Hey Guys
Due to work obligations this past week, I did not have enough time to put together all the injuries for the week. I will, however, produce inactive player lists about 30 mins prior to gametime for the 12 PM CST games, the 3:15 PM CST games, and the Sunday evening game.
Jeff
Saturday, October 13, 2007
Thursday, October 11, 2007
NFL Week 5: Monday Night Game Wrapup
Dallas Cowboys at Buffalo Bills
Tony Romo - 29/50, 309 yards, 2 TD, 5 INT, 2/7, 1 FL. Romo thought it was Halloween and dressed up like Rex Grossman. All his stats, outside of the turnovers, were about what was expected of him against a poor defense. He turned it around late by leading the Cowboys to 2 scoring drives, the 2nd of which resulted in the game winning FG.
Julius Jones - 12/41. He's a turd barely worth starting as a RB3 most weeks.
Marion Barber - 8/28, 6/45. Solid yardage given his limited touches per usual, but unless he's scoring, it's hard for him to put up double digit points. The Cowboys must think that using Jones makes Barber better because there's no question who's the superior RB when watching the games.
Terrell Owens - 2/25. Another clunker from Owens, and he would have added a 2 point conversion in there had the ball not been stripped from him by a CB who wanted it more. He's frustrating you right now, but despite the tough matchup against NE, expect him to turn in a big performance as the Moss/Owens subplot could take center stage.
Patrick Crayton - 6/73, 1 TD. Another solid game from Crayton who will continue to be a very solid WR3 while Glenn is sidelined.
Jason Witten - 9/103, 1 TD. Gates is the most consistent of the bunch, but the best draft value for TEs so far goes to Jason Witten and Dallas Clark. Witten has owned the middle of the field while Owens concerns defenses on the outside.
Trent Edwards - 23/31, 176 yards, 0 TD, 1 INT, 1/6. It's OK Trent, you can throw down the field on occasion. Edwards made a living off of 1-10 yard passes with the 2 longest completions (23, 16) being mostly comprised of YAC by Lynch and Parrish respectively. Lee Evans gave a ringing endorsement for Losman in week 7, so we'll see who gets the nod. Still, Edwards turned in a solid performance.
Lee Evans - 1/12. He caught one out pass, and that was it. Not what owners wanted after a somewhat bounceback performance last week. This could have been the work of Terrance Newman, however, who appears healthy again.
Tony Romo - 29/50, 309 yards, 2 TD, 5 INT, 2/7, 1 FL. Romo thought it was Halloween and dressed up like Rex Grossman. All his stats, outside of the turnovers, were about what was expected of him against a poor defense. He turned it around late by leading the Cowboys to 2 scoring drives, the 2nd of which resulted in the game winning FG.
Julius Jones - 12/41. He's a turd barely worth starting as a RB3 most weeks.
Marion Barber - 8/28, 6/45. Solid yardage given his limited touches per usual, but unless he's scoring, it's hard for him to put up double digit points. The Cowboys must think that using Jones makes Barber better because there's no question who's the superior RB when watching the games.
Terrell Owens - 2/25. Another clunker from Owens, and he would have added a 2 point conversion in there had the ball not been stripped from him by a CB who wanted it more. He's frustrating you right now, but despite the tough matchup against NE, expect him to turn in a big performance as the Moss/Owens subplot could take center stage.
Patrick Crayton - 6/73, 1 TD. Another solid game from Crayton who will continue to be a very solid WR3 while Glenn is sidelined.
Jason Witten - 9/103, 1 TD. Gates is the most consistent of the bunch, but the best draft value for TEs so far goes to Jason Witten and Dallas Clark. Witten has owned the middle of the field while Owens concerns defenses on the outside.
Trent Edwards - 23/31, 176 yards, 0 TD, 1 INT, 1/6. It's OK Trent, you can throw down the field on occasion. Edwards made a living off of 1-10 yard passes with the 2 longest completions (23, 16) being mostly comprised of YAC by Lynch and Parrish respectively. Lee Evans gave a ringing endorsement for Losman in week 7, so we'll see who gets the nod. Still, Edwards turned in a solid performance.
Lee Evans - 1/12. He caught one out pass, and that was it. Not what owners wanted after a somewhat bounceback performance last week. This could have been the work of Terrance Newman, however, who appears healthy again.
NFL Week 5: Late Game Wrapup
Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Indianapolis Colts
Jeff Garcia - 18/23, 143 yards, 2 TD, 0 INT, 1/7. Another workman-like performance from Garcia who continues his QB2 performances.
Michael Pittman - 5/-1, 2/16. Not only did he suck, he tore tendons in his ankle. Pittman is out at least 6 weeks and leaves the Tampa Bay backfield to...
Earnest Graham - 6/11, 2/18. I'm sure Graham owners were elated to check the box scores and 2 three yard TD passes to Alex Smith. Graham is the alpha dog in the TB backfield meaning he's well worth owning if he wasn't owned already.
Joey Galloway - 4/50. Not bad considering the solid job the Colts did of limiting what TB could do through the air. Indy has a good secondary scheme that doesn't give up a bunch of yardage, so this was a solid effort in a fairly tough matchup.
Alex Smith - 2/6, 2 TD. Well, he sure made those 2 catches count. He's not used to stretch the field, so he's nothing more than a TE2 who will score here and there.
Peyton Manning - 29/37, 253 yards, 2 TD, 1 INT, 2/-2. He's no Tom Brady, that's for sure. ;)
Kenton Keith - 28/121, 3/37, 2 TD. Indy is the new Denver, apparently. Plug in RB, receive 100 yards and a TD. Addai should be back after the bye week, so since Keith's value returns to that of a handcuff, see what you can get out of the Addai owner.
Reggie Wayne - 7/62, 1 TD. Every since week 1, teams seem intent on not allowing the Colts to beat them deep. That being said, it'll limit Wayne's value somewhat if teams are successful at doing this, but Wayne is still an elite WR2 at the very least.
Anthony Gonzalez - 7/71. Gonzalez shows that if Harrison doesn't return after the bye week, he'd be a fantasy factor. If Harrison owners have a bench spot around, it's not a bad idea to grab him.
Dallas Clark - 7/49, 1 TD. Clark was almost decapitated on a vicious hit in the first half, but he returned to the game and put up another fine performance. Some fantasy outlets wondered if Clark's emergence during the playoffs in 2006 was for real, and he's sure proving that's the case with a great start to the 2007 season.
San Diego Chargers at Denver Broncos
Phillip Rivers - 13/18, 270 yards, 2 TD, 0 INT, 2/-3, 1 TD. Rivers shocked everyone by turning in his best fantasy performance of the year against what looked like his toughest matchup to date. Rivers looked much more like his 2006 version by racking up solid yardage despite not throwing a whole lot. Hopefully the offense has turned the corner. Norv Turner has quite a history producing great offenses, so let's hope the early season struggles were simply that of acclimation.
LaDainian Tomlinson - 21/67, 3/73. LT continues to disappoint with the TD total so far, and Denver definitely wanted Rivers to beat them in this contest. This was especially disappointing considering that the Broncos were the 2nd worst rushing defense in the league. If you can somehow find an LT owner that wants out, go for it. There's no way he'll continue to struggle like this.
Michael Turner - 10/147, 1 TD. This is a perfect sell-high opportunity for Turner owners that sniped him from LT owners on draft day. This performance doesn't do anything other than show that Turner is a beast when given the ball.
Vincent Jackson - 3/84, 1 TD. He's a very risky PPR WR, but he'll make enough downfield plays to remain a very solid asset in normal leagues. If Rivers can get this turned around, Jackson will become more consistently on a weekly basis.
Antonio Gates - 7/113, 1 TD. Gates is on his way to the best TE season ever in fantasy football. Turner realizes what a special talent that Gates is and is doing his best to consistently target him like a WR each and every week. He's somehow outperforming his already lofty draft day price.
Jay Cutler - 23/36, 232 yards, 0 TD, 1 INT, 3/7. Cutler has been extremely erratic this year, and he really seems to miss Javon Walker. Much more was expected against a poor SD secondary so far, but I would imagine defenses are now simply keying in on Marshall and forcing someone else to beat them. The bye week comes at a good time.
Travis Henry - 16/65. A solid YPC effort against a stout SD run defense, but with the Broncos getting blown out, they just couldn't run much. Two things of note here for Henry owners. The bad thing is that veteran center Tom Nalen went down with a season-ending injury, and whoever replaces him won't be as good. The good thing is that he's going to be able to delay a suspension thanks to the legal proceedings that need to take place prior to a suspension being handed down, so it could be over a month before he's actually suspended. Trying to buy low is not a bad idea at all if you can get 4-5 weeks out of him.
Brandon Marshall - 7/72, FL. He predictably lead the Broncos in receiving, but he didn't make any big plays down the field, plus he lost a fumble. We liked him better when Walker was starting across from him.
Baltimore Ravens at San Francisco 49ers
Steve McNair - 29/43, 214 yards, 0 TD, 0 INT, 4/10. Another yawn-inducing performance from McNair. McNair has had a very admirable career, but I think the Ravens would improve their offense by going to Kyle Boller. Who would have thought we'd be saying this 2 years ago?
Willis McGahee - 22/88, 7/48. 5 games, 464 yards, 4.5 YPC, and a shocking 18/143 in the passing game. However, the dude can't score a damn TD on the ground. A very frustrating fact to say the least, both the good and the bad, but the rest of his production has been very solid, if not a bit surprising.
Derrick Mason - 11/85. He continues to post similar numbers every single week. A switch to Boller would hurt his production, so PPR leaguers should keep an eye on the QB situation and attempt to sell high if a switch is ever made.
Trent Dilfer - 12/19, 126 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT, 1/4. Plus, one of the most emphatic fist pumps I've ever seen after the TD pass. A solid effort against a solid BAL defense, but Smith should be ready after the bye.
Frank Gore - 16/52, 3/23. SF really needs to find a way to stretch the field and get the 8th and 9th guys out of the box so Gore has some room to run.
Darrell Jackson - 2/6. Bench him.
Chicago Bears at Green Bay Packers
Brian Griese - 15/25, 214 yards, 2 TD, 1 INT, 1/-1. A very efficient performance from Griese against a pretty solid GB defense. It's really hard to recommend him as a fantasy option, but Minnesota's shaky secondary is up next, and you could do worse for a one week option.
Cedric Benson - 27/64, 1/5. It honestly looks like he's running through quicksand into a wall on over half his carries. He shows no burst whatsoever, and the offensive line isn't doing him many favors. With Minnesota's #1 run D up next, I'd try to avoid using him, although there's a good chance he could score and save what projects to be a miserable yardage performance. They Bears will stay dedicated to feeding him the ball as long as he doesn't put it on the ground.
Bernard Berrian - 1/10. Berrian left with a toe injury and didn't return. He's sunk to an average WR3 option with Griese at the helm.
Desmond Clark - 3/62, 1 TD. He's a solid TE2 with Griese starting. He'll look to his TEs, and even if he's sharing time with Olsen, both could become solid plays as the Bears would be smart to continue using them both off of playaction passes.
Greg Olsen - 4/57, 1 TD. See above.
Brett Favre - 29/40, 322 yards, 1 TD, 2 INT. He racked up the vast majority of that in the first half, and then Green Bay imitated a turtle by going into a conservative shell and never re-emerging.
DeShawn Wynn - 13/78, 1/13, 1 TD. As with Favre, most of that came in the first half. Brandon Jackson seems likely to return this week, and while Morency was also very productive in this game, his knee is bothering him again. It's a mess worth avoiding in starting lineups.
Donald Driver - 4/51. Green Bay seems intent on using all 3 WRs, although if James Jones receives less targets thanks to his fumbilitis, Driver would benefit.
Greg Jennings - 4/83, 1 TD. He's their best deep threat and he's settling in as a solid WR3.
James Jones - 5/61, 2 FL. Tillman kept punching the ball loose, and owners kept punching the nearest thing to them.
Donald Lee - 3/23. His quiestest yardage game of the season. He's still a solid TE2.
Jeff Garcia - 18/23, 143 yards, 2 TD, 0 INT, 1/7. Another workman-like performance from Garcia who continues his QB2 performances.
Michael Pittman - 5/-1, 2/16. Not only did he suck, he tore tendons in his ankle. Pittman is out at least 6 weeks and leaves the Tampa Bay backfield to...
Earnest Graham - 6/11, 2/18. I'm sure Graham owners were elated to check the box scores and 2 three yard TD passes to Alex Smith. Graham is the alpha dog in the TB backfield meaning he's well worth owning if he wasn't owned already.
Joey Galloway - 4/50. Not bad considering the solid job the Colts did of limiting what TB could do through the air. Indy has a good secondary scheme that doesn't give up a bunch of yardage, so this was a solid effort in a fairly tough matchup.
Alex Smith - 2/6, 2 TD. Well, he sure made those 2 catches count. He's not used to stretch the field, so he's nothing more than a TE2 who will score here and there.
Peyton Manning - 29/37, 253 yards, 2 TD, 1 INT, 2/-2. He's no Tom Brady, that's for sure. ;)
Kenton Keith - 28/121, 3/37, 2 TD. Indy is the new Denver, apparently. Plug in RB, receive 100 yards and a TD. Addai should be back after the bye week, so since Keith's value returns to that of a handcuff, see what you can get out of the Addai owner.
Reggie Wayne - 7/62, 1 TD. Every since week 1, teams seem intent on not allowing the Colts to beat them deep. That being said, it'll limit Wayne's value somewhat if teams are successful at doing this, but Wayne is still an elite WR2 at the very least.
Anthony Gonzalez - 7/71. Gonzalez shows that if Harrison doesn't return after the bye week, he'd be a fantasy factor. If Harrison owners have a bench spot around, it's not a bad idea to grab him.
Dallas Clark - 7/49, 1 TD. Clark was almost decapitated on a vicious hit in the first half, but he returned to the game and put up another fine performance. Some fantasy outlets wondered if Clark's emergence during the playoffs in 2006 was for real, and he's sure proving that's the case with a great start to the 2007 season.
San Diego Chargers at Denver Broncos
Phillip Rivers - 13/18, 270 yards, 2 TD, 0 INT, 2/-3, 1 TD. Rivers shocked everyone by turning in his best fantasy performance of the year against what looked like his toughest matchup to date. Rivers looked much more like his 2006 version by racking up solid yardage despite not throwing a whole lot. Hopefully the offense has turned the corner. Norv Turner has quite a history producing great offenses, so let's hope the early season struggles were simply that of acclimation.
LaDainian Tomlinson - 21/67, 3/73. LT continues to disappoint with the TD total so far, and Denver definitely wanted Rivers to beat them in this contest. This was especially disappointing considering that the Broncos were the 2nd worst rushing defense in the league. If you can somehow find an LT owner that wants out, go for it. There's no way he'll continue to struggle like this.
Michael Turner - 10/147, 1 TD. This is a perfect sell-high opportunity for Turner owners that sniped him from LT owners on draft day. This performance doesn't do anything other than show that Turner is a beast when given the ball.
Vincent Jackson - 3/84, 1 TD. He's a very risky PPR WR, but he'll make enough downfield plays to remain a very solid asset in normal leagues. If Rivers can get this turned around, Jackson will become more consistently on a weekly basis.
Antonio Gates - 7/113, 1 TD. Gates is on his way to the best TE season ever in fantasy football. Turner realizes what a special talent that Gates is and is doing his best to consistently target him like a WR each and every week. He's somehow outperforming his already lofty draft day price.
Jay Cutler - 23/36, 232 yards, 0 TD, 1 INT, 3/7. Cutler has been extremely erratic this year, and he really seems to miss Javon Walker. Much more was expected against a poor SD secondary so far, but I would imagine defenses are now simply keying in on Marshall and forcing someone else to beat them. The bye week comes at a good time.
Travis Henry - 16/65. A solid YPC effort against a stout SD run defense, but with the Broncos getting blown out, they just couldn't run much. Two things of note here for Henry owners. The bad thing is that veteran center Tom Nalen went down with a season-ending injury, and whoever replaces him won't be as good. The good thing is that he's going to be able to delay a suspension thanks to the legal proceedings that need to take place prior to a suspension being handed down, so it could be over a month before he's actually suspended. Trying to buy low is not a bad idea at all if you can get 4-5 weeks out of him.
Brandon Marshall - 7/72, FL. He predictably lead the Broncos in receiving, but he didn't make any big plays down the field, plus he lost a fumble. We liked him better when Walker was starting across from him.
Baltimore Ravens at San Francisco 49ers
Steve McNair - 29/43, 214 yards, 0 TD, 0 INT, 4/10. Another yawn-inducing performance from McNair. McNair has had a very admirable career, but I think the Ravens would improve their offense by going to Kyle Boller. Who would have thought we'd be saying this 2 years ago?
Willis McGahee - 22/88, 7/48. 5 games, 464 yards, 4.5 YPC, and a shocking 18/143 in the passing game. However, the dude can't score a damn TD on the ground. A very frustrating fact to say the least, both the good and the bad, but the rest of his production has been very solid, if not a bit surprising.
Derrick Mason - 11/85. He continues to post similar numbers every single week. A switch to Boller would hurt his production, so PPR leaguers should keep an eye on the QB situation and attempt to sell high if a switch is ever made.
Trent Dilfer - 12/19, 126 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT, 1/4. Plus, one of the most emphatic fist pumps I've ever seen after the TD pass. A solid effort against a solid BAL defense, but Smith should be ready after the bye.
Frank Gore - 16/52, 3/23. SF really needs to find a way to stretch the field and get the 8th and 9th guys out of the box so Gore has some room to run.
Darrell Jackson - 2/6. Bench him.
Chicago Bears at Green Bay Packers
Brian Griese - 15/25, 214 yards, 2 TD, 1 INT, 1/-1. A very efficient performance from Griese against a pretty solid GB defense. It's really hard to recommend him as a fantasy option, but Minnesota's shaky secondary is up next, and you could do worse for a one week option.
Cedric Benson - 27/64, 1/5. It honestly looks like he's running through quicksand into a wall on over half his carries. He shows no burst whatsoever, and the offensive line isn't doing him many favors. With Minnesota's #1 run D up next, I'd try to avoid using him, although there's a good chance he could score and save what projects to be a miserable yardage performance. They Bears will stay dedicated to feeding him the ball as long as he doesn't put it on the ground.
Bernard Berrian - 1/10. Berrian left with a toe injury and didn't return. He's sunk to an average WR3 option with Griese at the helm.
Desmond Clark - 3/62, 1 TD. He's a solid TE2 with Griese starting. He'll look to his TEs, and even if he's sharing time with Olsen, both could become solid plays as the Bears would be smart to continue using them both off of playaction passes.
Greg Olsen - 4/57, 1 TD. See above.
Brett Favre - 29/40, 322 yards, 1 TD, 2 INT. He racked up the vast majority of that in the first half, and then Green Bay imitated a turtle by going into a conservative shell and never re-emerging.
DeShawn Wynn - 13/78, 1/13, 1 TD. As with Favre, most of that came in the first half. Brandon Jackson seems likely to return this week, and while Morency was also very productive in this game, his knee is bothering him again. It's a mess worth avoiding in starting lineups.
Donald Driver - 4/51. Green Bay seems intent on using all 3 WRs, although if James Jones receives less targets thanks to his fumbilitis, Driver would benefit.
Greg Jennings - 4/83, 1 TD. He's their best deep threat and he's settling in as a solid WR3.
