked very good while doing it. He's definitely worth adding to find out.
New Orleans Saints - Drew Brees deferred to the rushing attack, especially Pierre Thomas, in week 3. Thomas must have had his owners shitting a brick after not receiving a carry in the first half, but he blew open the doors in the 2nd half with 14/126 and 2 TDs. Expect to see him starting from here on out...he's back.
New York Giants - Eli continues to post QB1 numbers with his young receivers as they develop before everyone's eyes. The rushing attack also got back on track with big days from both Jacobs and Bradshaw. With Nicks possibly back at practice, Manningham owners might need to start looking over their shoulders a bit. We'll have to see how this plays out when Nicks returns.
New York Jets - Mark Sanchez is clearly the real deal as he singled handedly tore apart the TEN secondary after his rushing attack was stuffed by the vaunted TEN rushing defense. Cotchery is blowing away his ADP thanks to the maturity Sanchez has shown on the field as a true #1 WR. Thomas Jones has come back to earth after a huge 2nd half in week 1.
Oakland Raiders - Russell fucking sucks, and nobody on this offense can be started right now. My continued hyping of Zach Miller looks foolish as Russell continues to get worse. Miller is no longer Russell-proof and cannot be trust as a starter, but I wouldn't cut bait on him yet unless you can pick up a Vernon Davis type.
Philadelphia Eagles - Kolb posted QB1 numbers again, and I wish I had taken my own advice and started him. :) Brent Celek has been a favorite target of his and posted another huge game. Westbrook was a surprise inactive Sunday morning, and LeSean McCoy responded with a great day for those who plugged him in as a RB2. With Westbrook's continued injury problems and McCoy's great week 3, they have to be concerned a bit that McCoy will turn this into some sort of committee.
San Diego Chargers - Phillip Rivers continues to rack up the yardage as SD has transitioned into a run-first team. Vincent Jackson is enjoying a true breakout into the WR1 category while Chris Chambers disappears and probably won't be starting soon. Malcolm Floyd is a better WR at this point and should start soon. Unfortunately for Gates' owners, Jackson's emergence has dropped him to 2nd in the pecking order, but he's still posting fine numbers for the pass-first offense.
San Francisco 49ers - Gore re-injured his ankle on the first play and looks set to miss a few weeks, and Glen Coffee will be a popular waiver add with a favorable schedule the next two weeks. Coffee struggled, but that was against the vaunted MIN rushing defense. Hopefully Gore owners handcuffed him with the preseason star. Vernon Davis also posted the game of his life and most certainly should be owned. He's making a statement to be considered as a TE1.
Seattle Seahawks - Wallace actually looked pretty solid, and his favorite receiver was definitely Nate Burleson, who's proving to be quite the waiver add thus far. I think Wallace makes for a reasonable QB2 while Hasselbeck is out, which probably won't be for much longer. Burleson has stepped into the #1 receiver role while Housh earns a bunch of money and does nothing with the football. Consider Housh only a WR4 at this point. Carlson has crashed after his first two weeks...he's being asked to block a lot with their mangled offensive line. He's only a TE2. Julius Jones went right back to looking good after a horrid week 2, keeping Forsett off the field. I guess he's a RB3? I give up with him.
St. Louis Rams - Bulger might be done for a bit, and unfortunately for his replacement Kyle Boller, Laurent Robinson definitely done (broken leg) after such a promising start to the season. On the bright side, Boller moved the offense far better than Bulger did, so perhaps the lone startable option, Steven Jackson, might have some more success if Boller can keep the defenses back a bit. Donnie Avery stands to benefit a bit here...stash him as a WR5 if he was dropped after his awful start.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Leftwich...from rising QB2 to benched by his own team. After a horrible start against a tough Giants D, he was benched in favor of Josh Johnson, and head coach Raheem Morris made it official today moving forward. Seems like a harsh move so early in the season, but this team clearly isn't playing for much at 0-3 and already know what they have in Leftwich.
Washington Redskins - The offense looked about as expected...mediocre...for the 3rd week in a row. Campbell was erratic. Santana Moss had a monster week against a weak defense, supporting my match-up WR3 projection for him last week. Hopefully you had him starting. Clinton Portis is about done as he can't even produce in a horrible match up. You can't start him any more.
Arizona Cardinals - Warner was simply abused by the Colts ends. He looked pretty solid when he had time, but that wasn't often. With the Cardinals still not running the ball, it's allowing pass rushers to pin their ears back and come after Warner without worrying about off-tackle runs and draws to make them pay for their aggression. This whole offense is under-achieving, and the play calling doesn't show that there's any light at the end of the tunnel. Continue using Warner/Fitzgerald/Boldin as you normally would, but understand that expectations need to be tempered, especially against teams with a strong pass rush.
Atlanta Falcons - Belichick get the best of Ryan and Turner as the Patriots game planned very well for this offense. Just a simple off-game for Ryan against a very clever coaching staff. Luckily, Turner scored again to make up for the fact that he's nowhere near as proficient on the ground this season. Roddy White has been a disappointment so far, but with Matt Ryan looking better the last season, White is an excellent buy-low candidate.
Baltimore Ravens - Flacco simply can't be stopped, apparently. Those who took a chance on him, despite the lack of explosive passing game options and a run-first offense, have to be grinning to own one of the biggest QB surprises thus far this season. Rice and McGahee continue to split carries and annoy owners, although both are arguably RB2s with Rice generating solid yardage each week and McGahee scoring each week. Mason exploded and Heap also posted a solid outing.
Buffalo Bills - Trent Edwards went back to his dink-and-dunk ways while also mis-firing on the couple deep throws he did attempt. This is shaping up to be yet another lost season for Lee Evans who continues to frustrate thanks to his horrible QB situation. Terrell Owens was held catch-less for the first time in almost 200 games. It's hard to say if it's the play calling or Edwards reluctance to look down field, but there is absolutely no excuse for the pathetic passing game thus far.
Carolina Panthers - Delhomme was a mixed bag...he made a few nice throws and a few horrible ones, but mostly wasn't accurate throwing down the field. Steve Smith is going to have an up and down year if Delhomme can't get him the ball deep at least once a game. Given how little he threw the ball down the field, especially during crunch time after his pick six...I wonder if all these interceptions since the postseason last year are mentally affecting him. To combat that, it seems like the Panthers are panicking with the rushing attack. They're still busting off solid gains when they want, but they don't seem as committed to pounding the rock as they did last season. With Stewart continuously eating into DeAngelo's time, Williams is no longer a RB1 as Carolina can't seem to sustain drives. I apologize for reversing my opinion on Williams after Stewart's injury-wrecked preseason.
Chicago Bears - Cutler continued his week 2 rebound with another solid performance capped off by a game-winning drive. Hester has been producing at a WR3 level, and Greg Olsen is slowly getting better each week as the offense gets comfortable with each other. Forte finally posted good yardage, but he again frustrated with a horrible YPC. I think the problem is that their offensive line is built for pass blocking rather than run blocking. By moving Chris Williams to RT, they now have essentially 2 pass blocking specialists in Pace and Williams manning the perimeter, and they don't have 2 road-grading guards to balance it out. Things should get a little better for Forte once Cutler continues to open up the passing game, but I worry about the offensive line in regards to Forte.
Cincinnati Bengals - Palmer predictably struggled against a good Pittsburgh defense, but turned it on down the stretch by leading a game winning TD drive. Benson continued his resurgence by posting yet another quality game. He's an every week RB2 at this point. Caldwell continues to impress and has to be close to replacing Coles in the starting lineup.
Cleveland Browns - Boy what a mess. Quinn gets yanked after another mediocre start, and then Anderson comes in to toss 3 INTs. At least Anderson tries to go down the field. Edwards owners, like myself, should debate alternatives for the time being. Anderson would provide some upside, but it's in the Browns best interest to let Quinn continue to play and see what they have in him. They already know what they have in Anderson. This offense continues to be a wasteland.
Dallas Cowboys - Romo had a pretty solid game football-wise, but threw up another stinker fantasy-wise. He made mostly good decisions and also kept several plays alive with his feet, but with Roy Williams not making plays for him, his fantasy upside is extremely limited as there's no WR even close to Owens on this roster. He mauled Tampa's secondary, but that was heavily aided by multiple blown coverages leading to long TDs. Romo is a low-end QB1 thanks to the talent being on the running side of the offensive scheme. The rushing attack looked good, but I think it's officially time to call Felix Jones injury-prone. He flashes when on the field, but he's always seemingly getting nicked up, including last night when Choice played most of the 2nd half in their game without Barber.
Denver Broncos - Orton posted another workman-like game as the rushing attack took center stage. With Moreno finally healthy and Buckhalter hitting big plays, the Broncos have a great 1-2 punch to base their offense around. Moreno can be used as a RB2 now that he's healthy, but Buckhalter will definitely continue to be a part of the rushing attack. Marshall had a good game and is rounding into form. I think he can be started now that he has his attitude right and is getting consistent playing time. What a difference a week makes, huh? Eddie Royal is absolutely lost and can be benched now. I hate Josh McDaniels...this team is going to have a rude awakening when they stop racking up wins off of fluke plays and against the worst the NFL has to offer.
Detroit Lions - Stafford showed improved accuracy and decision making yesterday in the Lions first win since 2007. It appears he's still going to take shots down the field, so as long as the improvement doesn't take a toll on his willingness to go down the field to CJ and company, CJ owners will like it. Kevin Smith posted another solid game, but keep an eye on his mysterious shoulder injury.
Green Bay Packers - Rodgers got right back on the horse with a big day, and Jennings also righted the ship, making the most of his 2 receptions for over 100 yards. Grant almost got 100 yards, falling 1 yard short, although it took him 26 carries to get there. Grant just isn't busting big plays like he made a habit of doing during the 2nd half of 2007, but with the lack of quality options to take carries for him, his volume will make him a solid RB2.
Houston Texans - Schaub again blew up with a big game, and Kevin Walter picked up right where he left off last season after missing the first two weeks with an injury. This passing game is cruising now, but Slaton continues to disappoint. He actually ran the ball very well, but he was always replaced in the red zone by Chris Brown. Brown lost a huge fumble at the end zone, however, so that warrants monitoring.
Indianapolis Colts - This passing game is absolutely on fire now with everyone except slot receiver Austin Collie posting good numbers. Addai continues disappointing, but at least he scored on a middle screen pass at the goal line. Donald Brown still looks like the better of the 2 RBs, although Manning did state that he views Addai as more reliable in the passing game right now. Brown's 72 yard reception utilizing his great acceleration begs to differ. Addai is nothing more than a RB3.
Jacksonville Jaguars - Apparently Houston's pathetic defense is all you need to rebound. Garrard looked pretty good, often looking to new #1 wideout Mike Sims-Walker, who posted another solid receiving game despite the lost fumble. MJD was a beast against a bad defense. Sims-Walker is a WR3 moving forward and has provided great bench depth to all who picked him up. I'd suggest attempting to sell high on him given his lengthy injury history, but few know who the hell he is. Expect continued production while healthy.
Kansas City Chiefs - Without Bowe, this offense looked even more awful. Nobody but Bowe from this sack of crap is worth starting.
Miami Dolphins - I'm a bit conflicted with Chad Pennington's injury. He's an excellent game manager and is very accurate, but his arm strength is well below average. Henne will probably take more shots down the field, but he's going to make more mistakes. This offense was having problems anyways, so change can't be bad, can it? None of the passing game was worth using anyways, but hopefully this doesn't mean even more men in the box to slow down Ronnie Brown and company.
Minnesota Vikings - Favre had the reigns removed, taking more shots down the field and posting a solid fantasy day. Peterson was a bit of a disappointment not getting into the end zone with the Vikings attempting to throw more than usual despite it being a close game. Consider this an anomaly.
New England Patriots - Brady posted another workman-like effort, failing to throw for 300 yards or multiple scores again. Certainly those who drafted him have been disappointed with the past two weeks, and I regret changing my stance after watching him light it up in the preseason. He's clearly rusty and is taking some time to get back into synch with his offense. Welker's injury certainly hurts as well, and Edelman wasn't nearly as productive as he was in week 2. Is there some clarity to the rushing attack? Fred Taylor dominated the carries and looked very good while doing it. He's definitely worth adding to find out.
New Orleans Saints - Drew Brees deferred to the rushing attack, especially Pierre Thomas, in week 3. Thomas must have had his owners shitting a brick after not receiving a carry in the first half, but he blew open the doors in the 2nd half with 14/126 and 2 TDs. Expect to see him starting from here on out...he's back.
New York Giants - Eli continues to post QB1 numbers with his young receivers as they develop before everyone's eyes. The rushing attack also got back on track with big days from both Jacobs and Bradshaw. With Nicks possibly back at practice, Manningham owners might need to start looking over their shoulders a bit. We'll have to see how this plays out when Nicks returns.
New York Jets - Mark Sanchez is clearly the real deal as he singled handedly tore apart the TEN secondary after his rushing attack was stuffed by the vaunted TEN rushing defense. Cotchery is blowing away his ADP thanks to the maturity Sanchez has shown on the field as a true #1 WR. Thomas Jones has come back to earth after a huge 2nd half in week 1.
Oakland Raiders - Russell fucking sucks, and nobody on this offense can be started right now. My continued hyping of Zach Miller looks foolish as Russell continues to get worse. Miller is no longer Russell-proof and cannot be trust as a starter, but I wouldn't cut bait on him yet unless you can pick up a Vernon Davis type.
Philadelphia Eagles - Kolb posted QB1 numbers again, and I wish I had taken my own advice and started him. :) Brent Celek has been a favorite target of his and posted another huge game. Westbrook was a surprise inactive Sunday morning, and LeSean McCoy responded with a great day for those who plugged him in as a RB2. With Westbrook's continued injury problems and McCoy's great week 3, they have to be concerned a bit that McCoy will turn this into some sort of committee.
San Diego Chargers - Phillip Rivers continues to rack up the yardage as SD has transitioned into a run-first team. Vincent Jackson is enjoying a true breakout into the WR1 category while Chris Chambers disappears and probably won't be starting soon. Malcolm Floyd is a better WR at this point and should start soon. Unfortunately for Gates' owners, Jackson's emergence has dropped him to 2nd in the pecking order, but he's still posting fine numbers for the pass-first offense.
San Francisco 49ers - Gore re-injured his ankle on the first play and looks set to miss a few weeks, and Glen Coffee will be a popular waiver add with a favorable schedule the next two weeks. Coffee struggled, but that was against the vaunted MIN rushing defense. Hopefully Gore owners handcuffed him with the preseason star. Vernon Davis also posted the game of his life and most certainly should be owned. He's making a statement to be considered as a TE1.