James Jones - 5/61, 2 FL. Tillman kept punching the ball loose, and owners kept punching the nearest thing to them.
Donald Lee - 3/23. His quiestest yardage game of the season. He's still a solid TE2.
Wednesday, October 10, 2007
NFL Week 5: Early Game Wrapup
Miami Dolphins at Houston Texans
Trent Green - His eggs were scrambled trying to block Travis Johnson, and now he's out indefinitely. This is why you don't put older QBs with concussion problems in a situation where they might have to block. Stupid Dolphins.
Cleo Lemon - 15/27, 151 yards, 1 INT. Hardly impressive, but Lemon has some quality physical tools and knows coach Cam Cameron from back in San Diego. He'll have rookie John Beck breathing down his neck for a bit, but you could do worse than Lemon in a matchup against the dreadful Cleveland secondary in week 6.
Ronnie Brown - 23/114, 5/39, 1 TD. Ronnie Brown has arrived. This was especially impressive against a Houston run D that had been much improved over previous years up until this game. Given his proficiency in the passing game, expect Brown to be a solid RB1 for as long as he stays healthy.
Chris Chambers - 2/19. 2 duds in a row for Chambers, and the switch to Cleo Lemon might spell trouble. Consider him a WR4 until he shows what he can do with his new QB, although his matchup in week 6 against CLE doesn't get much better.
Marty Booker - 5/45. He's more of a possession guy, and Lemon might use him a bit more often. Think Derrick Mason-ish numbers with Lemon at the helm, and he's good for WR depth and a bye-week fill in.
Matt Schaub - 20/34, 294 yards, 0 TD, 1 INT, 3/6, 1 FL. He had been playing pretty well despite all the injuries around him on offense, but he's still only a weak matchup kinda guy without AJ and Jones. He gets Jacksonville next, so if your starter is on bye and Schaub is your backup, I'd highly consider the WW options for week 6.
Ron Dayne - 16/40, 1/5, 1 TD. So yeah, Ron Dayne is officially worthless. If he can't get it going against Atlanta and Miami, there's no hope for him. Ahman Green appears ready to return, so Ron Dayne should also make a return of his own....to the free agent pool.
Andre Davis - 4/79. Another solid game from a very popular waiver wire pickup. I wouldn't start him versus Jacksonville unless you're completely out of options.
Owen Daniels - 6/96. Still no TD, but Daniels is posting solid yardage and even better PPR numbers with their WRs out. Schaub relies on him as much as anyone and he has emerged as a lower tier TE1.
Jacksonville Jaguars at Kansas City Chiefs
David Garrard - 20/27, 218 yards, 1 TD, 0 INT, 4/9. Another workman-like game from Garrard who is definitely a quality QB2. His running game was absent this week, but he seems to find the endzone once, puts up solid passing yards, and he usually supplements all of that with some rushing yards as well.
Fred Taylor - 16/51, 1/9. Another blah game from Taylor who's barely a RB3 at this point. He's getting a fairly solid workload, but he's just not doing much with it most weeks. Still, Jacksonville figures to stay with him.
Maurice Jones-Drew - 9/82, 3/30, 1 TD. There he is. He busted out a great 52 yard TD run which highlight his return as a fantasy option.
Dennis Northcutt - 4/73, 1 TD. He seems to have emerged as a go-to target for Garrard of sorts. Given all the injuries and bye week problems in week 6, starting him against Houston isn't a horrible idea.
Damon Huard - 1/30, 196 yards, 0 TD, 1 INT. He left with an injury, but appears ready to go in week 6 despite not returning in week 5. If you've been waiting to use him for some reason, this week against Cincy may be as good as it gets.
Larry Johnson - 9/12, 5/3. Talk about doing nothing with your touches. LJ has posted 1 good game in 5, although if there's a positive here, his schedule has definitely been brutal so far. Buying low is a possibility given your current team situation, but temper your expectations, like I've been saying since before the season.
Dwayne Bowe - 4/70. Another solid game from the rookie who is definitely doing his best Marques Colston impersonation. He's emerged as a solid WR3 despite the poor offense around him.
Tony Gonzalez - 8/100. He's really come alive these past two weeks and he's proving that he still has it despite the crap offense around him. He's a lower tier TE1.
Cleveland Browns at New England Patriots
Derek Anderson - 22/43, 287 yards, 2 TD, 3 INT, 3/7. Not a bad performance at all given the competition. At this point I'm sold that Anderson can be a quality QB2. He had a monster game against Cincy, and he's followed that up with solid efforts each time out since then.
Jamal Lewis - 1/11. He suffered a foot sprain, which could mean he'll be out several weeks. Not that you should have been starting him against NE, anyways.
Jason Wright - 15/59, 4/43. A very solid afternoon for the unheralded backup to Jamal Lewis, especially against a tough NE defense. Miami can't stop anything on the ground except for Ron Dayne, so he's not a bad week 6 guy if you're hurting with injuries and bye weeks.
Braylon Edwards - 6/110. Edwards is proving to be WR1 material. Anderson knows how to get him the ball, and he's not afraid to toss it deep. He's been the 2nd best draft value at WR so far this year.
Kellen Winslow - 4/49, 1 TD, 1 FL. He just keeps putting up great TE numbers, no matter who the competition is, and no matter if he's hurt or not.
Tom Brady - 22/38, 265 yards, 3 TD. His worst game of the season. That's how ridiculous he's been this year.
Sammy Morris - 21/102, 2/9. He shredded the Cleveland defense, although I'm sure owners were hoping for paydirt. He contines to perform like a solid RB2 with Maroney hurt, and it's unclear when Maroney will return.
Randy Moss - 3/46. Cleveland sent everything they had at Moss, so Brady looked elsewhere. Given the upcoming showdown against the Cowboys and TO, expect him to rise to the occasion and produce a great bounceback game.
Donte Stallworth - 4/65, 1/12, 1 TD. He needs to be owned in every league now as he's clearly healthy. He'll probably frustrate you as an inconsistent starter, but he's going to get open with Moss opposite of him, and he still can make things happen after the catch.
Ben Watson - 6/107, 2 TD. Cleveland spent all their time covering Moss, and that left the middle of the field wide-open for Watson to own. Don't expect yardage days like this from him, but he'll have a few explosions throughout the year. He's still a lower tier TE1.
Carolina Panthers at New Orleans Saints
David Carr - 10/17, 119 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT, 2/6. He hurt his back and needed an alignment and pain killers to return, but he did return and helped lead the Panthers to a comeback win. He's not to be touched in anything other than 2 QB leagues.
DeShaun Foster - 19/59. The new Foster, same as the old Foster. He finally earns the majority of the carries, but then does nothing with them. He's a dicey RB3, but should continue getting the majority of the carries for at least another week or two.
Steve Smith - 4/47, 1 TD. Well, at least he scored late in the game to give his fantasy owners a solid performance. With Delhomme out for the year, trying to sell Steve Smith as a WR1 might be a wise idea. Carr just can't get him the ball down the field. Carr turned AJ into a possession receiver in Houston and has a good chance of doing the same to Smith. Don't panick and give him up for Coles, but if you can somehow move him for a stud WR like Moss, Owens, CJ, etc, I wouldn't hesitate to do it.
Drew Brees - 29/47, 252 yards, 0 TD, 2 INT. This has become a serious problem. I thought the Saints would rebound at home after the break, but this team is clearly not very good this year. I wouldn't drop him because they're going to rebound somewhat eventually, but you can't risk starting him anymore.
Reggie Bush - 21/67, 9/52. Solid all-around yardage for Bush, but he struggled with his carries. He still has a lot to learn about running between the tackles, so his vision will likely hold him back from being consistent regarding his rushing yardage, but his presence in the receiving game will make him a consistent all-around yardage producer, and the TDs will come. He's a borderline RB1.
Devery Henderson - 4/101. His random explosion game occured here, but I wouldn't let him near my starting lineup. There's talk that he could lose his starting job to Lance Moore. Yeah, exactly, I don't know who he is either.
Eric Johnson - 5/30. He's dropped to a solid TE2 since this offense isn't going anywhere currently.
New York Jets at New York Giants
Chad Pennington - 21/36, 229 yards, 1 TD, 3 INT, 2/6. His arm strength has gone from below average to poor, and it's affecting the team's passing game. It's time to drop him, perhaps for Derek Anderson. The calls for Kellen Clemens are getting louder.
Thomas Jones - 13/36, 2/14. He was expected to be a solid RB2 in an offense that was supposed to resemble the Bears, but more efficient. Instead it sucks, and it's dragging Jones down with it. He's a weak RB2 at the current time.
Laveraneous Coles - 8/89. He's been consistent despite Pennington's erratic games, and given he's Pennington's favorite target, he might see a bit of a drop in production if the team moves to Clemens at some point.
Jerricho Cotchery - 4/31. He's been a solid WR3 so far, and he could benefit from a move to Clemens, who can get him the ball further down the field.
Eli Manning - 13/25, 186 yards, 2 TD, 1 INT, 4/17. Another solid game from Eli who's quitely become a borderline QB1.
Brandon Jacobs - 20/100, 1 TD, 1 FL. He fumbled early, but rebounded in a huge way. He had another 20 yard TD called back, so the fact he unofficially scored twice from 20 yards out is a great sign moving forward. He handled 20 carries just fine and could emerge as a low-end RB1 with enough carries.
Derrick Ward - 13/56, 3/8, 1 TD. Ward was also productive, scoring from 8 yards out and running well. The Giants obviously won't be able to run 35 times (Droughns had 2 carries) each week, so expect those lesser weeks to have a bigger impact on Ward than Jacobs.
Plaxico Burress - 5/124, 1 TD. The TD was a thing of beauty where Burress escaped at least one defender and outran everyone to the endzone. He had a swollen ankle after the ballgame, but should be fine for week 6.
Jeremy Shockey - 2/33, 1 TD. The Giants didn't need to pass a whole lot, but at least Shockey found the endzone to post a quality fantasy afternoon.
Seattle Seahawks at Pittsburgh Steelers
Matt Hasselbeck - 13/27, 116 yards, 0 TD, 1 INT. A horrible afternoon from Hasselbeck, who completely fell out of rhythm with the injury to Branch. If Branch can't return this week, that leaves him with Burleson and Engram as his WRs, and that means you should probably leave him on the bench.
Shaun Alexander - 11/25, 3/7. I said sell high. Ugly game, although he should rebound somewhat versus the Saints next week.
Deion Branch - 2/14. He was on a solid roll since week 1 before spraining his foot. His status for week 6 is in question.
Ben Roethlisberger - 18/22, 206 yards, 1 TD, 0 INT. He was incredibly accurate despite not having Ward, and losing Holmes before the game started. The bye week comes at a perfect time for him as this will give Ward and Holmes time to heal from their injuries.
Willie Parker - 28/102. Parker is proving to be a bust this year as Davenport seems to have officially become the preferred option at the goalline. Parker struggled with fumbles last season in the redzone, and apparently the new coaching staff prefers using Davenport down there instead. This is a huge hit to his value. He'll remain a solid yardage contributor and a threat to break a big run, but he's back to being a borderline RB1 instead of a solid one.
Santonio Holmes - 0/0. Holmes hurt his hamstring in pre-game and didn't play. Unfortunately this screwed over almost all of his owners, but he's expected to return after his bye week.
Heath Miller - 4/44, 1 TD. Miller benefitted with Ward and Holmes out by posting a solid fantasy afternoon.
Arizona Cardinals at St. Louis Rams
Matt Leinart - 7/13, 100 yards, 1 INT. Leinart gave fantasy owners a relief by breaking his collarbone and making Warner the new starting QB for the rest of the season.
Kurt Warner - 14/28, 190 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT, 3/0, 1 TD. Warner put up a solid fantasy day after Leinart left injured, and he should border on QB1 value for as long as he stays healthy. He's attributed his success to using gloves, allowing him to get a better grip on the ball. He won't be pass crazy like in 2005 under Dennis Green, but he'll be in a solid offense with a better line in front of him, plus Boldin could return this week.
Edgerrin James - 26/88, 1/9. A very disappointing day from James against the STL run D. He still put up solid yardage totals and has remained a workhorse. Warner might allow him more running room as he'll be a more consistent passer than Leinart was.
Larry Fitzgerald - 9/136, 1 TD. A huge day from Fitz, and he finally scored his first TD. It could have been even bigger as he had over 100 yards at halftime. With Warner the new starter, Fitz should be more consistent than with Leinart, but Warner appears to favor Boldin.
Gus Frerotte - 24/43, 262 yards, 3 TD, 3 INT, 1/1. Frerrotte posted a solid fantasy game with Bulger out, but the 3 INTs were annoying. Given he hadn't started in quite some time, I'd attribute that to rust as he's always been a solid backup. He's a solid QB2 with Bulger out.
Brian Leonard - 18/102, 5/33. A very Steven Jackson-ish game, and it's a shame he didn't score. Consider him a solid RB2 worth using in the right matchups while Jackson remains hurt.
Torry Holt - 5/89, 1 TD. As expected, Holt bounced back with a healthy QB behind center, and he produced his first big play hauling in a 34 yard catch. All in all, this is very good news for Holt.
Drew Bennett - 2/32, 1 TD. Bennett could become a decent WR3 option with Bruce out. He needs to be owned in all leagues, and he's a great redzone target.
Atlanta Falcons at Tennessee Titans
Joey Harrington - 16/31, 87 yards, 0 TD, 1 INT. Horrible, and he was relieved by Leftwich later in the game. It's amazing how he crumbles under pressure. Not that this game itself was huge for the Falcons, but it's because Leftwich is picking up the offense and is now a legit threat to take his job. Get rid of him.
Warrick Dunn - 10/27, 2/12. More of the same from Dunn.
Roddy White - 3/55. Not a bad performance given how poorly both QBs played. He's defintely worth a roster spot, and he should be able to get open against the Giants next week. Whether Harrington will have time to get him the ball is another story.
Alge Crumpler - 2/4. Yikes. Crumpler owners have to be praying Leftwich takes over at this point.
Vince Young - 20/33, 157 yards, 0 TD, 3 INT, 8/27. Young was supposed to outshine the opposing QB, not emulate him. This further proves how Young can't be relied upon as a QB1 despite likely being drafted as such.
LenDale White - 12/32, 1 FL. A very disappointing effort against what had been a bad ATL run D. I still consider him a solid RB3.
Chris Brown - 10/27, 1 TD. Brown's TD came from 3 yards out, so everything that I've read about White being the preferred option near the goalline might not be true.
Brandon Jones - 3/36. Probably the only Titans WR worth keeping an eye on. He shouldn't be anywhere near starting lineups, but could emerge as Young's go-to WR eventually.
Detroit Lions at Washington Redskins
Jon Kitna - 16/29, 106 yards, 0 TD, 2 INT, 4/3. A very ugly game from Kitna who was due for a clunker one of these weeks. They'll have the bye week to get Calvin Johnson back on the field, and to readjust to defense sitting deep on them.
Kevin Jones - 11/48. Jones got all his carries in the 2nd half, presumably so that Detroit could feature Tatum in an attempt to deal him. KJ appears poised to take the job to himself after the bye. He's a quality buy-low guy who could re-emerge as a RB2 at worst over the rest of the season. Now's a great time to get him.
Roy Williams - 3/36. Kitna struggled, thus so did Roy. Same for all the other WRs, so it's nothing to worry about.
Jason Campbell - 23/29, 248 yards, 2 TD, 0 INT, 2/0. A very efficient game from Campbell...probably his best performance of the season. I remain very high on him and think that he's around to stay as a solid NFL QB, and he's a solid QB2 who should keep improving.
Clinton Portis - 18/72, 2/19, 1 FL. Another solid yardage day from Portis who looked much better in the 2nd half. He's still nothing more than an RB2 and the Skins seem set on limiting his workload. I thought he'd be seeing more carries, especially with Betts not impressing, but that hasn't been the case so far.
Antwaan Randle El - 7/100. All of that came in the first half, but he left injured and didn't return. With Santana Moss likely to return this week, Randle El should return to fantasy benches.
Chris Cooley - 4/26, 1 TD. Cooley continues to disappoint with his yardage totals, but he's scored a few TDs to make up for it. He's having to block more thanks to the injuries to Jon Jansen and Randy Thomas on the offensive line, but as the new offensive line members gel more into the scheme, expect Cooley to pick it up in the 2nd half.
Trent Green - His eggs were scrambled trying to block Travis Johnson, and now he's out indefinitely. This is why you don't put older QBs with concussion problems in a situation where they might have to block. Stupid Dolphins.
Cleo Lemon - 15/27, 151 yards, 1 INT. Hardly impressive, but Lemon has some quality physical tools and knows coach Cam Cameron from back in San Diego. He'll have rookie John Beck breathing down his neck for a bit, but you could do worse than Lemon in a matchup against the dreadful Cleveland secondary in week 6.
Ronnie Brown - 23/114, 5/39, 1 TD. Ronnie Brown has arrived. This was especially impressive against a Houston run D that had been much improved over previous years up until this game. Given his proficiency in the passing game, expect Brown to be a solid RB1 for as long as he stays healthy.
Chris Chambers - 2/19. 2 duds in a row for Chambers, and the switch to Cleo Lemon might spell trouble. Consider him a WR4 until he shows what he can do with his new QB, although his matchup in week 6 against CLE doesn't get much better.
Marty Booker - 5/45. He's more of a possession guy, and Lemon might use him a bit more often. Think Derrick Mason-ish numbers with Lemon at the helm, and he's good for WR depth and a bye-week fill in.
Matt Schaub - 20/34, 294 yards, 0 TD, 1 INT, 3/6, 1 FL. He had been playing pretty well despite all the injuries around him on offense, but he's still only a weak matchup kinda guy without AJ and Jones. He gets Jacksonville next, so if your starter is on bye and Schaub is your backup, I'd highly consider the WW options for week 6.
Ron Dayne - 16/40, 1/5, 1 TD. So yeah, Ron Dayne is officially worthless. If he can't get it going against Atlanta and Miami, there's no hope for him. Ahman Green appears ready to return, so Ron Dayne should also make a return of his own....to the free agent pool.
Andre Davis - 4/79. Another solid game from a very popular waiver wire pickup. I wouldn't start him versus Jacksonville unless you're completely out of options.
Owen Daniels - 6/96. Still no TD, but Daniels is posting solid yardage and even better PPR numbers with their WRs out. Schaub relies on him as much as anyone and he has emerged as a lower tier TE1.
Jacksonville Jaguars at Kansas City Chiefs
David Garrard - 20/27, 218 yards, 1 TD, 0 INT, 4/9. Another workman-like game from Garrard who is definitely a quality QB2. His running game was absent this week, but he seems to find the endzone once, puts up solid passing yards, and he usually supplements all of that with some rushing yards as well.
Fred Taylor - 16/51, 1/9. Another blah game from Taylor who's barely a RB3 at this point. He's getting a fairly solid workload, but he's just not doing much with it most weeks. Still, Jacksonville figures to stay with him.
Maurice Jones-Drew - 9/82, 3/30, 1 TD. There he is. He busted out a great 52 yard TD run which highlight his return as a fantasy option.
Dennis Northcutt - 4/73, 1 TD. He seems to have emerged as a go-to target for Garrard of sorts. Given all the injuries and bye week problems in week 6, starting him against Houston isn't a horrible idea.
Damon Huard - 1/30, 196 yards, 0 TD, 1 INT. He left with an injury, but appears ready to go in week 6 despite not returning in week 5. If you've been waiting to use him for some reason, this week against Cincy may be as good as it gets.