Seattle Seahawks - Wallace actually looked pretty solid, and his favorite receiver was definitely Nate Burleson, who's proving to be quite the waiver add thus far. I think Wallace makes for a reasonable QB2 while Hasselbeck is out, which probably won't be for much longer. Burleson has stepped into the #1 receiver role while Housh earns a bunch of money and does nothing with the football. Consider Housh only a WR4 at this point. Carlson has crashed after his first two weeks...he's being asked to block a lot with their mangled offensive line. He's only a TE2. Julius Jones went right back to looking good after a horrid week 2, keeping Forsett off the field. I guess he's a RB3? I give up with him.
St. Louis Rams - Bulger might be done for a bit, and unfortunately for his replacement Kyle Boller, Laurent Robinson definitely done (broken leg) after such a promising start to the season. On the bright side, Boller moved the offense far better than Bulger did, so perhaps the lone startable option, Steven Jackson, might have some more success if Boller can keep the defenses back a bit. Donnie Avery stands to benefit a bit here...stash him as a WR5 if he was dropped after his awful start.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Leftwich...from rising QB2 to benched by his own team. After a horrible start against a tough Giants D, he was benched in favor of Josh Johnson, and head coach Raheem Morris made it official today moving forward. Seems like a harsh move so early in the season, but this team clearly isn't playing for much at 0-3 and already know what they have in Leftwich.
Washington Redskins - The offense looked about as expected...mediocre...for the 3rd week in a row. Campbell was erratic. Santana Moss had a monster week against a weak defense, supporting my match-up WR3 projection for him last week. Hopefully you had him starting. Clinton Portis is about done as he can't even produce in a horrible match up. You can't start him any more.
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
Week 3 Injury/Depth Chart Report
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 - I still worry about Kurt Warner's health, he put some concerns aside with a very solid week 2 performance. I'd like to see him start throwing the ball down the field more before claiming he's 100%. Hightower will continue to start at RB thanks to Wells' 2 fumbles in week 2, but he is not guaranteed to last the year as the starter because Wells is clearly the more talented runner. Boldin looked good in week 2, so he appears back to full health.
Atlanta Falcons - None.
Baltimore Ravens - Ray Rice and Willis McGahee are apparently in an unpredictable committee. We knew McGahee was the goal line runner after the preseason, but he got twice as many carries as Rice in week 2 after the opposite happening in week 1. Neither are reliable enough as RB2s until this situation gains some clarity, if ever. Both are great RB3s, however. Mark Clayton was outproduced by Kelley Washington in week 2, and it's worth keeping an eye on as Clayton was probably grabbed as a WR5.
Buffalo Bills - Marshawn Lynch is suspended through week 3, and the impressive Fred Jackson will start in his place.
Carolina Panthers - Delhomme rebounded nicely in week 2 and gave himself some job security. Williams and Stewart continue to split time, and neither has a specific role as both possess a great all-around game. This is a drain to Williams' value, and a pleasant surprise to those who got a draft-day discount on Stewart after the injury concerns.
Cincinnati Bengals - While Coles remains the starter, it's clear that the targets will be spread around between Coles, Henry, and Caldwell. Ochocinco is the only WR worth starting here.
Chicago Bears - Keep an eye on the Bennett vs. Knox position battle. As I mentioned in my waiver column, Knox has a lot more upside and I think he'll overtake Bennett, but not in week 3.
Cleveland Browns - After the cries for Quinn last year, Quinn's slow start in 2009 has the cries going back the other way for Anderson. The Browns will stick with Quinn for now, but if he keeps losing and looks mediocre while doing it, a switch could be made. Jamal Lewis hurt his hamstring, and with James Davis returning, this could get interesting. We'll keep an eye on Lewis' practice schedule.
Dallas Cowboys - Marion Barber suffered a strained quad in week 2, but is already practicing on a limited basis. It would make me feel much better about starting him if he turned in a full practice by Friday, especially with 2 other healthy, capable RBs on the roster.
Denver Broncos- Knowshon Moreno looked much better in week 2 and seems likely to get the majority of carries, although Correll Buckhalter has looked very good and will remain in the picture each week. The WRs are a bit of a mess right now, and I think it's safe to bench Marshall for the time being. I would remain patient with Royal...he's the best fit for this offense.
Detroit Lions - Matthew Stafford needs to stop turning the ball over so much, or he's going to force the coaching staff to make a change at QB. Calvin Johnson owners should hope Stafford gets it figured out because the rookie QB loves throwing to him.
Green Bay Packers - No skill position injuries to note, but Chad Clifton's injury will hurt the offensive line in pass protection. Rodgers figures to suffer a bit, but McCarthy is a good enough play caller to compensate and move Rodgers around more.
Houston Texans - Steve Slaton isn't going to lose his job, but he's clearly having a ton of problems this year, especially with ball security. Expect Chris Brown to get even more carries. I hope Slaton is your RB2. Walter is again optimistic about his status for week 3, so hopefully he can avoid another setback.
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 - Troy Williamson suffered a torn labrum and is out for the season. Mike Sims-Walker will replace him in the starting lineup, and he has a good chance to lead the Jaguars in yards this season if he can stay healthy.
Kansas City Chiefs - Bobby Wade has seemingly replaced Mark Bradley as the secondary target for this week. He fits better in the slot with Mark Bradley outside, but he could replace Bradley if coach Haley remains upset with his all-around performances. Dantrell Savage also replaced Jamaal Charles as the #2 RB in week 2, so clearly Haley was upset with Charles as well. It's safe to drop Charles in pursuit of better waiver wire options.
Miami Dolphins - None.
Minnesota Vikings - None.
New England Patriots - Wes Welker is probably going be limited in practice again this week, and he'll likely be a gametime decision. Hopefully you picked up Julian Edelman after he proved that he can essentially do the same thing, fantasy-wise.
New Orleans Saints - In an ironic twist, Mike Bell suffered a sprained MCL and is at risk for week 3. Pierre Thomas has returned to practice this week, and if he can put in a full week, he'll start and possibly win his job back. Lance Moore suffered a hamstring injury, and he might not play in week 3. After his horrific start, it'd be smart to keep him benched even if he does play.
New York Giants - Mario Manningham has overtaken Domenik Hixon and is the starter opposite Steve Smith.
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 - Donovan McNabb looks unlikely to play again in week 3 due to his rib injury, and Kevin Kolb will start in his place. Kolb is a high risk/reward QB1 this week. DeSean Jackson suffered a slight groin injury, but it isn't expected to be a problem for week 3.
Pittsburgh Steelers - Mike Tomlin has vowed to get Rashard Mendenhall more involved, and there's no reason not to with Willie Parker not doing much of anything. Parker is not a RB2 anymore, and Mendenhall has the upside to be one if he can finally look like an NFL RB now that he's being given a chance. Santonio Holmes suffered a wrist injury, but it isn't expected to affect his week 3 status.
San Diego Chargers - LaDainian Tomlinson is expected to miss week 3 with his ankle injury, so Darren Sproles will again start in his place and make for a solid RB2 play.
San Francisco 49ers - Frank Gore suffered a slightly sprained ankle towards the end of week 2, but it isn't expected to be a problem for week 3.
Seattle Seahawks - Matt Hasselbeck suffered a broken rib on a play that looked exactly like the one Donovan McNabb was injured on. Expect him to miss week 3. Housh also suffered a back injury and is slowly playing his way out of fantasy lineups.
St. Louis Rams - No skill position injuries here, but rookie Jason Smith suffered a sprained knee that will keep him out a week or two. It shouldn't affect Steven Jackson too much.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Antonio Bryant is still struggling with his surgically repaired knee, and he will likely miss week 3.
Tennessee Titans - None.
Washington Redskins - None.
*update* I have updated this through Friday.
Arizona Cardinals - I still worry about Kurt Warner's health, he put some concerns aside with a very solid week 2 performance. I'd like to see him start throwing the ball down the field more before claiming he's 100%. Hightower will continue to start at RB thanks to Wells' 2 fumbles in week 2, but he is not guaranteed to last the year as the starter because Wells is clearly the more talented runner. Boldin looked good in week 2, so he appears back to full health.
Atlanta Falcons - None.
Baltimore Ravens - Ray Rice and Willis McGahee are apparently in an unpredictable committee. We knew McGahee was the goal line runner after the preseason, but he got twice as many carries as Rice in week 2 after the opposite happening in week 1. Neither are reliable enough as RB2s until this situation gains some clarity, if ever. Both are great RB3s, however. Mark Clayton was outproduced by Kelley Washington in week 2, and it's worth keeping an eye on as Clayton was probably grabbed as a WR5.
Buffalo Bills - Marshawn Lynch is suspended through week 3, and the impressive Fred Jackson will start in his place.
Carolina Panthers - Delhomme rebounded nicely in week 2 and gave himself some job security. Williams and Stewart continue to split time, and neither has a specific role as both possess a great all-around game. This is a drain to Williams' value, and a pleasant surprise to those who got a draft-day discount on Stewart after the injury concerns.
Cincinnati Bengals - While Coles remains the starter, it's clear that the targets will be spread around between Coles, Henry, and Caldwell. Ochocinco is the only WR worth starting here.
Chicago Bears - Keep an eye on the Bennett vs. Knox position battle. As I mentioned in my waiver column, Knox has a lot more upside and I think he'll overtake Bennett, but not in week 3.
Cleveland Browns - After the cries for Quinn last year, Quinn's slow start in 2009 has the cries going back the other way for Anderson. The Browns will stick with Quinn for now, but if he keeps losing and looks mediocre while doing it, a switch could be made. Jamal Lewis hurt his hamstring, and with James Davis returning, this could get interesting. We'll keep an eye on Lewis' practice schedule.
Dallas Cowboys - Marion Barber suffered a strained quad in week 2, but is already practicing on a limited basis. It would make me feel much better about starting him if he turned in a full practice by Friday, especially with 2 other healthy, capable RBs on the roster.
Denver Broncos- Knowshon Moreno looked much better in week 2 and seems likely to get the majority of carries, although Correll Buckhalter has looked very good and will remain in the picture each week. The WRs are a bit of a mess right now, and I think it's safe to bench Marshall for the time being. I would remain patient with Royal...he's the best fit for this offense.
Detroit Lions - Matthew Stafford needs to stop turning the ball over so much, or he's going to force the coaching staff to make a change at QB. Calvin Johnson owners should hope Stafford gets it figured out because the rookie QB loves throwing to him.
Green Bay Packers - No skill position injuries to note, but Chad Clifton's injury will hurt the offensive line in pass protection. Rodgers figures to suffer a bit, but McCarthy is a good enough play caller to compensate and move Rodgers around more.
Houston Texans - Steve Slaton isn't going to lose his job, but he's clearly having a ton of problems this year, especially with ball security. Expect Chris Brown to get even more carries. I hope Slaton is your RB2. Walter is again optimistic about his status for week 3, so hopefully he can avoid another setback.
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 - Troy Williamson suffered a torn labrum and is out for the season. Mike Sims-Walker will replace him in the starting lineup, and he has a good chance to lead the Jaguars in yards this season if he can stay healthy.
Kansas City Chiefs - Bobby Wade has seemingly replaced Mark Bradley as the secondary target for this week. He fits better in the slot with Mark Bradley outside, but he could replace Bradley if coach Haley remains upset with his all-around performances. Dantrell Savage also replaced Jamaal Charles as the #2 RB in week 2, so clearly Haley was upset with Charles as well. It's safe to drop Charles in pursuit of better waiver wire options.
Miami Dolphins - None.
Minnesota Vikings - None.
New England Patriots - Wes Welker is probably going be limited in practice again this week, and he'll likely be a gametime decision. Hopefully you picked up Julian Edelman after he proved that he can essentially do the same thing, fantasy-wise.
New Orleans Saints - In an ironic twist, Mike Bell suffered a sprained MCL and is at risk for week 3. Pierre Thomas has returned to practice this week, and if he can put in a full week, he'll start and possibly win his job back. Lance Moore suffered a hamstring injury, and he might not play in week 3. After his horrific start, it'd be smart to keep him benched even if he does play.
New York Giants - Mario Manningham has overtaken Domenik Hixon and is the starter opposite Steve Smith.
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 - Donovan McNabb looks unlikely to play again in week 3 due to his rib injury, and Kevin Kolb will start in his place. Kolb is a high risk/reward QB1 this week. DeSean Jackson suffered a slight groin injury, but it isn't expected to be a problem for week 3.
Pittsburgh Steelers - Mike Tomlin has vowed to get Rashard Mendenhall more involved, and there's no reason not to with Willie Parker not doing much of anything. Parker is not a RB2 anymore, and Mendenhall has the upside to be one if he can finally look like an NFL RB now that he's being given a chance. Santonio Holmes suffered a wrist injury, but it isn't expected to affect his week 3 status.
San Diego Chargers - LaDainian Tomlinson is expected to miss week 3 with his ankle injury, so Darren Sproles will again start in his place and make for a solid RB2 play.
San Francisco 49ers - Frank Gore suffered a slightly sprained ankle towards the end of week 2, but it isn't expected to be a problem for week 3.
Seattle Seahawks - Matt Hasselbeck suffered a broken rib on a play that looked exactly like the one Donovan McNabb was injured on. Expect him to miss week 3. Housh also suffered a back injury and is slowly playing his way out of fantasy lineups.
St. Louis Rams - No skill position injuries here, but rookie Jason Smith suffered a sprained knee that will keep him out a week or two. It shouldn't affect Steven Jackson too much.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Antonio Bryant is still struggling with his surgically repaired knee, and he will likely miss week 3.
Tennessee Titans - None.
Washington Redskins - None.
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
Week 3 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:
Byron Leftwich - Leftwich has now produced 2 very good weeks and is a legit QB2 pickup. He's putting up numbers thanks to a weak defense and mediocre weapons, and it will get better if Bryant can get back on the field. He's looking like a solid backup.
Kevin Kolb - Possible 1 week starter. McNabb is likely out for week 3, and Kolb posted QB1 numbers against the Saints. The problem that I see in week 3 is the game situation. Thanks to the Saints' offense, the Eagles were passing all game in an attempt to keep up. Despite Kolb facing a weak KC defense in week 3, they're probably going to run a lot more. Still, it's a good match up, and if you have a pair of QBs like McNabb and Hasselbeck, Kolb would be a solid 1 week fix.