Larry Johnson - 9/12, 5/3. Talk about doing nothing with your touches. LJ has posted 1 good game in 5, although if there's a positive here, his schedule has definitely been brutal so far. Buying low is a possibility given your current team situation, but temper your expectations, like I've been saying since before the season.
Dwayne Bowe - 4/70. Another solid game from the rookie who is definitely doing his best Marques Colston impersonation. He's emerged as a solid WR3 despite the poor offense around him.
Tony Gonzalez - 8/100. He's really come alive these past two weeks and he's proving that he still has it despite the crap offense around him. He's a lower tier TE1.
Cleveland Browns at New England Patriots
Derek Anderson - 22/43, 287 yards, 2 TD, 3 INT, 3/7. Not a bad performance at all given the competition. At this point I'm sold that Anderson can be a quality QB2. He had a monster game against Cincy, and he's followed that up with solid efforts each time out since then.
Jamal Lewis - 1/11. He suffered a foot sprain, which could mean he'll be out several weeks. Not that you should have been starting him against NE, anyways.
Jason Wright - 15/59, 4/43. A very solid afternoon for the unheralded backup to Jamal Lewis, especially against a tough NE defense. Miami can't stop anything on the ground except for Ron Dayne, so he's not a bad week 6 guy if you're hurting with injuries and bye weeks.
Braylon Edwards - 6/110. Edwards is proving to be WR1 material. Anderson knows how to get him the ball, and he's not afraid to toss it deep. He's been the 2nd best draft value at WR so far this year.
Kellen Winslow - 4/49, 1 TD, 1 FL. He just keeps putting up great TE numbers, no matter who the competition is, and no matter if he's hurt or not.
Tom Brady - 22/38, 265 yards, 3 TD. His worst game of the season. That's how ridiculous he's been this year.
Sammy Morris - 21/102, 2/9. He shredded the Cleveland defense, although I'm sure owners were hoping for paydirt. He contines to perform like a solid RB2 with Maroney hurt, and it's unclear when Maroney will return.
Randy Moss - 3/46. Cleveland sent everything they had at Moss, so Brady looked elsewhere. Given the upcoming showdown against the Cowboys and TO, expect him to rise to the occasion and produce a great bounceback game.
Donte Stallworth - 4/65, 1/12, 1 TD. He needs to be owned in every league now as he's clearly healthy. He'll probably frustrate you as an inconsistent starter, but he's going to get open with Moss opposite of him, and he still can make things happen after the catch.
Ben Watson - 6/107, 2 TD. Cleveland spent all their time covering Moss, and that left the middle of the field wide-open for Watson to own. Don't expect yardage days like this from him, but he'll have a few explosions throughout the year. He's still a lower tier TE1.
Carolina Panthers at New Orleans Saints
David Carr - 10/17, 119 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT, 2/6. He hurt his back and needed an alignment and pain killers to return, but he did return and helped lead the Panthers to a comeback win. He's not to be touched in anything other than 2 QB leagues.
DeShaun Foster - 19/59. The new Foster, same as the old Foster. He finally earns the majority of the carries, but then does nothing with them. He's a dicey RB3, but should continue getting the majority of the carries for at least another week or two.
Steve Smith - 4/47, 1 TD. Well, at least he scored late in the game to give his fantasy owners a solid performance. With Delhomme out for the year, trying to sell Steve Smith as a WR1 might be a wise idea. Carr just can't get him the ball down the field. Carr turned AJ into a possession receiver in Houston and has a good chance of doing the same to Smith. Don't panick and give him up for Coles, but if you can somehow move him for a stud WR like Moss, Owens, CJ, etc, I wouldn't hesitate to do it.
Drew Brees - 29/47, 252 yards, 0 TD, 2 INT. This has become a serious problem. I thought the Saints would rebound at home after the break, but this team is clearly not very good this year. I wouldn't drop him because they're going to rebound somewhat eventually, but you can't risk starting him anymore.
Reggie Bush - 21/67, 9/52. Solid all-around yardage for Bush, but he struggled with his carries. He still has a lot to learn about running between the tackles, so his vision will likely hold him back from being consistent regarding his rushing yardage, but his presence in the receiving game will make him a consistent all-around yardage producer, and the TDs will come. He's a borderline RB1.
Devery Henderson - 4/101. His random explosion game occured here, but I wouldn't let him near my starting lineup. There's talk that he could lose his starting job to Lance Moore. Yeah, exactly, I don't know who he is either.
Eric Johnson - 5/30. He's dropped to a solid TE2 since this offense isn't going anywhere currently.
New York Jets at New York Giants
Chad Pennington - 21/36, 229 yards, 1 TD, 3 INT, 2/6. His arm strength has gone from below average to poor, and it's affecting the team's passing game. It's time to drop him, perhaps for Derek Anderson. The calls for Kellen Clemens are getting louder.
Thomas Jones - 13/36, 2/14. He was expected to be a solid RB2 in an offense that was supposed to resemble the Bears, but more efficient. Instead it sucks, and it's dragging Jones down with it. He's a weak RB2 at the current time.
Laveraneous Coles - 8/89. He's been consistent despite Pennington's erratic games, and given he's Pennington's favorite target, he might see a bit of a drop in production if the team moves to Clemens at some point.
Jerricho Cotchery - 4/31. He's been a solid WR3 so far, and he could benefit from a move to Clemens, who can get him the ball further down the field.
Eli Manning - 13/25, 186 yards, 2 TD, 1 INT, 4/17. Another solid game from Eli who's quitely become a borderline QB1.
Brandon Jacobs - 20/100, 1 TD, 1 FL. He fumbled early, but rebounded in a huge way. He had another 20 yard TD called back, so the fact he unofficially scored twice from 20 yards out is a great sign moving forward. He handled 20 carries just fine and could emerge as a low-end RB1 with enough carries.
Derrick Ward - 13/56, 3/8, 1 TD. Ward was also productive, scoring from 8 yards out and running well. The Giants obviously won't be able to run 35 times (Droughns had 2 carries) each week, so expect those lesser weeks to have a bigger impact on Ward than Jacobs.
Plaxico Burress - 5/124, 1 TD. The TD was a thing of beauty where Burress escaped at least one defender and outran everyone to the endzone. He had a swollen ankle after the ballgame, but should be fine for week 6.
Jeremy Shockey - 2/33, 1 TD. The Giants didn't need to pass a whole lot, but at least Shockey found the endzone to post a quality fantasy afternoon.
Seattle Seahawks at Pittsburgh Steelers
Matt Hasselbeck - 13/27, 116 yards, 0 TD, 1 INT. A horrible afternoon from Hasselbeck, who completely fell out of rhythm with the injury to Branch. If Branch can't return this week, that leaves him with Burleson and Engram as his WRs, and that means you should probably leave him on the bench.
Shaun Alexander - 11/25, 3/7. I said sell high. Ugly game, although he should rebound somewhat versus the Saints next week.
Deion Branch - 2/14. He was on a solid roll since week 1 before spraining his foot. His status for week 6 is in question.
Ben Roethlisberger - 18/22, 206 yards, 1 TD, 0 INT. He was incredibly accurate despite not having Ward, and losing Holmes before the game started. The bye week comes at a perfect time for him as this will give Ward and Holmes time to heal from their injuries.
Willie Parker - 28/102. Parker is proving to be a bust this year as Davenport seems to have officially become the preferred option at the goalline. Parker struggled with fumbles last season in the redzone, and apparently the new coaching staff prefers using Davenport down there instead. This is a huge hit to his value. He'll remain a solid yardage contributor and a threat to break a big run, but he's back to being a borderline RB1 instead of a solid one.
Santonio Holmes - 0/0. Holmes hurt his hamstring in pre-game and didn't play. Unfortunately this screwed over almost all of his owners, but he's expected to return after his bye week.
Heath Miller - 4/44, 1 TD. Miller benefitted with Ward and Holmes out by posting a solid fantasy afternoon.
Arizona Cardinals at St. Louis Rams
Matt Leinart - 7/13, 100 yards, 1 INT. Leinart gave fantasy owners a relief by breaking his collarbone and making Warner the new starting QB for the rest of the season.
Kurt Warner - 14/28, 190 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT, 3/0, 1 TD. Warner put up a solid fantasy day after Leinart left injured, and he should border on QB1 value for as long as he stays healthy. He's attributed his success to using gloves, allowing him to get a better grip on the ball. He won't be pass crazy like in 2005 under Dennis Green, but he'll be in a solid offense with a better line in front of him, plus Boldin could return this week.
Edgerrin James - 26/88, 1/9. A very disappointing day from James against the STL run D. He still put up solid yardage totals and has remained a workhorse. Warner might allow him more running room as he'll be a more consistent passer than Leinart was.
Larry Fitzgerald - 9/136, 1 TD. A huge day from Fitz, and he finally scored his first TD. It could have been even bigger as he had over 100 yards at halftime. With Warner the new starter, Fitz should be more consistent than with Leinart, but Warner appears to favor Boldin.
Gus Frerotte - 24/43, 262 yards, 3 TD, 3 INT, 1/1. Frerrotte posted a solid fantasy game with Bulger out, but the 3 INTs were annoying. Given he hadn't started in quite some time, I'd attribute that to rust as he's always been a solid backup. He's a solid QB2 with Bulger out.
Brian Leonard - 18/102, 5/33. A very Steven Jackson-ish game, and it's a shame he didn't score. Consider him a solid RB2 worth using in the right matchups while Jackson remains hurt.
Torry Holt - 5/89, 1 TD. As expected, Holt bounced back with a healthy QB behind center, and he produced his first big play hauling in a 34 yard catch. All in all, this is very good news for Holt.
Drew Bennett - 2/32, 1 TD. Bennett could become a decent WR3 option with Bruce out. He needs to be owned in all leagues, and he's a great redzone target.
Atlanta Falcons at Tennessee Titans
Joey Harrington - 16/31, 87 yards, 0 TD, 1 INT. Horrible, and he was relieved by Leftwich later in the game. It's amazing how he crumbles under pressure. Not that this game itself was huge for the Falcons, but it's because Leftwich is picking up the offense and is now a legit threat to take his job. Get rid of him.
Warrick Dunn - 10/27, 2/12. More of the same from Dunn.
Roddy White - 3/55. Not a bad performance given how poorly both QBs played. He's defintely worth a roster spot, and he should be able to get open against the Giants next week. Whether Harrington will have time to get him the ball is another story.
Alge Crumpler - 2/4. Yikes. Crumpler owners have to be praying Leftwich takes over at this point.
Vince Young - 20/33, 157 yards, 0 TD, 3 INT, 8/27. Young was supposed to outshine the opposing QB, not emulate him. This further proves how Young can't be relied upon as a QB1 despite likely being drafted as such.
LenDale White - 12/32, 1 FL. A very disappointing effort against what had been a bad ATL run D. I still consider him a solid RB3.
Chris Brown - 10/27, 1 TD. Brown's TD came from 3 yards out, so everything that I've read about White being the preferred option near the goalline might not be true.
Brandon Jones - 3/36. Probably the only Titans WR worth keeping an eye on. He shouldn't be anywhere near starting lineups, but could emerge as Young's go-to WR eventually.
Detroit Lions at Washington Redskins
Jon Kitna - 16/29, 106 yards, 0 TD, 2 INT, 4/3. A very ugly game from Kitna who was due for a clunker one of these weeks. They'll have the bye week to get Calvin Johnson back on the field, and to readjust to defense sitting deep on them.
Kevin Jones - 11/48. Jones got all his carries in the 2nd half, presumably so that Detroit could feature Tatum in an attempt to deal him. KJ appears poised to take the job to himself after the bye. He's a quality buy-low guy who could re-emerge as a RB2 at worst over the rest of the season. Now's a great time to get him.
Roy Williams - 3/36. Kitna struggled, thus so did Roy. Same for all the other WRs, so it's nothing to worry about.
Jason Campbell - 23/29, 248 yards, 2 TD, 0 INT, 2/0. A very efficient game from Campbell...probably his best performance of the season. I remain very high on him and think that he's around to stay as a solid NFL QB, and he's a solid QB2 who should keep improving.
Clinton Portis - 18/72, 2/19, 1 FL. Another solid yardage day from Portis who looked much better in the 2nd half. He's still nothing more than an RB2 and the Skins seem set on limiting his workload. I thought he'd be seeing more carries, especially with Betts not impressing, but that hasn't been the case so far.
Antwaan Randle El - 7/100. All of that came in the first half, but he left injured and didn't return. With Santana Moss likely to return this week, Randle El should return to fantasy benches.
Chris Cooley - 4/26, 1 TD. Cooley continues to disappoint with his yardage totals, but he's scored a few TDs to make up for it. He's having to block more thanks to the injuries to Jon Jansen and Randy Thomas on the offensive line, but as the new offensive line members gel more into the scheme, expect Cooley to pick it up in the 2nd half.
Friday, October 5, 2007
Travis Henry Tests Positive For Marijuana
Denver Broncos RB Travis Henry has reportedly tested positive for marijuana use. Considering Henry has already received a 4 game suspension as a result for testing positive for marijuana use in 2005, Henry now faces a 1 year suspension from the league. Henry has filed a grievence stating that his "experts" were not present when the testing took place, but that suit likely has no ground and will probably be dismissed. It's a last-ditch effort from Henry to avoid a suspension, but it seems imminent at this point. It's a huge blow to those who drafted Henry in the late 1st/early 2nd round.
Fantasy Impact: I apologize for not posting this last night when I first read about it as I was on my way out the door for softball. If he's available, pick up Selvin Young immediately as he'll likely be the Denver starter. Unfortunately with Henry out of the picture, who knows what Shanahan will do in his backfield. With Henry, he had a reliable veteran and almost a financial obligation to use him as the primary ball carrier. Young overtook Mike Bell in the preseason with a very strong performance, and he has looked great running the ball in limited regular season work. If he starts faltering or shows a propensity to put the ball on the ground, Shanahan has shown that he has no problem mixing and matching in his backfield. Should Henry be suspended, Young's backup is currently unknown. Ahmad Hall, Cecil Sapp, and Mike Bell could all get a chance.
Fantasy Impact: I apologize for not posting this last night when I first read about it as I was on my way out the door for softball. If he's available, pick up Selvin Young immediately as he'll likely be the Denver starter. Unfortunately with Henry out of the picture, who knows what Shanahan will do in his backfield. With Henry, he had a reliable veteran and almost a financial obligation to use him as the primary ball carrier. Young overtook Mike Bell in the preseason with a very strong performance, and he has looked great running the ball in limited regular season work. If he starts faltering or shows a propensity to put the ball on the ground, Shanahan has shown that he has no problem mixing and matching in his backfield. Should Henry be suspended, Young's backup is currently unknown. Ahmad Hall, Cecil Sapp, and Mike Bell could all get a chance.
Thursday, October 4, 2007
NFL Week 5: Injury Report
QB:
J.P. Losman - Losman suffered a sprained MCL in week 3, and he is out for week 5. It looks like he'll return in week 7 after Buffalo's bye. Rookie Trent Edwards will start in his place.
Tavaris Jackson - Jackson strained his groin in week 2, missed weeks 3 and 4, and is on bye in week 5. He expects to start in week 6. Kelly Holcomb would start again if Jackson can't go.
Jake Delhomme - Delhomme strained his throwing elbow in week 3, he missed week 4, and he's out for week 5. David Carr will start in his place again, and makes for a weak option despite a favorable matchup.
Matt Leinart - No injury here, but this bizarre QBBC is in full effect. Keep Leinart firmly on your bench until he's playing all game. I wouldn't drop him as he still has upside and this could be a motivational tactic, but you can't use him this week not knowing what will come of this. Kurt Warner is worth stashing depending on your roster size as he'd be a QB1 if he'd play all game.
Alex Smith - Smith separated his shoulder in week 4, and he is out for week 5. When he'll return is in question right now, and Trent Dilfer will start in his place. Dilfer is a poor QB2.
Marc Bulger - Bulger suffered broken ribs in week 2, and he is out for week 5. Gus Frerotte willl start in his place, and he makes for a decent QB2.
RB:
Laurence Maroney - Maroney injured his groin in week 3, he missed week 4, and his status for week 5 is in question. He was limited in practice all week and will be a gametime decision. If he can't start, Sammy Morris will, and he would be a great RB2.
Rudi Johnson - Johnson suffered a an injured hamstring in week 3, missed week 4, and he is on bye in week 5. He hopes to return in week 6. Kenny Watson would start again if Rudi can't go.
Ahman Green - Green sprained his knee in week 3, missed week 4, and his status for week 5 is in doubt. He was limited in practice all week, and will likely be a gameday inactive. Ron Dayne will start if Green can't go, and he has a favorable matchup against the Dolphins.
Joseph Addai - Addai bruised his shoulder in week 4, and his status for week 5 is in question. He missed practice all week, but participated in walk-throughs. If I had to guess, he'll start in week 5. He'll be a gametime decision, so have an alternative at the same time or later ready to go. Kenton Keith will start if Addai can't go, and he'd make a solid RB2 option.
Travis Henry - Henry spranied his knee in week 4, and his status for week 5 is in question. He missed practice on both Wednesday and Thursday, but returned to practice on Friday. He'll be a gametime decision, and Selvin Young will start if Henry can't go. Young would be a quality RB2 option.
LaMont Jordan - Jordan hurt his back in week 4, but he is on bye in week 5. Jordan seemed to be in quite a bit of pain after the injury, but X-Rays came back negative, so hopefully he'll return to the field in week 6. Dominic Rhodes and Justin Fargas would likely split the workload if Jordan can't go.
Brandon Jacobs - Jacobs sprained his knee in week 1, missed weeks 2-4, but will play in week 5. Jacobs started the year as the every down RB, but given the emergence of Derrick Ward while Jacobs was injured, Ward will likely get extensive work on passing downs at least. Given Jacobs hasn't played in a month, he'll likely be limited somewhat, but he'll get the goalline carries and makes for a fine flex/bye-week fill-in.
Brian Westbrook - Westbrook strained his abs in week 3, missed week 4, and is on bye in week 5. He hopes to return in week 6.
Clinton Portis - Portis hurt his knee in week 3, but he will start in week 5.
Kevin Jones - Jones has returned from his foot fracture, but he's still being eased into the offense. He split carries almost evenly in week 4, but still remains a very questionable play in week 5. Until he gets a solid workload, it's very hard to recommend him, although he's obviously the preferred option at the goalline.
Brandon Jackson - Jackson strained his shin in week 3, missed week 4, and his status for week 5 is in doubt. With the return of Vernand Morency and the continued use of DeShawn Wynn, dumping him for a more attractice waiver wire option is a solid idea. There's no way he's earned the majority of the carries, and he won't return to a featured role anytime soon.
Cadillac Williams - Williams tore his patella tendon in week 4 and is out for the year. Michael Pittman and Earnest Graham will split the workload in his place. Pittman will probably see more carries overall and more work in the passing game, but Graham appears to be the preferred option at the goalline.
Steven Jackson - Jackson tore his groin in week 3, missed week 4, and is out for week 5. He'll likely need a few more weeks to heal. Brian Leonard will start in his place, but he's nothing more than a RB3 given the struggling Rams offense around him.
WR:
Hines Ward - Ward sprained his knee in week 3, missed week 4, and is out for week 5. Santonio Holmes and Heath Miller would benefit from Ward's absence.