Jake Delhomme - Delhomme might have been dumped after his week 1 disaster, but I think he'll be a decent QB2 from here on out. He's worth owning if he has a favorable match up on your starting QB's bye week.
Matt Leinart - Continued sleeper. Warner rebounded nicely in week 2, but I still feel he's not going to last the season. Warner owners need to stash Leinart, and others with an unused spot can speculate.
RB:
Tashard Choice - He's a must-add for Barber owners, and he's a solid add to everyone looking for a 1 week fix. Choice will play extensively in week 3 while sharing carries with Felix Jones in place of Barber. Choice produced very well last season, so there's no reason to think he won't do the same again this year.
WR:
Mario Manningham - Manningham is now the clear starter opposite Steve Smith in New York, and if you didn't add him last week, he's worth using the top waiver pick on this week. His skills are legit, and there's a chance he can start the rest of the season for a good offense. He's already a WR3. Go get him.
Johnny Knox - There's a good chance that Knox will overtake Earl Bennett to start, and judging from the first 2 weeks, Cutler likes throwing to him. Temper your expectations, obviously, as a rookie playing on a run-first team, but he's a solid WR5 add to see what happens.
Mike Sims-Walker - My deep sleeper that woke up. If you didn't stash him last week, make sure to grab him this week. Troy Williamson is out for the season with a torn labrum, so Sims-Walker will start opposite Holt and be the big play threat that the Jaguars need. He's a health risk, but he's a starter on a team desperate for a reliable receiving threat with Holt not showing much of anything. Get him for your bench.
Julian Edelman - Edelman burst onto the scene with 98 yards in week 2, so Welker owners at least need to go get him. Since we obviously have no idea what Welker's injury is, and Edelman's production is directly tied to Welker's healthy, it's impossible to recommend burning a high waiver pick on him for non-Welker owners. He's a week-to-week WR3 whose status will be determined at game time each week.
TE:
Zach Miller - Crazily enough after I recommended adding him, he posts a zero. I'm not worried as Miller produced just fine last season with the Raiders' crappy passing attack, so there's no reason he won't rebound in week 3. He's probably even more available now after the week 2 disaster.
Todd Heap - He only caught one pass in week 2, but it was for a TD. He's a borderline TE1 while he's healthy, so make sure he's owned as at least a TE2.
QB:
Byron Leftwich - Leftwich has now produced 2 very good weeks and is a legit QB2 pickup. He's putting up numbers thanks to a weak defense and mediocre weapons, and it will get better if Bryant can get back on the field. He's looking like a solid backup.
Kevin Kolb - Possible 1 week starter. McNabb is likely out for week 3, and Kolb posted QB1 numbers against the Saints. The problem that I see in week 3 is the game situation. Thanks to the Saints' offense, the Eagles were passing all game in an attempt to keep up. Despite Kolb facing a weak KC defense in week 3, they're probably going to run a lot more. Still, it's a good match up, and if you have a pair of QBs like McNabb and Hasselbeck, Kolb would be a solid 1 week fix.
Jake Delhomme - Delhomme might have been dumped after his week 1 disaster, but I think he'll be a decent QB2 from here on out. He's worth owning if he has a favorable match up on your starting QB's bye week.
Matt Leinart - Continued sleeper. Warner rebounded nicely in week 2, but I still feel he's not going to last the season. Warner owners need to stash Leinart, and others with an unused spot can speculate.
RB:
Tashard Choice - He's a must-add for Barber owners, and he's a solid add to everyone looking for a 1 week fix. Choice will play extensively in week 3 while sharing carries with Felix Jones in place of Barber. Choice produced very well last season, so there's no reason to think he won't do the same again this year.
WR:
Mario Manningham - Manningham is now the clear starter opposite Steve Smith in New York, and if you didn't add him last week, he's worth using the top waiver pick on this week. His skills are legit, and there's a chance he can start the rest of the season for a good offense. He's already a WR3. Go get him.
Johnny Knox - There's a good chance that Knox will overtake Earl Bennett to start, and judging from the first 2 weeks, Cutler likes throwing to him. Temper your expectations, obviously, as a rookie playing on a run-first team, but he's a solid WR5 add to see what happens.
Mike Sims-Walker - My deep sleeper that woke up. If you didn't stash him last week, make sure to grab him this week. Troy Williamson is out for the season with a torn labrum, so Sims-Walker will start opposite Holt and be the big play threat that the Jaguars need. He's a health risk, but he's a starter on a team desperate for a reliable receiving threat with Holt not showing much of anything. Get him for your bench.
Julian Edelman - Edelman burst onto the scene with 98 yards in week 2, so Welker owners at least need to go get him. Since we obviously have no idea what Welker's injury is, and Edelman's production is directly tied to Welker's healthy, it's impossible to recommend burning a high waiver pick on him for non-Welker owners. He's a week-to-week WR3 whose status will be determined at game time each week.
TE:
Zach Miller - Crazily enough after I recommended adding him, he posts a zero. I'm not worried as Miller produced just fine last season with the Raiders' crappy passing attack, so there's no reason he won't rebound in week 3. He's probably even more available now after the week 2 disaster.
Todd Heap - He only caught one pass in week 2, but it was for a TD. He's a borderline TE1 while he's healthy, so make sure he's owned as at least a TE2.
Monday, September 21, 2009
Week 2 Thoughts
Week 2 is now in the books, so let's take a look at each team and determine what trends are beginning to emerge, and what we need to start getting excited and worried about.
Arizona Cardinals - Warner put up a much better stat line, but he's still not taking shots down the field like he did last season. You have to assume that's related to his hip issue as it's affecting his throwing velocity and distance. He's obviously still a solid QB1, but you can't get too excited about his rebound in week 2 as it was against one of the league's worst secondaries. Wells fumbled twice, and that's going to kill his ability to overtake Hightower. His first fumble got him yanked before a goal line chance, and the second got him yanked from the game. Hightower will continue to start, but Wells has the talent to overtake him if he can hold onto the ball.
Atlanta Falcons - Ryan looked great in week 2, and it's obvious that Atlanta is willing to throw the ball more this season. Ryan is taking the next step and is a good QB1. Tony Gonzalez is playing like a stud, but unfortunately it's affecting Roddy White as they are now splitting the role of the primary read, especially around the goal line. Still, since Atlanta is continuing to throw the ball, White will get his. Thanks to 28 carries, Turner broke 100 yards and scored once as well. Given the poor Carolina run defense, owners probably expected more, and his 3.4 YPC is a bit concerning.
Baltimore Ravens - Flacco, turned in another solid fantasy performance despite Baltimore being in the lead for most of this one, tossing 2 TDs. Of most concern is the mess that is the Baltimore backfield once again. Despite Rice being used as the primary ball carrier throughout the preseason and in week 1, he started and posted 52 total yards in the first quarter, but barely played after that point. McGahee ran well, but what really confused me was how Rice did not play his way out of that game. Nothing about an injury or the coach's doghouse surfaced after the game, so it's safe to say the backfield is a mess right now.
Buffalo Bills - Trent Edwards appeased Terrell Owens, at least for two throws, by taking two shots down the field. The first was a 32 yard TD to Lee Evans on the first drive, and then later he connected with Owens on a 43 yard TD. Outside of that, however, he was perfectly content to dump off to RBs and TEs, and it severely limits the upside of both Owens and Evans. Both are arguably nothing more than WR3s right now. Fred Jackson continues to kill it on the ground and has been an outstanding RB2 while Lynch has been suspended. His owners get one more week of it.
Carolina Panthers - Delhomme put Steve Smith owners at ease by coming back with a solid game, and if he can keep this up, he'll be back to a reasonable QB2. Smith was also back to being himself as well after a week 1. The backfield continues to be split, with a 16/9 advantage of DeAngelo. This is looking like the same thing as last year, although Carolina just isn't going to repeat the same dominance on the ground. Luckily DeAngelo tossed in a TD after a drive anchored by Stewart, or else the fantasy numbers would have been switched. With Stewart re-emerging as a major threat for carries, DeAngelo is going to have to keep scoring consistently to be a RB1. I know it's only two weeks in, but if someone is willing to pay a full RB1 price for Williams, do it. He's not getting enough touches.
Chicago Bears - Cutler rebounded in a big way against a great Pittsburgh defense, although they were without Polamalu. Still, his owners loved the improved accuracy and 2 TDs, and the Bears fans loved the redemption by leading a game winning drive. Chicago is clearly not set on their WR depth chart with rookie Johnny Knox leading the team in receiving this week, and he was often playing over Earl Bennett. We could see a switch here...Knox gets open and Bennett doesn't. Forte is killing his owners so far, and they couldn't have liked seeing Benson run all over GB's defense while Forte got stuffed against them last week. His owners have no choice other than to stay the course.
Cincinnati Bengals - Palmer rebounded from a couple horrible early picks by making some big plays and totaling 4 TDs. Benson continues to tear it up, and he's showing much quicker feet and decision making than in Chicago. I think Benson will be a solid RB2 this season assuming he holds up to the workload...his skill set is very close to Rudi Johnson's. Chad Ochocinco continued to impress, but the WRs opposite him are a rotation right now. Cincy really needs to consider starting Chris Henry.
Cleveland Browns - Double ugh. Brady Quinn continues to look bad, but at least he allowed Braylon to post a very good game. Jamal Lewis was mostly ineffective. Outside of Edwards, this is a wasteland right now.
Dallas Cowboys - So, maybe Romo needs TO after all. He posted his worst game in a long time, especially considering it was at home. He was mostly inaccurate, and all 3 INTs were completely his fault. Roy Williams is not seeing top WR targets, and you have to wonder how much of this is him simply not getting open. On the flipside, both Marion Barber and Felix Jones looked great against a tough Giants defense, but Barber came up lame with a pulled leg muscle, so keep an eye on that.
Denver Broncos - Orton started shaky again, but then settled down. The biggest news is how he seems to use all of his targets, and also how Denver is rotating their WRs. Marshall and Royal, despite easily being the most talented WRs on the roster, aren't being targeted like it. I suggest owners stay the course and continue using both as a WR3 as these guys are too talented to continue posting blah lines like they have been.
Detroit Lions - Stafford continues to throw INTs as he's up to 5 through the first two weeks, but at least for CJ owners, he found him for a TD. Stafford is going to have to stop turning the ball over to avoid going to the bench. We all know this team isn't playing for anything and Stafford will benefit from the playing time, but the coaching staff isn't going to sit back and watch him have multiple turnovers each week. Stafford and Johnson's chemistry will continue to develop, so it's promising that CJ has posted the numbers he has so far while the two get comfortable with each other. Kevin Smith posted another workmanlike performance, although the lost fumble hurts.
Green Bay Packers - Rodgers is getting no protection while taking 10 sacks through his first two games. He also suffered from a couple awful drops. The protection is a problem and needs to be monitored...Rodgers isn't going to post big numbers unless he has sufficient time to throw, but luckily he's mobile enough to make some plays. I'm going to suggest Rodgers as a buy-low. Jennings simply had a bad game, no worries. Ryan Grant posted another TD to save his fantasy day.
Houston Texans - Patience rewarded. Schaub and AJ posted monster days, but Slaton is still not doing anything on the ground yet. I doubt there's much concern about the passing game anymore, and Jacoby Jones has the talent to step up and be a weapon for this team. I wouldn't pick him up as Walter should return next week, but he could emerge as their slot WR. Slaton has faced two very tough run defenses so far with NYJ and TEN, but it's still a concern. He made things happen last year, and he's not doing it this season.
Indianapolis Colts - Monday night game.
Jacksonville Jaguars - The offense continues to look putrid, and Garrard only put up numbers in garbage time once the game had been decided. MJD was held in check thanks to the game circumstances, and hopefully for his sake, this offense can right the ship. Torry Holt again only posted modest numbers, and it's clear that he's only a shadow of himself even post-STL. Mike Sims-Walker emerged, and I think he's here to stay as long as he's healthy.
Kansas City Chiefs - Cassel returned, and it's safe to assume if he wondered why he came back at all. He was chased around all game, but hung in enough to find Dwayne Bowe and newly signed Bobby Wade for 5-6 catches a piece. Bowe is clearly the only player on this team worth starting right now.
Miami Dolphins - Monday night game.
Minnesota Vikings - Favre threw a lot more in week 2, but he's not going down the field at all. It's hard to recommend anyone from this passing game right now until the bye weeks start, but expect Berrian to start to build chemistry with Favre as they get more time together. Peterson posted another solid game despite limited carries.
New England Patriots - Brady was on the run all game, and Moss was completely shut down. Julian Edelman showed that he can step in and post Welker-like stats, although the Patriots definitely missed Welker's reliability in a game where the Jets blitzed relentlessly. The backfield remains a mess.
New Orleans Saints - Drew Brees was a monster once again, this time with Colston dominating the targets. Lance Moore left with a hamstring injury, so keep an eye on that. His absence would mean good things for Jeremy Shockey, who wasn't as big of the game plan with the WRs constantly getting open. Mike Bell again posted a solid game, although he left in the 2nd half with a knee sprain. Pierre Thomas might get his job back in the same way it was threatened while he was out.
New York Giants - Eli looked good once again with his young WRs stepping up. I think Eli is a borderline QB1 at this point. Steve Smith and Mario Manningham both posted big games, and Manningham showed his explosiveness on several of his catches, including a circus-style one in the endzone. While Nicks is out, it's clear these are the two starters and are WR3 plays. Jacobs and Bradshaw mostly took a backseat as Dallas loaded up to stop the run, but don't worry about either.
New York Jets - Mark Sanchez looked great once again, showing good poise after starting the game off in a rough fashion. Cotchery and Keller continue to dominate targets and are every week starters. Thomas Jones had a rough game and actually split carries with Leon Washington evenly. It's clear that Washington is going to be a drain on TJ's carries as he's no longer a workhorse.
Oakland Raiders - Russell looked horribly inaccurate once more and is arguably the worst QB in the NFL. I apologize for suggesting Louis Murphy for a team that clearly cannot throw the ball down the field. Zach Miller threw up a goose egg, but don't be down on him as he'll bounce back next week. McFadden and Bush continue to split carries, and observers noted that McFadden continues to go down too easily. McFadden did get the red zone carry and converted by bouncing it outside, but his inside running is what draws the ire of some scouts. Expect this split to continue as Bush is much more adept at running inside.
Philadelphia Eagles - Kolb posted some huge numbers thanks to Philly being in throw-first mode most of the game, but his 3 turnovers certainly didn't adhere him to the coaching staff. He did enough to start again next week, and he can be considered as a risk/reward QB1 next week for McNabb owners, depending on their QB2, against KC. One has to wonder how often they'll throw the ball, however. Westbrook and the rest of the running game where held in check touch-wise thanks to the rhythm of the game.