Andre Johnson - Johnson sprained his knee in week 2, missed weeks 3 and 4, and is out for week 5. He still hasn't practiced yet and reports indicate that he's still walking with a limp, so it would be surprising if he played in week 6.
Marvin Harrison - Harrison strained his knee in week 4, and his status for week 5 is in question. He missed practice all week. He'll be a gametime decision, so have an alternative at the same time or later ready to go.
Javon Walker - Walker experienced soreness in his knee in week 3, missed week 4, and is out for week 5. Brandon Marshall is the biggest benefactor. Brandon Stokley will start in his place, but is a very weak fantasy option.
Plaxico Burress - Burress injured his ankle in week 2, but he played well in weeks 3 and 4. He missed practice on both Wednesday and Thursday. He's expected to play in week 5, and he'll remain a solid redzone threat, but this injury could limit his downfield effectiveness.
Santana Moss - Moss strained his groin in week 3, and is out in week 5. Antwaan Randle El would be a risky WR3 option, but he has a favorable matchup against Detroit. Chris Cooley will likely benefit the most from Moss' absence.
Calvin Johnson - Johnson bruised his back in week 3, missed week 4, and his status for week 5 is in question. He was limited in practice all week, so while it seems like he's expected to play, have an alternative ready in case he doesn't.
Anquan Boldin - Boldin hurt his hip in week 3, missed week 4, and his status for week 5 is in doubt. He missed practice all week. He's listed as doubtful. Bryant Johnson will likely start in his place, but isn't a fantasy option.
TE:
Todd Heap - Heap injured his hamstring in week 4, and his status for week 5 is in question. He missed practice on both Wednesday and Thursday. He'll probably be a gametime decision, so have an alternative at the same time or later ready to go.
Kellen Winslow - Winslow suffered a partially separated shoulder in week 3, but played well in week 4, and should play in week 5. He was limited in practice all week, so check the gameday inactives to make sure. Having a TE2 ready is a good idea, just in case.
Vernon Davis - Davis sprained his knee in week 3, missed week 4, and is out for week 5. He's expected to return in week 7 after the 49ers' bye week.
D:
Chicago - Chicago's defense was hit hard with injuries in week 3, and it looks like CB Charles Tillman, CB Nathan Vasher, and LB Lance Briggs will miss the game in week 5. Their D-Line appears healthy, but their secondary is a mess. I apologize for suggesting looking for other options in week 4 given the turnover-prone Kitna, but Favre and the Packers should do a better job of torching the defense. I'd again consider other options.
J.P. Losman - Losman suffered a sprained MCL in week 3, and he is out for week 5. It looks like he'll return in week 7 after Buffalo's bye. Rookie Trent Edwards will start in his place.
Tavaris Jackson - Jackson strained his groin in week 2, missed weeks 3 and 4, and is on bye in week 5. He expects to start in week 6. Kelly Holcomb would start again if Jackson can't go.
Jake Delhomme - Delhomme strained his throwing elbow in week 3, he missed week 4, and he's out for week 5. David Carr will start in his place again, and makes for a weak option despite a favorable matchup.
Matt Leinart - No injury here, but this bizarre QBBC is in full effect. Keep Leinart firmly on your bench until he's playing all game. I wouldn't drop him as he still has upside and this could be a motivational tactic, but you can't use him this week not knowing what will come of this. Kurt Warner is worth stashing depending on your roster size as he'd be a QB1 if he'd play all game.
Alex Smith - Smith separated his shoulder in week 4, and he is out for week 5. When he'll return is in question right now, and Trent Dilfer will start in his place. Dilfer is a poor QB2.
Marc Bulger - Bulger suffered broken ribs in week 2, and he is out for week 5. Gus Frerotte willl start in his place, and he makes for a decent QB2.
RB:
Laurence Maroney - Maroney injured his groin in week 3, he missed week 4, and his status for week 5 is in question. He was limited in practice all week and will be a gametime decision. If he can't start, Sammy Morris will, and he would be a great RB2.
Rudi Johnson - Johnson suffered a an injured hamstring in week 3, missed week 4, and he is on bye in week 5. He hopes to return in week 6. Kenny Watson would start again if Rudi can't go.
Ahman Green - Green sprained his knee in week 3, missed week 4, and his status for week 5 is in doubt. He was limited in practice all week, and will likely be a gameday inactive. Ron Dayne will start if Green can't go, and he has a favorable matchup against the Dolphins.
Joseph Addai - Addai bruised his shoulder in week 4, and his status for week 5 is in question. He missed practice all week, but participated in walk-throughs. If I had to guess, he'll start in week 5. He'll be a gametime decision, so have an alternative at the same time or later ready to go. Kenton Keith will start if Addai can't go, and he'd make a solid RB2 option.
Travis Henry - Henry spranied his knee in week 4, and his status for week 5 is in question. He missed practice on both Wednesday and Thursday, but returned to practice on Friday. He'll be a gametime decision, and Selvin Young will start if Henry can't go. Young would be a quality RB2 option.
LaMont Jordan - Jordan hurt his back in week 4, but he is on bye in week 5. Jordan seemed to be in quite a bit of pain after the injury, but X-Rays came back negative, so hopefully he'll return to the field in week 6. Dominic Rhodes and Justin Fargas would likely split the workload if Jordan can't go.
Brandon Jacobs - Jacobs sprained his knee in week 1, missed weeks 2-4, but will play in week 5. Jacobs started the year as the every down RB, but given the emergence of Derrick Ward while Jacobs was injured, Ward will likely get extensive work on passing downs at least. Given Jacobs hasn't played in a month, he'll likely be limited somewhat, but he'll get the goalline carries and makes for a fine flex/bye-week fill-in.
Brian Westbrook - Westbrook strained his abs in week 3, missed week 4, and is on bye in week 5. He hopes to return in week 6.
Clinton Portis - Portis hurt his knee in week 3, but he will start in week 5.
Kevin Jones - Jones has returned from his foot fracture, but he's still being eased into the offense. He split carries almost evenly in week 4, but still remains a very questionable play in week 5. Until he gets a solid workload, it's very hard to recommend him, although he's obviously the preferred option at the goalline.
Brandon Jackson - Jackson strained his shin in week 3, missed week 4, and his status for week 5 is in doubt. With the return of Vernand Morency and the continued use of DeShawn Wynn, dumping him for a more attractice waiver wire option is a solid idea. There's no way he's earned the majority of the carries, and he won't return to a featured role anytime soon.
Cadillac Williams - Williams tore his patella tendon in week 4 and is out for the year. Michael Pittman and Earnest Graham will split the workload in his place. Pittman will probably see more carries overall and more work in the passing game, but Graham appears to be the preferred option at the goalline.
Steven Jackson - Jackson tore his groin in week 3, missed week 4, and is out for week 5. He'll likely need a few more weeks to heal. Brian Leonard will start in his place, but he's nothing more than a RB3 given the struggling Rams offense around him.
WR:
Hines Ward - Ward sprained his knee in week 3, missed week 4, and is out for week 5. Santonio Holmes and Heath Miller would benefit from Ward's absence.
Andre Johnson - Johnson sprained his knee in week 2, missed weeks 3 and 4, and is out for week 5. He still hasn't practiced yet and reports indicate that he's still walking with a limp, so it would be surprising if he played in week 6.
Marvin Harrison - Harrison strained his knee in week 4, and his status for week 5 is in question. He missed practice all week. He'll be a gametime decision, so have an alternative at the same time or later ready to go.
Javon Walker - Walker experienced soreness in his knee in week 3, missed week 4, and is out for week 5. Brandon Marshall is the biggest benefactor. Brandon Stokley will start in his place, but is a very weak fantasy option.
Plaxico Burress - Burress injured his ankle in week 2, but he played well in weeks 3 and 4. He missed practice on both Wednesday and Thursday. He's expected to play in week 5, and he'll remain a solid redzone threat, but this injury could limit his downfield effectiveness.
Santana Moss - Moss strained his groin in week 3, and is out in week 5. Antwaan Randle El would be a risky WR3 option, but he has a favorable matchup against Detroit. Chris Cooley will likely benefit the most from Moss' absence.
Calvin Johnson - Johnson bruised his back in week 3, missed week 4, and his status for week 5 is in question. He was limited in practice all week, so while it seems like he's expected to play, have an alternative ready in case he doesn't.
Anquan Boldin - Boldin hurt his hip in week 3, missed week 4, and his status for week 5 is in doubt. He missed practice all week. He's listed as doubtful. Bryant Johnson will likely start in his place, but isn't a fantasy option.
TE:
Todd Heap - Heap injured his hamstring in week 4, and his status for week 5 is in question. He missed practice on both Wednesday and Thursday. He'll probably be a gametime decision, so have an alternative at the same time or later ready to go.
Kellen Winslow - Winslow suffered a partially separated shoulder in week 3, but played well in week 4, and should play in week 5. He was limited in practice all week, so check the gameday inactives to make sure. Having a TE2 ready is a good idea, just in case.
Vernon Davis - Davis sprained his knee in week 3, missed week 4, and is out for week 5. He's expected to return in week 7 after the 49ers' bye week.
D:
Chicago - Chicago's defense was hit hard with injuries in week 3, and it looks like CB Charles Tillman, CB Nathan Vasher, and LB Lance Briggs will miss the game in week 5. Their D-Line appears healthy, but their secondary is a mess. I apologize for suggesting looking for other options in week 4 given the turnover-prone Kitna, but Favre and the Packers should do a better job of torching the defense. I'd again consider other options.
Wednesday, October 3, 2007
NFL Week 4: Monday Night Game Wrapup
New England Patriots at Cincinnati Bengals
Tom Brady - 25/32, 231 yards, 3 TD, 1 INT, 2/-2. What's crazy is that this was his worst game of the season so far.
Carson Palmer - 21/35, 234 yards, 1 TD, 2 INT. The NE defense is tough, but Palmer missed several open targets and was not on top of his game. The Bengals have a bye week to figure out what's wrong with their offense as it hasn't looked right the last 2 games.
Sammy Morris - 21/117, 2/15, 1 TD. Morris was a beast against a beat up Bengals rush defense, cranking out yardage and scoring late in the game. He's a must-have for Maroney owners, and he's a solid pickup for other guys as well given the uncertain health of Maroney.
Kenny Watson - 13/55, 2/8. Watson looked very good running the ball, but with the Bengals falling behind so fast, he didn't get many touches. He's a must-have for Rudi owners, but other owners should look elsewhere with Cincy on bye this week. That might give Rudi enough time to heal.
Randy Moss - 9/102, 2 TD. The steal of the fantasy draft? It's looking that way so far. He's as good as he's ever been, and he and Brady are sharing a very special chemistry right now. The Bengals took away the deep ball, so Moss was content to carve them up underneath. Cleveland's up next, and they can't cover anyone.
Wes Welker - 3/22, 1/27. A bit disappointing given the weak opponent, but Stallworth emerged as an option this week, which could mean problems for Welker's value moving forward. A nice run on a reverse gave him a decent yardage total.
Donte Stallworth - 4/49. He finally broke through with his best game of the season. With Moss hogging all the fun and Welker owning the slot, he'll be inconsistent, but he could re-emerge as a fantasy factor with another solid week. Pick him up if you have a hole in your WR core, and taking a chance with him against the Browns this week probably won't hurt you.
Ben Watson - 2/12. He's a forgotten man in terms of yardage, and he's going to do this when he doesn't score, as I mentioned before. He's a better TE2 than a TE1 thanks to the lack of yardage.
Chad Johnson - 3/53. CJ was visibly frustrated for much of the game as he was able to get open, but Palmer threw errantly towards him a number of times. CJ made an outstanding catch having to come back towards the ball in the 1st half. Expect improvement after the bye week.
T.J. Houshmandzadeh - 10/100, 1 TD. He's been a WR1 this year so far thanks to his consistent catches and TDs. He's been gold in PPR leagues. The Bengals are stuggling a bit, but Housh's owners haven't noticed.
Tom Brady - 25/32, 231 yards, 3 TD, 1 INT, 2/-2. What's crazy is that this was his worst game of the season so far.
Carson Palmer - 21/35, 234 yards, 1 TD, 2 INT. The NE defense is tough, but Palmer missed several open targets and was not on top of his game. The Bengals have a bye week to figure out what's wrong with their offense as it hasn't looked right the last 2 games.
Sammy Morris - 21/117, 2/15, 1 TD. Morris was a beast against a beat up Bengals rush defense, cranking out yardage and scoring late in the game. He's a must-have for Maroney owners, and he's a solid pickup for other guys as well given the uncertain health of Maroney.
Kenny Watson - 13/55, 2/8. Watson looked very good running the ball, but with the Bengals falling behind so fast, he didn't get many touches. He's a must-have for Rudi owners, but other owners should look elsewhere with Cincy on bye this week. That might give Rudi enough time to heal.
Randy Moss - 9/102, 2 TD. The steal of the fantasy draft? It's looking that way so far. He's as good as he's ever been, and he and Brady are sharing a very special chemistry right now. The Bengals took away the deep ball, so Moss was content to carve them up underneath. Cleveland's up next, and they can't cover anyone.
Wes Welker - 3/22, 1/27. A bit disappointing given the weak opponent, but Stallworth emerged as an option this week, which could mean problems for Welker's value moving forward. A nice run on a reverse gave him a decent yardage total.
Donte Stallworth - 4/49. He finally broke through with his best game of the season. With Moss hogging all the fun and Welker owning the slot, he'll be inconsistent, but he could re-emerge as a fantasy factor with another solid week. Pick him up if you have a hole in your WR core, and taking a chance with him against the Browns this week probably won't hurt you.
Ben Watson - 2/12. He's a forgotten man in terms of yardage, and he's going to do this when he doesn't score, as I mentioned before. He's a better TE2 than a TE1 thanks to the lack of yardage.
Chad Johnson - 3/53. CJ was visibly frustrated for much of the game as he was able to get open, but Palmer threw errantly towards him a number of times. CJ made an outstanding catch having to come back towards the ball in the 1st half. Expect improvement after the bye week.
T.J. Houshmandzadeh - 10/100, 1 TD. He's been a WR1 this year so far thanks to his consistent catches and TDs. He's been gold in PPR leagues. The Bengals are stuggling a bit, but Housh's owners haven't noticed.
NFL Week 4: Late Game Wrapup
Seattle Seahawks at San Francisco 49ers
Matt Hasselbeck - 23/31, 281 yards, 2 TD, 1 INT, 3/-3. Another solid game from Hasselbeck, especially considering the 49ers secondary has been playing very well. He's settling into a nice groove with his WRs and remains a low-end QB1.
Alex Smith - 0/1. - He separated his shoulder and will miss time. Dilfer was horrible in his absence.
Shaun Alexander - 25/78. A disappointing effort from Alexander, although the 49ers run D has been pretty solid thus far. He remains likely to disappoint this season, and he also remains a health risk.
Frank Gore - 16/79, 3/42, 1 FL. I'll declare that Gore is back. The lost fumble was disappointing, but he averaged almost 5 yards a carry, and he produced in the passing game again, suggesting that his broken hand is healthy. He faces a stern test at Baltimore this weekend.
Deion Branch - 7/130. Another huge game from Branch who's clearly clicking with Hasselbeck now. He's a soild WR2 moving forward.
Darrell Jackson - 3/38. He'll possibly get worse with Dilfer now starting for a while. I wouldn't use him as anything more than a WR4 until Dilfer proves that he'll use the veteran consistently.
Pittsburgh Steelers at Arizona Cardinals
Ben Roethlisberger - 17/32, 244 yards, 2 TD, 2 INT, 4/26. Thanks to garbage time, Big Ben put up a reasonable stat line. He was barely doing anything until two late drives which gave him about 100 yards and a TD, along with an INT. I'm very disappointed in his performance so far as the Steelers seem content to run the ball. I thought the new offensive coordinator, which usually runs a pass-happy offense, would change things. Still, he's the 8th ranked QB in standard formats and has been consistent.
Matt Leinart/Kurt Warner - No stats necessary. They split time with Warner being far more effective again. Warner would prove to be a QB1 if he were to get all the playing time, but Wisenhunt is trying to be cute by doing this. Either win now with Warner, or live through the growing pains of Leinart. This system is ridiculous for both fantasy football and real football.
Willie Parker - 19/37, 4/29. He saved his day with a 20 yard run late in the game, leaving him with modest yardage totals. Arizona has played the run surprisingly well so far, presumably thanks to the new defensive philosophy. Nothing to worry about here as Parker did this several times last year as well.
Edgerrin James - 21/77, 1/7, 1 TD. He struggled with his yardage thanks to the stout Pittsburgh D, but tossed in a TD to post a quality RB2 afternoon. He has definitely been a solid value for those who gambled on him in the late 2nd/early 3rd round.
Santonio Holmes - 6/128, 2 TDs. Holmes, as expected, posted a big game with the absence of Hines Ward. I believe you'll see Holmes become the top receiver for Pittsburgh, even if Ward returns, as some suggested prior to the season starting.
Heath Miller - 3/46. Another solid yardage afternon for Miller, although I expected more with Ward missing the game. He remains a low-end TE1.
Larry Fitzgerald - 11/123, 1 FL. Fitzgerald put up big yardage totals with the absence of Boldin, and probably would have had an even bigger game had Warner played all of it. He still hasn't found the endzone yet, which has been extremely disappointing. He's a solid WR2.
Denver Broncos at Indianapolis Colts
Jay Cutler - 13/21, 131 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT, 2/11, 1 TD, 1 FL. As many assumed, he struggled against the solid Colts pass D, but produced 2 TDs to put together a solid fantasy effort. SD's disappointing defense and their porous secondary is up next and presents a favorable matchup for him.
Peyton Manning - 20/27, 193 yards, 3 TD, 0 INT, 4/-3, 1 TD. The stout Denver secondary limited Manning's day, but he was efficient, using Clark over the middle of the field, and letting his running game batter the poor Denver rushing D. All his TDs came from within the 10 yardline, and he called his own number after Addai drove them down the field as Addai's frustrated owners watched.
Travis Henry - 26/131. He gashed the Indy run D, but ended his afternoon early by awkwardly bending his knee in a pile. He initially feared the worst, but it appears that he escaped a major injury. His status for week 5 is in question.
Joseph Addai - 19/136, 3/10, 1 TD. Addai torched the Denver D all afternoon, but left early with a bruised shoulder. Addai was seen similing on the sidelines and said he could have played had the game been close. He might not practice much, and Indy might mess with the injury report this week by listing him as questionable, but I fully believe that he'll start and be fine.
Brandon Marshall - 3/23, 1 TD. He was held in check thanks to the Indy secondary, but found a way to score and post a solid afternoon. If Walker misses week 5, he should be able to own the SD secondary for a nice afternoon.
Marvin Harrison - 1/8. He left the game with a knee injury of some sort and never returned. The Colts didn't need to pass much and pretty much had control of this one, but I'm not sure if he would have returned. His status is a mystery right now.
Reggie Wayne - 5/38, 1 TD. Champ shut him down for the most part, but he wiggled free for a TD and saved his fantasy afternoon. If Harrison were to miss week 5, Wayne could have a huge day against Tampa Bay.
Dallas Clark - 6/76, 2 TD. He smoked the middle of the Broncos defense on a day when the Colts smartly kept the ball away from Bailey and Bly. Clark has turned into an elite TE1 and is owning the middle of the field for a team that's always a threat to throw deep down the sidelines.
Kansas City Chiefs at San Diego Chargers
Damon Huard - 17/29, 284 yards, 2 TD, 2 INT, 2/-3. Huard showed how weak the Chargers secondary is right now by burning them numerous times down the field. He's gaining job security with each solid performance and could become a QB2 option soon.