San Diego Chargers - Phillip Rivers lit up the Ravens secondary for 400+ yards as SD found themselves behind most of the game. Sproles is clearly an explosive option as a receiving back, and Vincent Jackson might have overtaken Antonio Gates as the go-to receiver for this team. Gates is still posting very good numbers, however. The running game simply wasn't used much, and Rivers certainly benefited from the passing attempts.
San Francisco 49ers - Gore simply exploded with two 80ish yard TD runs, but he suffered a slightly sprained ankle at the end of the game that should be monitored. The passing offense simply doesn't really exist right now, and none of them are worth talking about. That being said, Morgan and Davis should continue to be stashed on benches as upside players.
Seattle Seahawks - Ugh, back to normal here. Hasselbeck took a big shot and probably broke a rib, leaving his week 3 status in doubt. Seneca Wallace came in and posted reasonable numbers, but the passing game just wasn't the same. All receiving threats (Housh, Burleson, Carlson) posted nearly identical 4-6 catch, 40-60 yard performances that are pretty boring to most owners. The running game was atrocious, and Justin Forsett looked much more explosive. Julius Jones saved his owners with a 1 yard TD reception, but was utterly worthless for most of the game. We'll see what type of split happens going forward...Seattle needs to get Forsett on the field more.
St. Louis Rams - Bulger still looks horrible, and it's killing the offense. Laurent Robinson continues to impress regardless, and he's possibly a WR3 candidate as he's seemingly overtaken Donnie Avery as the primary WR while Avery recovers from his foot sprain and gets his timing back. Steven Jackson is doing everything he can, but his teammates are letting him down once again. Jason Brown and Jason Smith both suffered injuries, and that warrants monitoring as they mean a lot to Jackson.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Leftwich again posted good numbers, utilizing all of his weapons down the field to help move the ball. Michael Clayton disappeared yet again, this time with Maurice Stovall stepping up. Kellen Winslow remains the only every week starter on this passing offense, and Leftwich should clearly be owned as a QB2. Cadillac Williams surprisingly got a lot of work in the passing game, catching 7 passes, including a TD. The rushing attack was non-existent, as was Derrick Ward. This committee remains very confusing, although I would favor Caddy as a RB2 at the moment if I had to choose.
Washington Redskins - The offense looked about as expected...mediocre...once again. Portis continues to be a decent RB2, although if he's not scoring, he's not posting big numbers. Chris Cooley is still the only receiver from this team that I'd start each week. Santana Moss is best used as a match up WR3 until he proves otherwise.
Arizona Cardinals - Warner put up a much better stat line, but he's still not taking shots down the field like he did last season. You have to assume that's related to his hip issue as it's affecting his throwing velocity and distance. He's obviously still a solid QB1, but you can't get too excited about his rebound in week 2 as it was against one of the league's worst secondaries. Wells fumbled twice, and that's going to kill his ability to overtake Hightower. His first fumble got him yanked before a goal line chance, and the second got him yanked from the game. Hightower will continue to start, but Wells has the talent to overtake him if he can hold onto the ball.
Atlanta Falcons - Ryan looked great in week 2, and it's obvious that Atlanta is willing to throw the ball more this season. Ryan is taking the next step and is a good QB1. Tony Gonzalez is playing like a stud, but unfortunately it's affecting Roddy White as they are now splitting the role of the primary read, especially around the goal line. Still, since Atlanta is continuing to throw the ball, White will get his. Thanks to 28 carries, Turner broke 100 yards and scored once as well. Given the poor Carolina run defense, owners probably expected more, and his 3.4 YPC is a bit concerning.
Baltimore Ravens - Flacco, turned in another solid fantasy performance despite Baltimore being in the lead for most of this one, tossing 2 TDs. Of most concern is the mess that is the Baltimore backfield once again. Despite Rice being used as the primary ball carrier throughout the preseason and in week 1, he started and posted 52 total yards in the first quarter, but barely played after that point. McGahee ran well, but what really confused me was how Rice did not play his way out of that game. Nothing about an injury or the coach's doghouse surfaced after the game, so it's safe to say the backfield is a mess right now.
Buffalo Bills - Trent Edwards appeased Terrell Owens, at least for two throws, by taking two shots down the field. The first was a 32 yard TD to Lee Evans on the first drive, and then later he connected with Owens on a 43 yard TD. Outside of that, however, he was perfectly content to dump off to RBs and TEs, and it severely limits the upside of both Owens and Evans. Both are arguably nothing more than WR3s right now. Fred Jackson continues to kill it on the ground and has been an outstanding RB2 while Lynch has been suspended. His owners get one more week of it.
Carolina Panthers - Delhomme put Steve Smith owners at ease by coming back with a solid game, and if he can keep this up, he'll be back to a reasonable QB2. Smith was also back to being himself as well after a week 1. The backfield continues to be split, with a 16/9 advantage of DeAngelo. This is looking like the same thing as last year, although Carolina just isn't going to repeat the same dominance on the ground. Luckily DeAngelo tossed in a TD after a drive anchored by Stewart, or else the fantasy numbers would have been switched. With Stewart re-emerging as a major threat for carries, DeAngelo is going to have to keep scoring consistently to be a RB1. I know it's only two weeks in, but if someone is willing to pay a full RB1 price for Williams, do it. He's not getting enough touches.
Chicago Bears - Cutler rebounded in a big way against a great Pittsburgh defense, although they were without Polamalu. Still, his owners loved the improved accuracy and 2 TDs, and the Bears fans loved the redemption by leading a game winning drive. Chicago is clearly not set on their WR depth chart with rookie Johnny Knox leading the team in receiving this week, and he was often playing over Earl Bennett. We could see a switch here...Knox gets open and Bennett doesn't. Forte is killing his owners so far, and they couldn't have liked seeing Benson run all over GB's defense while Forte got stuffed against them last week. His owners have no choice other than to stay the course.
Cincinnati Bengals - Palmer rebounded from a couple horrible early picks by making some big plays and totaling 4 TDs. Benson continues to tear it up, and he's showing much quicker feet and decision making than in Chicago. I think Benson will be a solid RB2 this season assuming he holds up to the workload...his skill set is very close to Rudi Johnson's. Chad Ochocinco continued to impress, but the WRs opposite him are a rotation right now. Cincy really needs to consider starting Chris Henry.
Cleveland Browns - Double ugh. Brady Quinn continues to look bad, but at least he allowed Braylon to post a very good game. Jamal Lewis was mostly ineffective. Outside of Edwards, this is a wasteland right now.
Dallas Cowboys - So, maybe Romo needs TO after all. He posted his worst game in a long time, especially considering it was at home. He was mostly inaccurate, and all 3 INTs were completely his fault. Roy Williams is not seeing top WR targets, and you have to wonder how much of this is him simply not getting open. On the flipside, both Marion Barber and Felix Jones looked great against a tough Giants defense, but Barber came up lame with a pulled leg muscle, so keep an eye on that.
Denver Broncos - Orton started shaky again, but then settled down. The biggest news is how he seems to use all of his targets, and also how Denver is rotating their WRs. Marshall and Royal, despite easily being the most talented WRs on the roster, aren't being targeted like it. I suggest owners stay the course and continue using both as a WR3 as these guys are too talented to continue posting blah lines like they have been.