Phillip Rivers - 21/42, 211 yards, 0 TD, 2 INT. Ridiculous. The Chargers are having trouble finding an offensive identity with the new coaching staff, and Rivers is a victim of these problems. Bench him against Denver.
Larry Johnson - 25/123, 3/25, 1 TD. He lives! In what projected to be a tough matchup for him, LJ finally broke through for a big day. I still remain worried about his health, and Jacksonville could provide a tough test. They've been erratic with their run D, however.
LaDainian Tomlinson - 20/132, 5/22, 1 TD. As promised, LT delivered in a big way against a weak KC run D. Unfortuantely SD collapsed in the 2nd half and cost Tomlinson some touches.
Dwayne Bowe - 8/164, 1 TD. He's for real, and has become an every week start. This could be the 2007 version of Marques Colston. Huard looks for him often, and with Kennison returning, it could keep double teams off of him.
Tony Gonzalez - 5/71, 1 TD. A great afternoon for the veteran who will benefit if KC stays with Huard for the season.
Antonio Gates - 6/79. A down game by his 2007 standards. He will likely draw Champ Bailey often in week 5 and Denver has done a good job against him in the past, but he remains a must start.
Philadelphia Eagles at New York Giants
Donovan McNabb - 15/31, 138 yards, 4/4, 1 FL. He was sacked an NFL record 12 times as the Giants defensive line and blitzers lived in the Eagles backfield all night long. This was hardly his fault, and he really needs All-Pro William Thomas to return at LT. 2nd year man Winston Justice was abused by Umenyiora. He has a bye week in week 5 to lick his wounds.
Eli Manning - 14/26, 135 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT, 3/-5. The Eagles have done a number on Eli in his short career, and this actually qualifies as one of his best outings against them. He would have had a very nice afternoon had Amani Toomer not been dragged down by a defender on what would have been a sure long TD.
Correll Buckhalter - 17/103, 4/35. Who needs Westbrook? Just kidding of course, but Buckhalter is a must-own while Westbrook is on the mend. He led his team in both rushing and receiving, but you can forget about him this week with the Eagles on bye.
Derrick Ward - 19/80, 3/26. If this was Ward's last start with Jacobs set to return in week 5, he went out in an impressive fashion, doing what he does best by gaining solid yardage all game long.
Kevin Curtis - 2/21. An indirect victim of the relentless Giants pass rush. The Eagles have a bye week to fix their offensive problems, and hopefully Curtis will emerge as a consistent fantasy option after the break.
Reggie Brown - 3/17. See above.
Plaxico Burress - 4/24, 1 TD. He's not getting deep as he's presumably slowed by his bum ankle. He'll continue to play through it, and he remains one of the best redzone targets in the game. Hopefully he'll start making more plays down the field, however.
Jeremy Shockey - 1/17. The Eagles held the entire passing game in check, and Shockey was a victim. He's still a great TE1.
Matt Hasselbeck - 23/31, 281 yards, 2 TD, 1 INT, 3/-3. Another solid game from Hasselbeck, especially considering the 49ers secondary has been playing very well. He's settling into a nice groove with his WRs and remains a low-end QB1.
Alex Smith - 0/1. - He separated his shoulder and will miss time. Dilfer was horrible in his absence.
Shaun Alexander - 25/78. A disappointing effort from Alexander, although the 49ers run D has been pretty solid thus far. He remains likely to disappoint this season, and he also remains a health risk.
Frank Gore - 16/79, 3/42, 1 FL. I'll declare that Gore is back. The lost fumble was disappointing, but he averaged almost 5 yards a carry, and he produced in the passing game again, suggesting that his broken hand is healthy. He faces a stern test at Baltimore this weekend.
Deion Branch - 7/130. Another huge game from Branch who's clearly clicking with Hasselbeck now. He's a soild WR2 moving forward.
Darrell Jackson - 3/38. He'll possibly get worse with Dilfer now starting for a while. I wouldn't use him as anything more than a WR4 until Dilfer proves that he'll use the veteran consistently.
Pittsburgh Steelers at Arizona Cardinals
Ben Roethlisberger - 17/32, 244 yards, 2 TD, 2 INT, 4/26. Thanks to garbage time, Big Ben put up a reasonable stat line. He was barely doing anything until two late drives which gave him about 100 yards and a TD, along with an INT. I'm very disappointed in his performance so far as the Steelers seem content to run the ball. I thought the new offensive coordinator, which usually runs a pass-happy offense, would change things. Still, he's the 8th ranked QB in standard formats and has been consistent.
Matt Leinart/Kurt Warner - No stats necessary. They split time with Warner being far more effective again. Warner would prove to be a QB1 if he were to get all the playing time, but Wisenhunt is trying to be cute by doing this. Either win now with Warner, or live through the growing pains of Leinart. This system is ridiculous for both fantasy football and real football.
Willie Parker - 19/37, 4/29. He saved his day with a 20 yard run late in the game, leaving him with modest yardage totals. Arizona has played the run surprisingly well so far, presumably thanks to the new defensive philosophy. Nothing to worry about here as Parker did this several times last year as well.
Edgerrin James - 21/77, 1/7, 1 TD. He struggled with his yardage thanks to the stout Pittsburgh D, but tossed in a TD to post a quality RB2 afternoon. He has definitely been a solid value for those who gambled on him in the late 2nd/early 3rd round.
Santonio Holmes - 6/128, 2 TDs. Holmes, as expected, posted a big game with the absence of Hines Ward. I believe you'll see Holmes become the top receiver for Pittsburgh, even if Ward returns, as some suggested prior to the season starting.
Heath Miller - 3/46. Another solid yardage afternon for Miller, although I expected more with Ward missing the game. He remains a low-end TE1.
Larry Fitzgerald - 11/123, 1 FL. Fitzgerald put up big yardage totals with the absence of Boldin, and probably would have had an even bigger game had Warner played all of it. He still hasn't found the endzone yet, which has been extremely disappointing. He's a solid WR2.
Denver Broncos at Indianapolis Colts
Jay Cutler - 13/21, 131 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT, 2/11, 1 TD, 1 FL. As many assumed, he struggled against the solid Colts pass D, but produced 2 TDs to put together a solid fantasy effort. SD's disappointing defense and their porous secondary is up next and presents a favorable matchup for him.
Peyton Manning - 20/27, 193 yards, 3 TD, 0 INT, 4/-3, 1 TD. The stout Denver secondary limited Manning's day, but he was efficient, using Clark over the middle of the field, and letting his running game batter the poor Denver rushing D. All his TDs came from within the 10 yardline, and he called his own number after Addai drove them down the field as Addai's frustrated owners watched.
Travis Henry - 26/131. He gashed the Indy run D, but ended his afternoon early by awkwardly bending his knee in a pile. He initially feared the worst, but it appears that he escaped a major injury. His status for week 5 is in question.
Joseph Addai - 19/136, 3/10, 1 TD. Addai torched the Denver D all afternoon, but left early with a bruised shoulder. Addai was seen similing on the sidelines and said he could have played had the game been close. He might not practice much, and Indy might mess with the injury report this week by listing him as questionable, but I fully believe that he'll start and be fine.
Brandon Marshall - 3/23, 1 TD. He was held in check thanks to the Indy secondary, but found a way to score and post a solid afternoon. If Walker misses week 5, he should be able to own the SD secondary for a nice afternoon.
Marvin Harrison - 1/8. He left the game with a knee injury of some sort and never returned. The Colts didn't need to pass much and pretty much had control of this one, but I'm not sure if he would have returned. His status is a mystery right now.
Reggie Wayne - 5/38, 1 TD. Champ shut him down for the most part, but he wiggled free for a TD and saved his fantasy afternoon. If Harrison were to miss week 5, Wayne could have a huge day against Tampa Bay.
Dallas Clark - 6/76, 2 TD. He smoked the middle of the Broncos defense on a day when the Colts smartly kept the ball away from Bailey and Bly. Clark has turned into an elite TE1 and is owning the middle of the field for a team that's always a threat to throw deep down the sidelines.
Kansas City Chiefs at San Diego Chargers
Damon Huard - 17/29, 284 yards, 2 TD, 2 INT, 2/-3. Huard showed how weak the Chargers secondary is right now by burning them numerous times down the field. He's gaining job security with each solid performance and could become a QB2 option soon.
Phillip Rivers - 21/42, 211 yards, 0 TD, 2 INT. Ridiculous. The Chargers are having trouble finding an offensive identity with the new coaching staff, and Rivers is a victim of these problems. Bench him against Denver.
Larry Johnson - 25/123, 3/25, 1 TD. He lives! In what projected to be a tough matchup for him, LJ finally broke through for a big day. I still remain worried about his health, and Jacksonville could provide a tough test. They've been erratic with their run D, however.
LaDainian Tomlinson - 20/132, 5/22, 1 TD. As promised, LT delivered in a big way against a weak KC run D. Unfortuantely SD collapsed in the 2nd half and cost Tomlinson some touches.
Dwayne Bowe - 8/164, 1 TD. He's for real, and has become an every week start. This could be the 2007 version of Marques Colston. Huard looks for him often, and with Kennison returning, it could keep double teams off of him.
Tony Gonzalez - 5/71, 1 TD. A great afternoon for the veteran who will benefit if KC stays with Huard for the season.
Antonio Gates - 6/79. A down game by his 2007 standards. He will likely draw Champ Bailey often in week 5 and Denver has done a good job against him in the past, but he remains a must start.
Philadelphia Eagles at New York Giants
Donovan McNabb - 15/31, 138 yards, 4/4, 1 FL. He was sacked an NFL record 12 times as the Giants defensive line and blitzers lived in the Eagles backfield all night long. This was hardly his fault, and he really needs All-Pro William Thomas to return at LT. 2nd year man Winston Justice was abused by Umenyiora. He has a bye week in week 5 to lick his wounds.
Eli Manning - 14/26, 135 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT, 3/-5. The Eagles have done a number on Eli in his short career, and this actually qualifies as one of his best outings against them. He would have had a very nice afternoon had Amani Toomer not been dragged down by a defender on what would have been a sure long TD.
Correll Buckhalter - 17/103, 4/35. Who needs Westbrook? Just kidding of course, but Buckhalter is a must-own while Westbrook is on the mend. He led his team in both rushing and receiving, but you can forget about him this week with the Eagles on bye.
Derrick Ward - 19/80, 3/26. If this was Ward's last start with Jacobs set to return in week 5, he went out in an impressive fashion, doing what he does best by gaining solid yardage all game long.
Kevin Curtis - 2/21. An indirect victim of the relentless Giants pass rush. The Eagles have a bye week to fix their offensive problems, and hopefully Curtis will emerge as a consistent fantasy option after the break.
Reggie Brown - 3/17. See above.
Plaxico Burress - 4/24, 1 TD. He's not getting deep as he's presumably slowed by his bum ankle. He'll continue to play through it, and he remains one of the best redzone targets in the game. Hopefully he'll start making more plays down the field, however.
Jeremy Shockey - 1/17. The Eagles held the entire passing game in check, and Shockey was a victim. He's still a great TE1.
NFL Week 4: Early Game Wrapup
Houston Texans at Atlanta Falcons
Matt Schaub - 28/40, 317 yards, 1 TD, 0 INT, 5/19, 1 FL. Another solid game from Schaub who is almost proving that he's startable as a QB2 in the right matchup even without Andre Johnson and Jacoby Jones. Miami's poor secondary next week is one of those matchups.
Joey Harrington - 23/29, 223 yards, 2 TD, 0 INT, 1/-1. Harrington is also elevating himself to QB2 status and should be picked up in 12 team leagues. Again, like Schaub above, he's only a quality QB2 in the right matchup. He gets Tennessee next, but they've been the 5th hardest team against fantasy QBs this year. That doesn't bode well for using him in week 5.
Ron Dayne - 15/62, 2/12. He was solid, but thanks to Atlanta getting out to an early lead, Houston was forced to abandon the run game. It's a shame because Dayne ran well all game. Keep an eye on Ahman Green's health next week if you're up for using him again.
Warrick Dunn - 18/62. Another poor game from Dunn, although Houston has been pretty solid against the run so far this year. He's still the lead man in the backfield, but is a very unexciting RB3 option.
Andre Davis - 5/117, 1 TD. Party like it's...2003. You know, the last year when anyone gave a damn about Andre Davis. It appears he'll have value while both Andre Johnson and Jacoby Jones are out, so he remains a WR3 option next week against Miami.
Owen Daniels - 5/69. Another solid game from Daniels who continues to post consistent yardage. He's a solid TE1.
Michael Jenkins - 6/64, 2 TD. This came out of nowhere. Jenkins is a solid redzone target, but remains behind Joe Horn and Roddy White. Given Horn's poor performances so far, Jenkins has a shot to overtake him in the starting lineup. He's not a bad idea to stash as a WR5/6, but I wouldn't risk using him unless he's starting.
Roddy White - 3/64. He continues to make plays downfield, and Harrington looks like a decent pro QB this year thus far. Does Bobby Petrino really have that sort of magic? At any rate, White is a matchup WR3.
Alge Crumpler - 3/34. A poor game for Crumpler, but with Petrino's enjoyment of throwing downfield, Crumpler remains a solid TE1.
New York Jets at Buffalo Bills
Chad Pennington - 32/39, 290 yards, 1 TD, 2 INT, 1/1. Well, it's official. Anyone can pass on the Bills. Pennington has his faults, but it seems like you can use him as a bye-week fill-in during the proper matchup. Start any and all players against the Bills defense.
Trent Edwards - 22/28, 234 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT, 1/-1. Edwards made a solid debut against the Jets, but given the poor Jets secondary, not too much can be read into this game. Still, he moved the ball fairly well, but is not a QB2 option.
Thomas Jones - 12/35, 2/20. A miserable effort from Jones against a very porous Buffalo run D. Leon Washington continues to look better than he does, and it's very possible that Jones will lose his primary RB role in the Jets offense moving forward.
Marshawn Lynch - 23/79, 1 TD. I'm sure his owners expected a 100 yard day against the Jets defense, but a TD helped him turn in another solid RB2 performance. Given the new faces on the Buffalo offensive line, he might start putting up better numbers as they continue to gel. Still, he's a quality RB2 providing solid draft day value.
Jerricho Cotchery - 8/106. It's a shame he didn't score to cap his day off, but his owners won't complain about the 100+ yards. Cotchery is a solid WR3, but Pennington still prefers Coles in the redzone.
Laveraneous Coles - 8/65, 1 TD. Another workman-like day from Coles with Pennington under center. He's a great WR3 with Pennington starting and is the preferred option in the redzone.
Lee Evans - 6/72. There we go. He still hasn't gotten deep on a defense yet, and Edwards underthrew him on a jumpball in the endzone that would have made his day even better. Still, Edwards looks for him, and it's a great sign for Evans moving forward. Buy low.
Baltimore Ravens at Cleveland Browns
Steve McNair - 34/53, 307 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT, 1/2. Sure, the yardage total is nice, but it's pretty damn hard not to throw for 300+ yards when you put the ball in the air 50+ timees. Despite the solid numbers, his job security is a threat, as is his health.
Derek Anderson - 10/18, 204 yards, 2 TD, 1 INT. Better than expected against the Ravens D, with a big thanks to Braylon Edwards. He's looking like a decent QB2 used in the right matchups, but the Browns will have to keep winning for Anderson to keep his job.
Willis McGahee - 14/104, 2/32. It's a shame the Ravens had to abandon the running game because McGahee was slashing up the weak Cleveland defense when given the chances. He remains a solid RB2 who will put up consistent yardage, but it's annoying that he hasn't scored a TD on the ground yet.
Jamal Lewis - 23/64, 1 TD. Thanks to the TD, Lewis turned in a respectable fantasy day. His yardage was still poor, but this is the statline we've come to expect from this sluggish turd.
Derrick Mason - 10/78. He's PPR gold this year. In standard leagues, however, he's a solid WR4, or a WR3 if you don't like upside.
Todd Heap - 4/36. Heap suffered a hamstring injury, which likely lead to his subpar afternoon. His week 5 availability is in question, so keep an eye on him.
Braylon Edwards - 3/97, 1 TD. Baltimore mostly kept him in check, but he busted out a long 78 yard TD in the 1st quarter to ensure a solid fantasy day. This was better than expected against a tough Ravens D.
Kellen Winslow - 4/96. Winslow played through his partially separated shoulder, and he was the same old Winslow. His consistency despite a truly good QB is remarkable and he remains an elite TE1.
St. Louis Rams at Dallas Cowboys
Marc Bulger - 11/24, 114 yards, 0 TD, 1 INT, 1/-2. Bulger took himself out of the game after not being able to throw effectively through his injuries, and he'll be out in week 4. It's a loss for his owners, but given his health history besides last season, hopefully you drafted a solid QB2.
Tony Romo - 21/33, 339 yards, 3 TD, 1 INT, 3/24, 1 TD. There's Manning, Palmer...and Romo. He is the top scoring QB in most fantasy formats and continues to shred any defense put on the field in front of him. He's been the best value among all QBs thus far.
Brian Leonard - 16/58, 1/1. A pedestrian first start from Leonard, although I read he ran more like a fullback than a runningback in his first professional start. Given the time he spent at FB in college, this is not a surprise. He'll be limited by the offense, but with Frerotte starting in week 5, it will hopefully open things up for him. Arizona has been tough on RBs, so he's a weak bye week fill-in for week 5.
Julius Jones - 13/52, 1/11, 1 TD. Jones' best fantasy day on the season a week after Barber destroyed the Bears defense. Despite the effort, however, Barber continues to outplay him, but the stubborn Dallas coaching staff seemingly has no plans to start Barber anytime soon.
Marion Barber - 8/50, 2/22. For once, Barber owners were cursing out Julius Jones as Jones stole a goalline carry, the first since threats to give Jones more work around the goalline surfaced prior to the season starting. Barber remains a solid RB2 despite not starting.
Torry Holt - 5/52. Bulger's hurt and can't get him the ball, and it's apparent that Holt's still hurting from his offseason knee surgery as he's struggling to separate. Holt can't be viewed as anything more than a WR2 right now as my concerns about his performance this season are proving to be valid. Hopefully Frerotte will restore some of his value.
Isaac Bruce - 1/24. Bench him. He started off like a solid WR3, but Bulger's injury hurts his fantasy value. It remains to be seen how he'll do with Frerotte behind center.
Patrick Crayton - 7/184, 2 TD. There he is. He finally looks healed from the pinky finger injury that was limiting his effectiveness, and his patient owners were rewarded with a huge performance. Consider him a solid WR3 moving forward.
Jason Witten - 6/71, 1 TD. Romo's step to the next level has helped Witten take a step into the elite TE1 catagory. He's been the best value at the TE position so far this year.
Terrell Owens - 3/33. Owners had to be upset after the stinker TO threw in despite Romo going for over 300 yards against a weak secondary. Players will inexplicably do this from time to time, so hopefully it didn't cost you this week.
Chicago Bears at Detroit Lions
Brian Griese - 34/52, 286 yards, 2 TD, 3 INT, 2/8. Grossman, Griese...what's the difference? Griese posted solid yardage totals thanks to the Bears throwing so much, but it was hardly an impressive performance. Not all the INTs were his fault, but he definitely made a few Grossman-esque throws and was not solid. Ignore him for now, but he might prove to be relatively effective later on.
Jon Kitna - 20/24, 247 yards, 2 TD, 0 INT, 2/-1, 1 FL. I'm sure owners expected more yardage against the 2nd string Bears secondary, but Kitna played a solid game, and the lack of yardage can be attributed towards Martz's horrible playcalling in the first half. With only the defensive line of the Bears defense being 100%, Martz decided to run the ball and attempt to throw deep against them, playing right into their hands. He finally stopped being a dumbass in the 2nd half and killed the Bears with the intermediate passing game.
Cedric Benson - 15/50, 5/24. Another dud. More was expected from Benson against such a weak defense, but he continues to disappoint. The Bears are talking about using him more like a workhorse moving forward, so more touches would obviously be a good thing for Benson's fantasy value. It'd be nice if he did something constructive with them, too. He's a weak RB2.
Kevin Jones - 10/38, 1 TD. Another goalline TD for Jones, which is great for his value moving forward, but he's still getting worked into the offense. I'd hold off one more week, and Tatum Bell didn't help his cause for touches by losing another fumble, a problem that plagued him in Denver.
Bernard Berrian - 8/99. Berrian was the beneficiary of the large amount of passing the Bears did, but again struggled with drops. He has to fix that problem in order to take the next step as a WR in the NFL.
Desmond Clark - 7/44, 1 TD. Don't think about picking him up. It's obvious that Olsen isn't 100% recovered from his knee injury, but Clark shares too much time on a bad passing offense to be worth a roster spot.
Roy Williams - 6/53. Owners expected more against the banged up Chicago secondary, but like Owens, this tends to happen at times. McDonald and Walters stole the TDs.
Mike Furrey - 5/91. The biggest beneficiary yardage-wise in this game. He's a solid WR4, but nothing more than that. He seems like the 4th option on the offense right now.
Shaun McDonald - 3/31, 1 TD. Keep using him while he's hot! This has to end at some point, though. I'd suggest selling high if you can sucker someone into giving you a more reliable receiver in return.
Oakland Raiders at Miami Dolphins
Daunte Culpepper - 5/12, 75 yards, 2 TD, 0 INT, 7/28, 3 TD. Don't let the 5 TDs fool you, Culpepper was not great in this game. While he made a few nice passes, his completion percentage was low against a bad secondary, and his RBs did almost all of the work. Still, this was his first NFL game in over a year, so I can't fault him too much. He's a very interesting QB2.
Trent Green - 14/25, 158 yards, 1 TD, 2 INT. The Oakland secondary is playing like it did last year after a slow start, so I won't fault Green too much for this game. If anything, this proves my previous statement that in order for Green to be useful for your fantasy team, you have to use him in the right matchups.
LaMont Jordan - 15/74, 1/7. He would have had a huge game had he not twisted his back, forcing him to leave the game. It looked bad at the time, but X-rays were negative and he has a bye week to heal up. Culpepper also vultured one of his TDs.
Ronnie Brown - 15/134, 6/73, 1 TD. He's playing at the RB1 level I always knew he was capable of. Chatman is an afterthought and Brown has become an every-week starter.
Jerry Porter - 3/52, 2 TD. The recipient of 3 of the 5 Culepper completions. Don't be fooled into thinking you should start him, but Culpepper could turn him into waiver wire fodder. If you're short on WRs, pick him up and see what happens.
Ronald Curry - 1/16. A victim of a day where the Raiders didn't need to pass. He'll have better days, and unless you sold high on him after week 1, hang on.
Chris Chambers - 2/21. Oakland shut down the passing game, and Chambers suffered as a result. He's still a solid WR3.
Green Bay Packers at Minnesota Vikings
Brett Favre - 32/45, 344 yards, 2 TD, 0 INT, 4/1, 1 FL. Favre is looking like his prime self so far, so continue starting him as a QB1. His rebirth seems for real as he's surrounded with some of the best weapons in the passing game since his SB runs, and GB's rushing attack is horrible.
Kelly Holcomb - 21/39, 258 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT, 1/0. Dunno why I bothered writing that out.
DeShawn Winn - 10/20. With Jackson out hurt and Morency just returning to action, the Packers decided to run Winn into the wall that is the Vikings run defense with miserable results. Nothing to see here, for now.
Adrian Peterson - 12/112, 1/6. Yeah, Chester Taylor really deserves the starting job. It's a good idea to use Taylor to keep Peterson fresh in his rookie year, but Taylor was on the field far more often. Peterson did an outstanding job of making the most of his touches, but Taylor could turn Peterson into an inconsistent option.
Donald Lee - 4/66, 1 FL. Lee is the Packers TE to own, and a soild TE2 with as much as they'll throw the ball.
Donald Driver - 7/58. Solid effort from Driver, but the Packers are going to spread the ball around, so Driver is more of a WR2 this season than the WR1 he performed like last year as the only viable option.
Greg Jennings - 3/43, 1 TD. He caught the famous one, and will be the answer to the sports trivia question down the line. He's a decent WR3.
Sidney Rice - 6/75, 1 TD. He's a flashy rookie, but don't waste a roster spot on him with Tavaris Jackson likely returning next week.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Carolina Panthers
Jeff Garcia - 15/25, 176 yards, 0 TD, 0 INT, 4/10, 1 TD. Another workman-like effort from Garcia who continues to perform like a solid QB2.
David Carr - 19/41, 155 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT, 5/28. Same old David Carr. He's likely going to drag down the fantasy value of all receivers on the Panthers, of which Steve Smith and Jeff King are the most notable.
Cadillac Williams - 6/41. He was running well before tearing the patella tendon in his knee, ending his season. He can be dropped in redraft leagues.
Michael Pittman - 15/90. Pittman will be the starter and play the passing downs, but Earnest Graham will get his carries and likely the goalline work. Depending on the matchup, you could plug Pittman in during a bye week.
Earnest Graham - 17/48, 1/8, 1 TD. See above.
DeShaun Foster - 15/64, 3/17, 1 FL. That's another fumble for Foster, but he dominated the carries again and looks like the primary ball carrier for the Panthers right now. He'll have to stop putting the ball on the ground to maintain that role.
Ike Hilliard - 7/114, 1 FL. Don't even think about it.
Joey Galloway - 1/7. Much like Owens and Roy before him, this will happen. No worries.
Steve Smith - 5/32. 2 bum games in a row, and this one can be blamed on David Carr. His value is questionable with Carr at the helm, but he's a must start either way. Hopefully Carr will look his way more often, and better yet hopefully Delhomme returns soon.
Jeff King - 1/14. Send him back to the waiver wire while Carr is starting.
Matt Schaub - 28/40, 317 yards, 1 TD, 0 INT, 5/19, 1 FL. Another solid game from Schaub who is almost proving that he's startable as a QB2 in the right matchup even without Andre Johnson and Jacoby Jones. Miami's poor secondary next week is one of those matchups.
Joey Harrington - 23/29, 223 yards, 2 TD, 0 INT, 1/-1. Harrington is also elevating himself to QB2 status and should be picked up in 12 team leagues. Again, like Schaub above, he's only a quality QB2 in the right matchup. He gets Tennessee next, but they've been the 5th hardest team against fantasy QBs this year. That doesn't bode well for using him in week 5.
Ron Dayne - 15/62, 2/12. He was solid, but thanks to Atlanta getting out to an early lead, Houston was forced to abandon the run game. It's a shame because Dayne ran well all game. Keep an eye on Ahman Green's health next week if you're up for using him again.
Warrick Dunn - 18/62. Another poor game from Dunn, although Houston has been pretty solid against the run so far this year. He's still the lead man in the backfield, but is a very unexciting RB3 option.
Andre Davis - 5/117, 1 TD. Party like it's...2003. You know, the last year when anyone gave a damn about Andre Davis. It appears he'll have value while both Andre Johnson and Jacoby Jones are out, so he remains a WR3 option next week against Miami.
Owen Daniels - 5/69. Another solid game from Daniels who continues to post consistent yardage. He's a solid TE1.
Michael Jenkins - 6/64, 2 TD. This came out of nowhere. Jenkins is a solid redzone target, but remains behind Joe Horn and Roddy White. Given Horn's poor performances so far, Jenkins has a shot to overtake him in the starting lineup. He's not a bad idea to stash as a WR5/6, but I wouldn't risk using him unless he's starting.
Roddy White - 3/64. He continues to make plays downfield, and Harrington looks like a decent pro QB this year thus far. Does Bobby Petrino really have that sort of magic? At any rate, White is a matchup WR3.
Alge Crumpler - 3/34. A poor game for Crumpler, but with Petrino's enjoyment of throwing downfield, Crumpler remains a solid TE1.
New York Jets at Buffalo Bills
Chad Pennington - 32/39, 290 yards, 1 TD, 2 INT, 1/1. Well, it's official. Anyone can pass on the Bills. Pennington has his faults, but it seems like you can use him as a bye-week fill-in during the proper matchup. Start any and all players against the Bills defense.
Trent Edwards - 22/28, 234 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT, 1/-1. Edwards made a solid debut against the Jets, but given the poor Jets secondary, not too much can be read into this game. Still, he moved the ball fairly well, but is not a QB2 option.
Thomas Jones - 12/35, 2/20. A miserable effort from Jones against a very porous Buffalo run D. Leon Washington continues to look better than he does, and it's very possible that Jones will lose his primary RB role in the Jets offense moving forward.
Marshawn Lynch - 23/79, 1 TD. I'm sure his owners expected a 100 yard day against the Jets defense, but a TD helped him turn in another solid RB2 performance. Given the new faces on the Buffalo offensive line, he might start putting up better numbers as they continue to gel. Still, he's a quality RB2 providing solid draft day value.
Jerricho Cotchery - 8/106. It's a shame he didn't score to cap his day off, but his owners won't complain about the 100+ yards. Cotchery is a solid WR3, but Pennington still prefers Coles in the redzone.
Laveraneous Coles - 8/65, 1 TD. Another workman-like day from Coles with Pennington under center. He's a great WR3 with Pennington starting and is the preferred option in the redzone.
Lee Evans - 6/72. There we go. He still hasn't gotten deep on a defense yet, and Edwards underthrew him on a jumpball in the endzone that would have made his day even better. Still, Edwards looks for him, and it's a great sign for Evans moving forward. Buy low.
Baltimore Ravens at Cleveland Browns
Steve McNair - 34/53, 307 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT, 1/2. Sure, the yardage total is nice, but it's pretty damn hard not to throw for 300+ yards when you put the ball in the air 50+ timees. Despite the solid numbers, his job security is a threat, as is his health.
Derek Anderson - 10/18, 204 yards, 2 TD, 1 INT. Better than expected against the Ravens D, with a big thanks to Braylon Edwards. He's looking like a decent QB2 used in the right matchups, but the Browns will have to keep winning for Anderson to keep his job.
Willis McGahee - 14/104, 2/32. It's a shame the Ravens had to abandon the running game because McGahee was slashing up the weak Cleveland defense when given the chances. He remains a solid RB2 who will put up consistent yardage, but it's annoying that he hasn't scored a TD on the ground yet.
Jamal Lewis - 23/64, 1 TD. Thanks to the TD, Lewis turned in a respectable fantasy day. His yardage was still poor, but this is the statline we've come to expect from this sluggish turd.
Derrick Mason - 10/78. He's PPR gold this year. In standard leagues, however, he's a solid WR4, or a WR3 if you don't like upside.
Todd Heap - 4/36. Heap suffered a hamstring injury, which likely lead to his subpar afternoon. His week 5 availability is in question, so keep an eye on him.
Braylon Edwards - 3/97, 1 TD. Baltimore mostly kept him in check, but he busted out a long 78 yard TD in the 1st quarter to ensure a solid fantasy day. This was better than expected against a tough Ravens D.
Kellen Winslow - 4/96. Winslow played through his partially separated shoulder, and he was the same old Winslow. His consistency despite a truly good QB is remarkable and he remains an elite TE1.
St. Louis Rams at Dallas Cowboys
Marc Bulger - 11/24, 114 yards, 0 TD, 1 INT, 1/-2. Bulger took himself out of the game after not being able to throw effectively through his injuries, and he'll be out in week 4. It's a loss for his owners, but given his health history besides last season, hopefully you drafted a solid QB2.
Tony Romo - 21/33, 339 yards, 3 TD, 1 INT, 3/24, 1 TD. There's Manning, Palmer...and Romo. He is the top scoring QB in most fantasy formats and continues to shred any defense put on the field in front of him. He's been the best value among all QBs thus far.
Brian Leonard - 16/58, 1/1. A pedestrian first start from Leonard, although I read he ran more like a fullback than a runningback in his first professional start. Given the time he spent at FB in college, this is not a surprise. He'll be limited by the offense, but with Frerotte starting in week 5, it will hopefully open things up for him. Arizona has been tough on RBs, so he's a weak bye week fill-in for week 5.
Julius Jones - 13/52, 1/11, 1 TD. Jones' best fantasy day on the season a week after Barber destroyed the Bears defense. Despite the effort, however, Barber continues to outplay him, but the stubborn Dallas coaching staff seemingly has no plans to start Barber anytime soon.
Marion Barber - 8/50, 2/22. For once, Barber owners were cursing out Julius Jones as Jones stole a goalline carry, the first since threats to give Jones more work around the goalline surfaced prior to the season starting. Barber remains a solid RB2 despite not starting.
Torry Holt - 5/52. Bulger's hurt and can't get him the ball, and it's apparent that Holt's still hurting from his offseason knee surgery as he's struggling to separate. Holt can't be viewed as anything more than a WR2 right now as my concerns about his performance this season are proving to be valid. Hopefully Frerotte will restore some of his value.
Isaac Bruce - 1/24. Bench him. He started off like a solid WR3, but Bulger's injury hurts his fantasy value. It remains to be seen how he'll do with Frerotte behind center.
Patrick Crayton - 7/184, 2 TD. There he is. He finally looks healed from the pinky finger injury that was limiting his effectiveness, and his patient owners were rewarded with a huge performance. Consider him a solid WR3 moving forward.
Jason Witten - 6/71, 1 TD. Romo's step to the next level has helped Witten take a step into the elite TE1 catagory. He's been the best value at the TE position so far this year.
Terrell Owens - 3/33. Owners had to be upset after the stinker TO threw in despite Romo going for over 300 yards against a weak secondary. Players will inexplicably do this from time to time, so hopefully it didn't cost you this week.
Chicago Bears at Detroit Lions
Brian Griese - 34/52, 286 yards, 2 TD, 3 INT, 2/8. Grossman, Griese...what's the difference? Griese posted solid yardage totals thanks to the Bears throwing so much, but it was hardly an impressive performance. Not all the INTs were his fault, but he definitely made a few Grossman-esque throws and was not solid. Ignore him for now, but he might prove to be relatively effective later on.
Jon Kitna - 20/24, 247 yards, 2 TD, 0 INT, 2/-1, 1 FL. I'm sure owners expected more yardage against the 2nd string Bears secondary, but Kitna played a solid game, and the lack of yardage can be attributed towards Martz's horrible playcalling in the first half. With only the defensive line of the Bears defense being 100%, Martz decided to run the ball and attempt to throw deep against them, playing right into their hands. He finally stopped being a dumbass in the 2nd half and killed the Bears with the intermediate passing game.
Cedric Benson - 15/50, 5/24. Another dud. More was expected from Benson against such a weak defense, but he continues to disappoint. The Bears are talking about using him more like a workhorse moving forward, so more touches would obviously be a good thing for Benson's fantasy value. It'd be nice if he did something constructive with them, too. He's a weak RB2.
Kevin Jones - 10/38, 1 TD. Another goalline TD for Jones, which is great for his value moving forward, but he's still getting worked into the offense. I'd hold off one more week, and Tatum Bell didn't help his cause for touches by losing another fumble, a problem that plagued him in Denver.
Bernard Berrian - 8/99. Berrian was the beneficiary of the large amount of passing the Bears did, but again struggled with drops. He has to fix that problem in order to take the next step as a WR in the NFL.
Desmond Clark - 7/44, 1 TD. Don't think about picking him up. It's obvious that Olsen isn't 100% recovered from his knee injury, but Clark shares too much time on a bad passing offense to be worth a roster spot.
Roy Williams - 6/53. Owners expected more against the banged up Chicago secondary, but like Owens, this tends to happen at times. McDonald and Walters stole the TDs.
Mike Furrey - 5/91. The biggest beneficiary yardage-wise in this game. He's a solid WR4, but nothing more than that. He seems like the 4th option on the offense right now.
Shaun McDonald - 3/31, 1 TD. Keep using him while he's hot! This has to end at some point, though. I'd suggest selling high if you can sucker someone into giving you a more reliable receiver in return.
Oakland Raiders at Miami Dolphins
Daunte Culpepper - 5/12, 75 yards, 2 TD, 0 INT, 7/28, 3 TD. Don't let the 5 TDs fool you, Culpepper was not great in this game. While he made a few nice passes, his completion percentage was low against a bad secondary, and his RBs did almost all of the work. Still, this was his first NFL game in over a year, so I can't fault him too much. He's a very interesting QB2.
Trent Green - 14/25, 158 yards, 1 TD, 2 INT. The Oakland secondary is playing like it did last year after a slow start, so I won't fault Green too much for this game. If anything, this proves my previous statement that in order for Green to be useful for your fantasy team, you have to use him in the right matchups.
LaMont Jordan - 15/74, 1/7. He would have had a huge game had he not twisted his back, forcing him to leave the game. It looked bad at the time, but X-rays were negative and he has a bye week to heal up. Culpepper also vultured one of his TDs.
Ronnie Brown - 15/134, 6/73, 1 TD. He's playing at the RB1 level I always knew he was capable of. Chatman is an afterthought and Brown has become an every-week starter.
Jerry Porter - 3/52, 2 TD. The recipient of 3 of the 5 Culepper completions. Don't be fooled into thinking you should start him, but Culpepper could turn him into waiver wire fodder. If you're short on WRs, pick him up and see what happens.
Ronald Curry - 1/16. A victim of a day where the Raiders didn't need to pass. He'll have better days, and unless you sold high on him after week 1, hang on.
Chris Chambers - 2/21. Oakland shut down the passing game, and Chambers suffered as a result. He's still a solid WR3.
Green Bay Packers at Minnesota Vikings
Brett Favre - 32/45, 344 yards, 2 TD, 0 INT, 4/1, 1 FL. Favre is looking like his prime self so far, so continue starting him as a QB1. His rebirth seems for real as he's surrounded with some of the best weapons in the passing game since his SB runs, and GB's rushing attack is horrible.
Kelly Holcomb - 21/39, 258 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT, 1/0. Dunno why I bothered writing that out.
DeShawn Winn - 10/20. With Jackson out hurt and Morency just returning to action, the Packers decided to run Winn into the wall that is the Vikings run defense with miserable results. Nothing to see here, for now.
Adrian Peterson - 12/112, 1/6. Yeah, Chester Taylor really deserves the starting job. It's a good idea to use Taylor to keep Peterson fresh in his rookie year, but Taylor was on the field far more often. Peterson did an outstanding job of making the most of his touches, but Taylor could turn Peterson into an inconsistent option.
Donald Lee - 4/66, 1 FL. Lee is the Packers TE to own, and a soild TE2 with as much as they'll throw the ball.
Donald Driver - 7/58. Solid effort from Driver, but the Packers are going to spread the ball around, so Driver is more of a WR2 this season than the WR1 he performed like last year as the only viable option.
Greg Jennings - 3/43, 1 TD. He caught the famous one, and will be the answer to the sports trivia question down the line. He's a decent WR3.