Detroit Lions - Stafford continues to throw INTs as he's up to 5 through the first two weeks, but at least for CJ owners, he found him for a TD. Stafford is going to have to stop turning the ball over to avoid going to the bench. We all know this team isn't playing for anything and Stafford will benefit from the playing time, but the coaching staff isn't going to sit back and watch him have multiple turnovers each week. Stafford and Johnson's chemistry will continue to develop, so it's promising that CJ has posted the numbers he has so far while the two get comfortable with each other. Kevin Smith posted another workmanlike performance, although the lost fumble hurts.
Green Bay Packers - Rodgers is getting no protection while taking 10 sacks through his first two games. He also suffered from a couple awful drops. The protection is a problem and needs to be monitored...Rodgers isn't going to post big numbers unless he has sufficient time to throw, but luckily he's mobile enough to make some plays. I'm going to suggest Rodgers as a buy-low. Jennings simply had a bad game, no worries. Ryan Grant posted another TD to save his fantasy day.
Houston Texans - Patience rewarded. Schaub and AJ posted monster days, but Slaton is still not doing anything on the ground yet. I doubt there's much concern about the passing game anymore, and Jacoby Jones has the talent to step up and be a weapon for this team. I wouldn't pick him up as Walter should return next week, but he could emerge as their slot WR. Slaton has faced two very tough run defenses so far with NYJ and TEN, but it's still a concern. He made things happen last year, and he's not doing it this season.
Indianapolis Colts - Monday night game.
Jacksonville Jaguars - The offense continues to look putrid, and Garrard only put up numbers in garbage time once the game had been decided. MJD was held in check thanks to the game circumstances, and hopefully for his sake, this offense can right the ship. Torry Holt again only posted modest numbers, and it's clear that he's only a shadow of himself even post-STL. Mike Sims-Walker emerged, and I think he's here to stay as long as he's healthy.
Kansas City Chiefs - Cassel returned, and it's safe to assume if he wondered why he came back at all. He was chased around all game, but hung in enough to find Dwayne Bowe and newly signed Bobby Wade for 5-6 catches a piece. Bowe is clearly the only player on this team worth starting right now.
Miami Dolphins - Monday night game.
Minnesota Vikings - Favre threw a lot more in week 2, but he's not going down the field at all. It's hard to recommend anyone from this passing game right now until the bye weeks start, but expect Berrian to start to build chemistry with Favre as they get more time together. Peterson posted another solid game despite limited carries.
New England Patriots - Brady was on the run all game, and Moss was completely shut down. Julian Edelman showed that he can step in and post Welker-like stats, although the Patriots definitely missed Welker's reliability in a game where the Jets blitzed relentlessly. The backfield remains a mess.
New Orleans Saints - Drew Brees was a monster once again, this time with Colston dominating the targets. Lance Moore left with a hamstring injury, so keep an eye on that. His absence would mean good things for Jeremy Shockey, who wasn't as big of the game plan with the WRs constantly getting open. Mike Bell again posted a solid game, although he left in the 2nd half with a knee sprain. Pierre Thomas might get his job back in the same way it was threatened while he was out.
New York Giants - Eli looked good once again with his young WRs stepping up. I think Eli is a borderline QB1 at this point. Steve Smith and Mario Manningham both posted big games, and Manningham showed his explosiveness on several of his catches, including a circus-style one in the endzone. While Nicks is out, it's clear these are the two starters and are WR3 plays. Jacobs and Bradshaw mostly took a backseat as Dallas loaded up to stop the run, but don't worry about either.
New York Jets - Mark Sanchez looked great once again, showing good poise after starting the game off in a rough fashion. Cotchery and Keller continue to dominate targets and are every week starters. Thomas Jones had a rough game and actually split carries with Leon Washington evenly. It's clear that Washington is going to be a drain on TJ's carries as he's no longer a workhorse.
Oakland Raiders - Russell looked horribly inaccurate once more and is arguably the worst QB in the NFL. I apologize for suggesting Louis Murphy for a team that clearly cannot throw the ball down the field. Zach Miller threw up a goose egg, but don't be down on him as he'll bounce back next week. McFadden and Bush continue to split carries, and observers noted that McFadden continues to go down too easily. McFadden did get the red zone carry and converted by bouncing it outside, but his inside running is what draws the ire of some scouts. Expect this split to continue as Bush is much more adept at running inside.
Philadelphia Eagles - Kolb posted some huge numbers thanks to Philly being in throw-first mode most of the game, but his 3 turnovers certainly didn't adhere him to the coaching staff. He did enough to start again next week, and he can be considered as a risk/reward QB1 next week for McNabb owners, depending on their QB2, against KC. One has to wonder how often they'll throw the ball, however. Westbrook and the rest of the running game where held in check touch-wise thanks to the rhythm of the game.
San Diego Chargers - Phillip Rivers lit up the Ravens secondary for 400+ yards as SD found themselves behind most of the game. Sproles is clearly an explosive option as a receiving back, and Vincent Jackson might have overtaken Antonio Gates as the go-to receiver for this team. Gates is still posting very good numbers, however. The running game simply wasn't used much, and Rivers certainly benefited from the passing attempts.
San Francisco 49ers - Gore simply exploded with two 80ish yard TD runs, but he suffered a slightly sprained ankle at the end of the game that should be monitored. The passing offense simply doesn't really exist right now, and none of them are worth talking about. That being said, Morgan and Davis should continue to be stashed on benches as upside players.
Seattle Seahawks - Ugh, back to normal here. Hasselbeck took a big shot and probably broke a rib, leaving his week 3 status in doubt. Seneca Wallace came in and posted reasonable numbers, but the passing game just wasn't the same. All receiving threats (Housh, Burleson, Carlson) posted nearly identical 4-6 catch, 40-60 yard performances that are pretty boring to most owners. The running game was atrocious, and Justin Forsett looked much more explosive. Julius Jones saved his owners with a 1 yard TD reception, but was utterly worthless for most of the game. We'll see what type of split happens going forward...Seattle needs to get Forsett on the field more.
St. Louis Rams - Bulger still looks horrible, and it's killing the offense. Laurent Robinson continues to impress regardless, and he's possibly a WR3 candidate as he's seemingly overtaken Donnie Avery as the primary WR while Avery recovers from his foot sprain and gets his timing back. Steven Jackson is doing everything he can, but his teammates are letting him down once again. Jason Brown and Jason Smith both suffered injuries, and that warrants monitoring as they mean a lot to Jackson.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Leftwich again posted good numbers, utilizing all of his weapons down the field to help move the ball. Michael Clayton disappeared yet again, this time with Maurice Stovall stepping up. Kellen Winslow remains the only every week starter on this passing offense, and Leftwich should clearly be owned as a QB2. Cadillac Williams surprisingly got a lot of work in the passing game, catching 7 passes, including a TD. The rushing attack was non-existent, as was Derrick Ward. This committee remains very confusing, although I would favor Caddy as a RB2 at the moment if I had to choose.
Washington Redskins - The offense looked about as expected...mediocre...once again. Portis continues to be a decent RB2, although if he's not scoring, he's not posting big numbers. Chris Cooley is still the only receiver from this team that I'd start each week. Santana Moss is best used as a match up WR3 until he proves otherwise.
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
Week 2 Injury/Depth Chart Report
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.
*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.
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