Sidney Rice - 6/75, 1 TD. He's a flashy rookie, but don't waste a roster spot on him with Tavaris Jackson likely returning next week.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Carolina Panthers
Jeff Garcia - 15/25, 176 yards, 0 TD, 0 INT, 4/10, 1 TD. Another workman-like effort from Garcia who continues to perform like a solid QB2.
David Carr - 19/41, 155 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT, 5/28. Same old David Carr. He's likely going to drag down the fantasy value of all receivers on the Panthers, of which Steve Smith and Jeff King are the most notable.
Cadillac Williams - 6/41. He was running well before tearing the patella tendon in his knee, ending his season. He can be dropped in redraft leagues.
Michael Pittman - 15/90. Pittman will be the starter and play the passing downs, but Earnest Graham will get his carries and likely the goalline work. Depending on the matchup, you could plug Pittman in during a bye week.
Earnest Graham - 17/48, 1/8, 1 TD. See above.
DeShaun Foster - 15/64, 3/17, 1 FL. That's another fumble for Foster, but he dominated the carries again and looks like the primary ball carrier for the Panthers right now. He'll have to stop putting the ball on the ground to maintain that role.
Ike Hilliard - 7/114, 1 FL. Don't even think about it.
Joey Galloway - 1/7. Much like Owens and Roy before him, this will happen. No worries.
Steve Smith - 5/32. 2 bum games in a row, and this one can be blamed on David Carr. His value is questionable with Carr at the helm, but he's a must start either way. Hopefully Carr will look his way more often, and better yet hopefully Delhomme returns soon.
Jeff King - 1/14. Send him back to the waiver wire while Carr is starting.
Sunday, September 30, 2007
NFL Week 4: Late Game Notable Actives/Inactives
Inactive
Hines Ward - Ward is down, giving Holmes and Cedric Wilson more chances.
Anquan Boldin - Boldin is down, making Fitzgerald the focal point of the passing game.
Javon Walker - Walker is down, making Marshall the go-to guy, and Stokley will start in his place.
Hines Ward - Ward is down, giving Holmes and Cedric Wilson more chances.
Anquan Boldin - Boldin is down, making Fitzgerald the focal point of the passing game.
Javon Walker - Walker is down, making Marshall the go-to guy, and Stokley will start in his place.
NFL Week 4: Early Game Notable Actives/Inactives
Active
Greg Jennings - He'll play and has a favorable matchup.
Kellen Winslow - Make sure he's in your starting lineup. He's dealing with a partially separated shoulder, so his pain tolerance will be tested.
Inactive
J.P. Losman - He's dealing with a knee sprain and he'll be back in a few weeks.
Ahman Green - His knee sprain will keep him on the bench this week. Ron Dayne will start and has a very favorable matchup.
Brandon Jackson - His shin injury was too much for him to play this week. Rumor has Vernand Morency starting, but this appears to have become a situation to avoid using on your active roster.
Calvin Johnson - The back injury was too much to overcome. This will mean more targets for Mike Furrey and Shaun McDonald.
Andre Johnson/Jacoby Jones - The knee sprain and separated shoulder, respectively, will keep these guys on the sideline.
Bears D (Briggs, Tillman, Vasher, Archuleta) - Kitna, Roy Williams, Shaun McDonald, and Mike Furrey all make for great starts against an entirely 2nd string Bears secondary.
Greg Jennings - He'll play and has a favorable matchup.
Kellen Winslow - Make sure he's in your starting lineup. He's dealing with a partially separated shoulder, so his pain tolerance will be tested.
Inactive
J.P. Losman - He's dealing with a knee sprain and he'll be back in a few weeks.
Ahman Green - His knee sprain will keep him on the bench this week. Ron Dayne will start and has a very favorable matchup.
Brandon Jackson - His shin injury was too much for him to play this week. Rumor has Vernand Morency starting, but this appears to have become a situation to avoid using on your active roster.
Calvin Johnson - The back injury was too much to overcome. This will mean more targets for Mike Furrey and Shaun McDonald.
Andre Johnson/Jacoby Jones - The knee sprain and separated shoulder, respectively, will keep these guys on the sideline.
Bears D (Briggs, Tillman, Vasher, Archuleta) - Kitna, Roy Williams, Shaun McDonald, and Mike Furrey all make for great starts against an entirely 2nd string Bears secondary.
Wednesday, September 26, 2007
NFL Week 4: Injury Report
QB:
J.P. Losman - Losman suffered a sprained MCL in week 3, and he'll be out 2 weeks. It looks like he'll return in week 7 after Buffalo's bye. Rookie Trent Edwards will start in his place.
Steve McNair - McNair apparently re-injured his strained groin in week 3, but he claimed after the game that he could have continued playing. He practiced fully on Thursday. His status as Baltimore's starter for the rest of the season is clearly in question at the moment, but he will start in week 4.
Jay Cutler - Cutler sprained his ankle in week 3, but he believes he'll practice this week. Check back to make sure, but it looks like he'll be fine for week 4. Patrick Ramsey would start if Cutler can't go.
Josh McCown - McCown fractured his toe on his other foot, and his status for week 4 is in doubt. He missed practice on Wednesday. Daunte Culpepper will replace him if McCown can't go.
Brian Griese - No injury to report here, but Griese will replace Rex Grossman as the starting QB for the Bears in week 4.
Tavaris Jackson - Jackson strained his groin in week 2, and he missed week 3. His status for week 4 is in doubt, but does it really matter? Kelly Holcomb would start again if Jackson can't go.
Jake Delhomme - Delhomme strained his throwing elbow in week 3, and did not return after leaving with the injury. He missed practice on both Wednesday and Thursday. He's expected to miss at least one week with the injury, but luckily he didn't sustain any ligament damage. David Carr will start in his place.
Matt Leinart - No injury here, but Arizona coach Ken Wisenhunt has stated his intention to use Warner during no huddle situations throughout the season. Is this the NFL's first QBBC? At any rate, keep Leinart firmly on your bench until he's playing all game. I wouldn't drop him as he still has upside and this could be a motivational tactic, but you can't use him this week not knowing what will come of this.
Marc Bulger - Bulger revealed that his is playing through 2 broken ribs. He's apparently not going to miss any time, but this is a solid explanation for why he played so poorly in last Sunday's game. He practiced fully on Wednesday. He should start in week 4.
RB:
Laurence Maroney - Maroney injured his groin in week 3, and his status for week 4 is in question. He was limited in practice on both Wednesday and Thursday. He should be OK for week 4, but keep an eye on his practice schedule.
Rudi Johnson - Johnson suffered a an injured hamstring in week 3, and he is out for week 4. Kenny Watson will start in Rudi's place and is a solid flex/bye week fill-in for this week against the Patriots. He might not get a lot of rushing attempts, but he should see some scoring opportunities.
Ahman Green - Green sprained his knee in week 3, and his status for week 4 is in doubt. He missed practice on both Wednesday and Thursday. Ron Dayne will start if Green can't go, and he has a favorable matchup against the Falcons.
Larry Johnson - LJ was suffering from general soreness after week 3, and his status for week 4 is in question. He has now missed practice on both Wednesday and Thursday, but still has a shot to play this week. This is starting to become a serious concern.
Julius Jones - Jones suffered another concussion in week 3, but he believes he'll be fine and play in week 4. What role he'll have has become a bigger question at this point. Marion Barber would be a top 5 option if Jones were to miss the game.
Brandon Jacobs - Jacobs sprained his knee in week 1, and he will miss week 4. He did not practice on Wednesday, but returned to practice on Thursday in a limited fashion, giving him an outside chance of playing in some capacity in week 4. The local newspaper stated that he'll resume receiving 20-25 carries when he returns, but if he returns this week, there's no way he'll receive the majority of the carries.
Brian Westbrook - Westbrook strained his abs in week 3, but he believes he'll be fine and play in week 4. He missed practice on both Wednesday and Thursday, but hopefully hell return to practice on Friday. Correll Buckhalter would start if Westbrook were to miss the game, so Westbrook owners need to pick him up given that it's a Sunday night game.
Kevin Jones - Jones returned from his Lisfranc foot fracture in week 3 in a very limited role, but he reported no problems and his role should continued expanding. Tatum Bell will still see the field plenty in week 4. It'll likely be at least 1 more week before he'll become a fantasy option.
Brandon Jackson - Jackson strained his shin in week 3, and he's still struggling with the injury. He was limited in practice on both Wednesday and Thursday. Regardless if he plays or not, he is a must-bench against the Vikings.
Chester Taylor - Taylor suffered a hip injury in week 1, but he's expected to return in week 4. He was limited in practice on both Wednesday and Thursday. Coach Childress still claims that he'll be the starter when he returns, but I find that hard to believe given how good Adrian Peterson looked in both weeks 1 and 3. He'll definitely pick up passing down work again with Peterson's ineffective blocking, but I'm not sure how many carries he'll get even if he does "start".
Deuce McAllister - McAllister tore his ACL in week 3 and is lost for the season. Reggie Bush will become the featured RB for New Orleans, but given questions about his durability, expect to see veteran Aaron Stecker and rookie Pierre Thomas used frequently as well.
Cadillac Williams - Williams injured his ribs in week 2, aggravated them in week 3, but he is expected to start in week 4. Gruden maintains that Cadillac is his unquestioned start, but the preseason concerns about his durability are very real and in full force.
Steven Jackson - Jackson tore his groin in week 3 and will be sidelined for multiple weeks. I'd give a 3-6 week estimate as it was revealed today that he has a 40% tear. Some outlets are reporting it as a 1 week injury, but that's ridiculous. Brian Leonard will start in his place.
WR:
Mark Clayton - Clayton was limited in weeks 1 and 2 with a sprained ankle. He was again limited in practice on Thursday, and he looks like a must-bench for week 4.
Hines Ward - Ward sprained his knee in week 3, and his status for week 4 is in doubt. He missed practice on both Wednesday and Thursday. Santonio Holmes and Heath Miller would benefit from Ward's absence.
Andre Johnson - Johnson sprained his knee in week 2, and he will miss week 4. The Texans are hoping he'll return in week 6 as it stands right now. It's possible he could practice later this week.
Jacoby Jones - Jones separated his shoulder in week 3 and will miss 2-3 weeks. He can be dropped in redraft leagues for now.
Javon Walker - Walker experienced soreness in his knee in week 3, but he expects to play in week 4. He missed practice on both Wednesday and Thursday. This is the same knee he had ACL surgery on 2 years ago, so this might be a problem, especially given his struggles last week despite the tough matchup. Keep an eye on this.
Eddie Kennison - Kennison tore his hamstring in week 1, and he will miss week 4. He's not worth holding onto in most leagues with the struggling Chiefs offense. His return might impact Dwayne Bowe.
Terry Glenn - Glenn underwent arthroscopic knee surgery prior to week 1, and he will miss week 4. He's hoping the surgery will allow him to return around week 6.
Plaxico Burress - Burress injured his ankle in week 2, but he played well in week 3. He missed practice on both Wednesday and Thursday. He's expected to play in week 4, but at less than 100%. This could be a lingering problem.
Santana Moss - Moss strained his groin in week 3, and he's on bye in week 4. The Redskins revealed that Moss would not have been able to play had they had a game in week 4, which leaves his week 5 status in question.
Calvin Johnson - Johnson bruised his back in week 3, but he is on track to start in week 4. He missed practice on both Wednesday and Thursday. Continue to monitor his practice schedule to make sure. He might become a gametime decision.
Anquan Boldin - Boldin hurt his hip in week 3, and he appears questionable to start in week 4. He missed practice on Wednesday and Thursday. Continue to monitor his status as he could become a gametime decision.
TE:
Kellen Winslow - Winslow suffered a partially separated shoulder in week 3, and his status for week 4 is in question. He missed practice on both Wednesday and Thursday, so keep an eye on his practice schedule. If he doesn't practice, he'll be a game-time decision.
L.J. Smith - Smith underwent groin surgery prior to week 3, and he's out for week 4. When he returns, he'll be a TE2 option.
Vernon Davis - Davis sprained his knee in week 3 and will miss an estimated 2 weeks. He's expected to return in week 7 after the 49ers' bye week.
D:
Chicago - Chicago's defense was hit hard with injuries in week 3, and they will be without DT Tommie Harris, CB Charles Tillman, CB Nathan Vasher, and possibly LB Lance Briggs in week 4. Without Harris, a pocket collpasing specialist, and both starting corners, they could be in for a very long day against the pass happy Lions. I'd consider other options this week.
J.P. Losman - Losman suffered a sprained MCL in week 3, and he'll be out 2 weeks. It looks like he'll return in week 7 after Buffalo's bye. Rookie Trent Edwards will start in his place.
Steve McNair - McNair apparently re-injured his strained groin in week 3, but he claimed after the game that he could have continued playing. He practiced fully on Thursday. His status as Baltimore's starter for the rest of the season is clearly in question at the moment, but he will start in week 4.
Jay Cutler - Cutler sprained his ankle in week 3, but he believes he'll practice this week. Check back to make sure, but it looks like he'll be fine for week 4. Patrick Ramsey would start if Cutler can't go.
Josh McCown - McCown fractured his toe on his other foot, and his status for week 4 is in doubt. He missed practice on Wednesday. Daunte Culpepper will replace him if McCown can't go.
Brian Griese - No injury to report here, but Griese will replace Rex Grossman as the starting QB for the Bears in week 4.
Tavaris Jackson - Jackson strained his groin in week 2, and he missed week 3. His status for week 4 is in doubt, but does it really matter? Kelly Holcomb would start again if Jackson can't go.
Jake Delhomme - Delhomme strained his throwing elbow in week 3, and did not return after leaving with the injury. He missed practice on both Wednesday and Thursday. He's expected to miss at least one week with the injury, but luckily he didn't sustain any ligament damage. David Carr will start in his place.
Matt Leinart - No injury here, but Arizona coach Ken Wisenhunt has stated his intention to use Warner during no huddle situations throughout the season. Is this the NFL's first QBBC? At any rate, keep Leinart firmly on your bench until he's playing all game. I wouldn't drop him as he still has upside and this could be a motivational tactic, but you can't use him this week not knowing what will come of this.
Marc Bulger - Bulger revealed that his is playing through 2 broken ribs. He's apparently not going to miss any time, but this is a solid explanation for why he played so poorly in last Sunday's game. He practiced fully on Wednesday. He should start in week 4.
RB:
Laurence Maroney - Maroney injured his groin in week 3, and his status for week 4 is in question. He was limited in practice on both Wednesday and Thursday. He should be OK for week 4, but keep an eye on his practice schedule.
Rudi Johnson - Johnson suffered a an injured hamstring in week 3, and he is out for week 4. Kenny Watson will start in Rudi's place and is a solid flex/bye week fill-in for this week against the Patriots. He might not get a lot of rushing attempts, but he should see some scoring opportunities.
Ahman Green - Green sprained his knee in week 3, and his status for week 4 is in doubt. He missed practice on both Wednesday and Thursday. Ron Dayne will start if Green can't go, and he has a favorable matchup against the Falcons.
Larry Johnson - LJ was suffering from general soreness after week 3, and his status for week 4 is in question. He has now missed practice on both Wednesday and Thursday, but still has a shot to play this week. This is starting to become a serious concern.
Julius Jones - Jones suffered another concussion in week 3, but he believes he'll be fine and play in week 4. What role he'll have has become a bigger question at this point. Marion Barber would be a top 5 option if Jones were to miss the game.
Brandon Jacobs - Jacobs sprained his knee in week 1, and he will miss week 4. He did not practice on Wednesday, but returned to practice on Thursday in a limited fashion, giving him an outside chance of playing in some capacity in week 4. The local newspaper stated that he'll resume receiving 20-25 carries when he returns, but if he returns this week, there's no way he'll receive the majority of the carries.
Brian Westbrook - Westbrook strained his abs in week 3, but he believes he'll be fine and play in week 4. He missed practice on both Wednesday and Thursday, but hopefully hell return to practice on Friday. Correll Buckhalter would start if Westbrook were to miss the game, so Westbrook owners need to pick him up given that it's a Sunday night game.
Kevin Jones - Jones returned from his Lisfranc foot fracture in week 3 in a very limited role, but he reported no problems and his role should continued expanding. Tatum Bell will still see the field plenty in week 4. It'll likely be at least 1 more week before he'll become a fantasy option.
Brandon Jackson - Jackson strained his shin in week 3, and he's still struggling with the injury. He was limited in practice on both Wednesday and Thursday. Regardless if he plays or not, he is a must-bench against the Vikings.
Chester Taylor - Taylor suffered a hip injury in week 1, but he's expected to return in week 4. He was limited in practice on both Wednesday and Thursday. Coach Childress still claims that he'll be the starter when he returns, but I find that hard to believe given how good Adrian Peterson looked in both weeks 1 and 3. He'll definitely pick up passing down work again with Peterson's ineffective blocking, but I'm not sure how many carries he'll get even if he does "start".
Deuce McAllister - McAllister tore his ACL in week 3 and is lost for the season. Reggie Bush will become the featured RB for New Orleans, but given questions about his durability, expect to see veteran Aaron Stecker and rookie Pierre Thomas used frequently as well.
Cadillac Williams - Williams injured his ribs in week 2, aggravated them in week 3, but he is expected to start in week 4. Gruden maintains that Cadillac is his unquestioned start, but the preseason concerns about his durability are very real and in full force.
Steven Jackson - Jackson tore his groin in week 3 and will be sidelined for multiple weeks. I'd give a 3-6 week estimate as it was revealed today that he has a 40% tear. Some outlets are reporting it as a 1 week injury, but that's ridiculous. Brian Leonard will start in his place.
WR:
Mark Clayton - Clayton was limited in weeks 1 and 2 with a sprained ankle. He was again limited in practice on Thursday, and he looks like a must-bench for week 4.
Hines Ward - Ward sprained his knee in week 3, and his status for week 4 is in doubt. He missed practice on both Wednesday and Thursday. Santonio Holmes and Heath Miller would benefit from Ward's absence.
Andre Johnson - Johnson sprained his knee in week 2, and he will miss week 4. The Texans are hoping he'll return in week 6 as it stands right now. It's possible he could practice later this week.
Jacoby Jones - Jones separated his shoulder in week 3 and will miss 2-3 weeks. He can be dropped in redraft leagues for now.
Javon Walker - Walker experienced soreness in his knee in week 3, but he expects to play in week 4. He missed practice on both Wednesday and Thursday. This is the same knee he had ACL surgery on 2 years ago, so this might be a problem, especially given his struggles last week despite the tough matchup. Keep an eye on this.
Eddie Kennison - Kennison tore his hamstring in week 1, and he will miss week 4. He's not worth holding onto in most leagues with the struggling Chiefs offense. His return might impact Dwayne Bowe.
Terry Glenn - Glenn underwent arthroscopic knee surgery prior to week 1, and he will miss week 4. He's hoping the surgery will allow him to return around week 6.
Plaxico Burress - Burress injured his ankle in week 2, but he played well in week 3. He missed practice on both Wednesday and Thursday. He's expected to play in week 4, but at less than 100%. This could be a lingering problem.
Santana Moss - Moss strained his groin in week 3, and he's on bye in week 4. The Redskins revealed that Moss would not have been able to play had they had a game in week 4, which leaves his week 5 status in question.
Calvin Johnson - Johnson bruised his back in week 3, but he is on track to start in week 4. He missed practice on both Wednesday and Thursday. Continue to monitor his practice schedule to make sure. He might become a gametime decision.
Anquan Boldin - Boldin hurt his hip in week 3, and he appears questionable to start in week 4. He missed practice on Wednesday and Thursday. Continue to monitor his status as he could become a gametime decision.
TE:
Kellen Winslow - Winslow suffered a partially separated shoulder in week 3, and his status for week 4 is in question. He missed practice on both Wednesday and Thursday, so keep an eye on his practice schedule. If he doesn't practice, he'll be a game-time decision.
L.J. Smith - Smith underwent groin surgery prior to week 3, and he's out for week 4. When he returns, he'll be a TE2 option.
Vernon Davis - Davis sprained his knee in week 3 and will miss an estimated 2 weeks. He's expected to return in week 7 after the 49ers' bye week.
D:
Chicago - Chicago's defense was hit hard with injuries in week 3, and they will be without DT Tommie Harris, CB Charles Tillman, CB Nathan Vasher, and possibly LB Lance Briggs in week 4. Without Harris, a pocket collpasing specialist, and both starting corners, they could be in for a very long day against the pass happy Lions. I'd consider other options this week.
Tuesday, September 25, 2007
NFL Week 3: Monday Night Game Wrapup
Tennessee Titans at New Orleans Saints
Vince Young - 14/22, 164 yards, 2 TD, 1 INT, 5/21. Young looked oustanding despite the lack of yardage, running when necessary, but hanging tough in the pocket most of the evening and looking to make the throw. His WRs still suck and he played an easy offense last night, but he's borderline QB1 material.
Drew Brees - 29/45, 225 yards, 0 TD, 4 INT, 1/9, 1 FL. Hot vomit. He completely fell apart in the 2nd half, turning the ball over 4 times in the 4th quarter as the Saints tried to play catchup. Luckily the Saints have a bye next week, so you won't have to worry about whether to give him another chance until week 5. Don't give up on him and sell low as I fully believe that Payton will get the offense moving in the right direction after the bye week.
LenDale White - 17/50, 1/10, 1 TD. LenDale White is fat, and he runs like it too. He definitely runs with power, but lacks explosiveness. He should remain a solid source of TDs and is a quality RB3. Chris Brown (11/38) will receive less and less work, but will remain a factor on 3rd downs.
Deuce McAllister - 4/5, 1/1. Deuce tore his ACL yesterday evening and is out for the season. It's a terrible break for Deuce as this is now twice in 3 years that this has happened to one of the great guys in the NFL. Here's to a quick recovery, but his career is in question.
Reggie Bush - 7/15, 6/20, 2 TD. Another dismal yardage production from Bush, but thanks to Deuce's injury, he cashed in on two 1 yard TD runs. He still dances way too much and doesn't run with authority, but he'll get more carries and more time on the field now that Deuce is out. I wouldn't go crazy yet given this, but Bush has a chance to live up to his draft status. Payton will have a bye week to re-tool the offense and prepare for football without Deuce.
Brandon Jones - 4/73, 1 TD. He remains the most talented WR on the Titans and is a fantasy factor. He's best as the WR5 he was likely drafted as, but he possess upside and should emerge as a solid bye-week replacement.
Bo Scaife - 3/26, 1 TD. I expected a little more out of him so far, but he made a nice TD catch and remains the top TE on the team as Troupe remains buried behind him. He's not a bad TE2.
Marques Colston - 4/68. He finally made a nice play downfield as Brees hooked up with him on a 37 yard pass in the 1st half, but he again remains a victim of the poor Saints offense. He was likely drafted as a WR1, but he's better as a lower tier WR2 until the Saints get it turned around. His skills haven't gone anywhere, but he's likely having trouble adjusting to being the focal point of defenses with Joe Horn gone. He should rebound.
Vince Young - 14/22, 164 yards, 2 TD, 1 INT, 5/21. Young looked oustanding despite the lack of yardage, running when necessary, but hanging tough in the pocket most of the evening and looking to make the throw. His WRs still suck and he played an easy offense last night, but he's borderline QB1 material.
Drew Brees - 29/45, 225 yards, 0 TD, 4 INT, 1/9, 1 FL. Hot vomit. He completely fell apart in the 2nd half, turning the ball over 4 times in the 4th quarter as the Saints tried to play catchup. Luckily the Saints have a bye next week, so you won't have to worry about whether to give him another chance until week 5. Don't give up on him and sell low as I fully believe that Payton will get the offense moving in the right direction after the bye week.
LenDale White - 17/50, 1/10, 1 TD. LenDale White is fat, and he runs like it too. He definitely runs with power, but lacks explosiveness. He should remain a solid source of TDs and is a quality RB3. Chris Brown (11/38) will receive less and less work, but will remain a factor on 3rd downs.
Deuce McAllister - 4/5, 1/1. Deuce tore his ACL yesterday evening and is out for the season. It's a terrible break for Deuce as this is now twice in 3 years that this has happened to one of the great guys in the NFL. Here's to a quick recovery, but his career is in question.
Reggie Bush - 7/15, 6/20, 2 TD. Another dismal yardage production from Bush, but thanks to Deuce's injury, he cashed in on two 1 yard TD runs. He still dances way too much and doesn't run with authority, but he'll get more carries and more time on the field now that Deuce is out. I wouldn't go crazy yet given this, but Bush has a chance to live up to his draft status. Payton will have a bye week to re-tool the offense and prepare for football without Deuce.
Brandon Jones - 4/73, 1 TD. He remains the most talented WR on the Titans and is a fantasy factor. He's best as the WR5 he was likely drafted as, but he possess upside and should emerge as a solid bye-week replacement.
Bo Scaife - 3/26, 1 TD. I expected a little more out of him so far, but he made a nice TD catch and remains the top TE on the team as Troupe remains buried behind him. He's not a bad TE2.
Marques Colston - 4/68. He finally made a nice play downfield as Brees hooked up with him on a 37 yard pass in the 1st half, but he again remains a victim of the poor Saints offense. He was likely drafted as a WR1, but he's better as a lower tier WR2 until the Saints get it turned around. His skills haven't gone anywhere, but he's likely having trouble adjusting to being the focal point of defenses with Joe Horn gone. He should rebound.
NFL Week 3: Late Game Wrapup
Jacksonville Jaguars at Denver Broncos
David Garrard - 14/20, 154 yards, 1 TD, 0 INT, 12/52, 1 FL. Garrard had another impressive outing on Sunday, taking what was given to him by a stingy Denver secondary, and adding solid fantasy points on the ground. He should continue being an excellent QB2 for your fantasy team despite the lack of quailty wideouts. He's a poor man's Vince Young.
Jay Cutler - 16/23, 222 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT, 2/-1. A pretty efficient outing against a solid Jacksonville secondary. He utilized Brandon Marshall well as Mathis took away Javon Walker. He'll have better outings against weaker defenses. He's a borderline QB1.
Fred Taylor - 17/84. Taylor had another solid afternoon on the ground, and the word out of Jacksonville is that he's close to becoming the featured back again. Maurice Jones-Drew (15/37, 2/18, 1 FL) fumbled on the goal line, and Greg Jones subsequently punched in a TD from inside the 5 later in the game. Taylor will be a very solid RB3, and a RB2 in the right matchup while healthy if this proves to be true. Jacksonville is on bye this week, so we'll have to wait a week. Spelling Taylor is still a good idea given how often Jacksonville will run, but he's definitely earned a bigger role.
Travis Henry - 11/35, 1 TD. He saved his day with a TD as Jacksonville solidified their run defense with this effort. Henry continues to be a reliable RB1 with 100 yard, 2 TD upside in better matchups.
Marcedes Lewis - 3/44. Lewis has developed into a solid weapon for the Jaguars, and Garrard might start looking his way more given the lack of quality options at WR for Jacksonville. This is purely speculation on my part, but he's a solid TE2.
Brandon Marshall - 7/133. Marshall broke through with a huge game against a great secondary. He has excellent talent and has emerged as a solid WR3. Denver is far more comfortable throwing the ball with Cutler this year than they have been in the past with the erratic Jake Plummer, and Cutler has the talent and the system to produce 2 fantasy-worthy WRs. His talent is comparable to Terrell Owens, but perhaps not quite as fast. He's for real.
Javon Walker - 2/10. Thanks, Rashean Mathis. Mathis is a legit shutdown corner and did an excellent job of taking Walker out of the game. It'll happen, but Walker is a WR2 at worst this year.
Cleveland Browns at Oakland Raiders
Derek Anderson - 18/37, 248 yards, 1 TD, 2 INT, 2/12. A far cry from his explosion at Cincy. He remains someone to keep an eye on, however, as he's not afraid to use the talents of Edwards and Winslow. Oakland still has a solid secondary and presented a tough matchup.
Daunte Culpepper - 8/14, 118 yards. He's the new starting QB in Oakland. It remains to be seen how effective he can be, but he's not a bad QB2 to stash if you don't play matchups with your QBs. He doesn't have the mobility that he used to possess thanks to the severe knee injury he suffered, but he still possesses a big arm and decent weapons in Oakland.
Jamal Lewis - 15/56, 2/22. Back to the Jamal Lewis we know and dislike. If you can deal him based on his week 2 performance, do it. He'll be lucky to hit 100 yards again.
LaMont Jordan - 29/121, 2/32, 1 TD. He busted out with a monster 2nd half to turned in yet another great performance. Jordan is clearly back to his 2005 form with a capable offensive system around him. Even when Jordan is held in check on the ground, expect continued solid games thanks to his receiving skills. He's a RB1 against non-elite defenses. His balky back remains a source of concern, but the fact he took 29 carries and got stronger as the game went on after a week filled with concerns shows that it's not a big deal right now.
Kellen Winslow - 6/88. Winslow is the only TE even close to Gates, and he's doing a great job keeping up with him. He's an elite TE1.
Braylon Edwards - 4/83, 1 TD. He's playing like a WR1 right now despite the uncertainty at the QB position. Don't get suckered into the hype regarding Brady Quinn...he'd be a drain on his numbers. Anderson is more pro-ready and hopefully he'll remain the QB over the rest of this season.
Ronald Curry - 3/62, 1 TD. Curry bounced back after a tough matchup against Champ Bailey with a solid showing against the weak Cleveland defense. I'm not sure how the switch to Culpepper will affect him as McCown made a concerted effort to get Curry the ball, but he's playing like a very good WR3 right now.
Cincinnati Bengals at Seattle Seahawks
Carson Palmer - 27/43, 342 yards, 1 TD, 2 INT, 1/-1. Palmer exploded for another huge yardage day, but he had problems producing TDs with all that yardage. He received no help from his rushing attack which prevented the team from moving the ball more efficiently.
Matt Hasselbeck - 24/37, 248 yards, 3 TDs, 2 INT. Hasselbeck had another solid afternoon and made use of his matchup against a weak Cincy secondary. He remains a borderline QB1 to be used in the right matchups.
Rudi Johnson - 17/9, 1/33. What a disasterous afternoon for Rudi who left the game early with a hamstring injury. He left his owners high and dry as his heavy workload over the past several seasons might be catching up to him a bit as his YPC has been a problem for over a year now. All Rudi owners should pick up Kenny Watson if they plan on utilizing a Cincy RB next Monday.
Shaun Alexander - 21/100, 2/8. Alexander had a big 2nd half in his 3rd straight game, but didn't manage a TD in this one. He looks much better than I thought he would this year so far, but I still think he's a solid sell high candidate. It was revealed that he's playing with a broken wrist, but he will continue playing through it.
T.J. Houshmanzadeh - 12/141, 1 TD. Finally a big yardage day from Housh who turned in yet another solid performance. He's turned into a borderline WR1 thanks to Cincy's horrible defense and propensity to throw a lot.
Chad Johnson - 9/138. Another great game from Chad Johnson who's easily putting up the monster season many were expecting. Like I said above, given Cincy's bad defense and the fact they need to throw all game, you can expect CJ to put up a career year this season.
Deion Branch - 6/77, 1 TD. Back to back solid games from Branch after being shutout in week 1. He was likely drafted as a WR3 and should outperform expectations this year.
Nate Burleson - 6/76, 1 TD. With Hackett out, Burleson has re-emerged as a fantasy option. If he's still available, I'd add him to your WR depth.
Carolina Panthers at Atlanta Falcons
Jake Delhomme - 10/18, 109 yards, 2 TD, 0 INT, 2/1. Atlanta was curiously playing solid defense in this one against the pass, but the major story here is the health of Delhomme's elbow. He left the game for good with an elbow injury, and his status for week 4 is up in the air.
David Carr - 3/4, 56 yards, 2/-1. Those in QB2 leagues looking for another starting QB to add to their roster should grab Carr in case Delhomme misses a week or more, but don't be expecting too much. He's shown happy feet in the pocket (for good reason) and the inability to throw the deep ball effectively. Steve Smith owners can't be happy.
Joey Harrington - 31/44, 361 yards, 2 TD, 0 INT, 1/4. What the? Harrington had a couple explosions like this last year, but don't read too much into the performance. His receiving options are still less than average, and Harrington just isn't very good. That being said, you might as well keep an eye on him.
DeShaun Foster - 20/122, 1/13, 2 TD. What the (part 2)? Foster owners should pay close attention to Foster's carries next week. Atlanta can't stop anything on the ground, but Foster is clearly running better than DeAngelo Williams (11/47) right now and could emerge as the featured RB in this offense. Don't read too much into one game (he only had 9 carries last week), but he might emerge as a solid option in the right matchup.
Warrick Dunn - 11/55, 4/13, 1 FL. Yet another mediocre outing from Dunn. He's barely worth discussing.
Jerious Norwood - 6/32, 3/34. Patience.
Jeff King - 4/56, 1 TD. He's a lower tier TE1 right now and is an excellent option for Vernon Davis owners.
Steve Smith - 1/10, 1/6. Ugh, but it happens. DeAngelo Hall's play caught up to his mouth for once. Smith owners should be more worried with Delhomme's health than this performance.
Roddy White - 7/127, 1 TD. He'll be a popular pickup this week and is worth serious consideration given your roster situation. He has emerged as the go-to WR that he was expected to become, but thanks to Joey Harrington and the poor Falcons offense, his upside is limited. He's a solid WR4.
Alge Crumpler - 6/63, 1 TD. He's not doing too bad with Harrington so far, maintaining his solid TE1 status.
New York Giants at Washington Redskins
Eli Manning - 21/36, 232 yards, 1 TD, 2 INT, 1/-1, 1 FL. Most importantly here is that Manning finished the game this time, again with no health problems. His shoulder is fine, and he'll have better games in better matchups. Washington's secondary is playing well now.
Jason Campbell - 16/34, 190 yards, 1 TD, 0 INT, 4/12. It's really hard to keep recommending him as a QB2 as he mixes solid decisions and pocket presence with some horrible plays as well. He's a young QB still learning the game, but if you can get someone like David Garrard instead, go for it.
Derrick Ward - 26/94, 6/26. He again put up a great yardage total, but it was extremely disappointing that Reuben Droughns came in on the 1 yard line twice to vulture TDs. This seems to be the arrangement that the Giants will use despite Ward being plenty big to assume goal line duties. He's a solid RB2 while Jacobs is hurt, however.
Clinton Portis - 14/60, 6/37, 1 TD. A week after showing progress in the touches department, Portis dropped back down this week again, but he made the most of his touches and scored for the 3rd straight game. Despite his goalline work the first 3 games, Gibbs used Betts inside the 5 at the end of the game, and Betts was stuffed and then tripped up on 3rd and 4th down carries. Hopefully that will prove to Gibbs who needs to be in the game in the redzone.
Plaxico Burress - 5/86, 1 TD. Another great game from Burress who turned in a solid 2nd half to post good numbers. His ankle was sore after the game, but he appears just fine and gets a nice matchup against a banged up Eagles secondary this week. Keep an eye on Lito Sheppard's health to determine exactly how good of a matchup it'll be. He's worth starting no matter what, however.
Jeremy Shockey - 5/79. He continues to post solid yardage totals on a weekly basis and is still a very good TE1.
Santana Moss - 3/82. Luckily he had a big 49 yard catch in the first half to keep his yardage total solid for the day. He's playing like the WR3 he was expected to be, but Campbell's inconsistency is holding him back. Worse yet, he suffered yet another groin injury, but he'll have a bye week to rest up and hopefully he'll be ready for week 5.
Chris Cooley - 3/19, 1 TD. The TD saved his afternoon as he is suffering from Campbell's growing pains as well. He's still a quality TE1.
Dallas Cowboys at Chicago Bears
Tony Romo - 22/35, 329 yards, 2 TD, 1 INT. This is the first time I've been able to watch Romo this year, and there's absolutely no question this kid is for real. He has excellent pocket presence combined with quick feet that allows him to buy time and find an open receiver. He undoubtedly has a strong arm as well, and he's a very real QB1.
Rex Grossman - 15/32, 195 yards, 0 TD, 3 INT, 1/12. He had a flash for a drive of solid play, but his boneheaded throws continued and he's officially lost his job. If Griese plays well, this will be Grossman's last game in a Bears uniform. He can be dropped in all but deep 2 QB leagues.
Marion Barber - 15/102, 1/10, 1 TD. Is this the changing of the guard? Barber had another huge game despite coming off the bench, and with Jones' concussion, his season looks bright. Don't go crazy over this one outing against a worn down defense, but his carries are well worth watching next week and he's again a great RB2.
Julius Jones - 7/26, 2/29. A concussion knocked him out of the game, and he's bound to continue losing carries to Barber. His role is very uncertain, and he's not a good RB3 anymore.
Cedric Benson - 16/46, 1/8, 1 TD, 1 FL. Stuffed again. He's a borderline RB2 right now that should be used in the right matchup. Owners should hope that Griese can bring some stability to the offense and open up a few extra running lanes for Benson. He's not a RB that can create plays by himself.
Terrell Owens - 8/145. Another huge day from Owens, although he didn't find the endzone this time. He's an elite WR1.
Jason Witten - 8/90, 1 TD. Romo loves him and he's emerged as the 3rd best TE in fantasy football right now behind Gates and Winslow. He's a great TE1 despite likely being drafted as a TE2.
Bernard Berrian - 6/73. He's remained a solid WR3 despite Grossman's struggles. Griese can't throw the deep ball like Grossman can which may limit his big play potential, but Berrian has rounded out his game this year and will likely continue to be a very solid producer regardless. Grossman wasn't hitting him down the field this year, anyways.
Greg Olsen - 2/28. Keep an eye on him. He's healthy and the Bears want to use him in the redzone, assuming they can get there.
David Garrard - 14/20, 154 yards, 1 TD, 0 INT, 12/52, 1 FL. Garrard had another impressive outing on Sunday, taking what was given to him by a stingy Denver secondary, and adding solid fantasy points on the ground. He should continue being an excellent QB2 for your fantasy team despite the lack of quailty wideouts. He's a poor man's Vince Young.
Jay Cutler - 16/23, 222 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT, 2/-1. A pretty efficient outing against a solid Jacksonville secondary. He utilized Brandon Marshall well as Mathis took away Javon Walker. He'll have better outings against weaker defenses. He's a borderline QB1.
Fred Taylor - 17/84. Taylor had another solid afternoon on the ground, and the word out of Jacksonville is that he's close to becoming the featured back again. Maurice Jones-Drew (15/37, 2/18, 1 FL) fumbled on the goal line, and Greg Jones subsequently punched in a TD from inside the 5 later in the game. Taylor will be a very solid RB3, and a RB2 in the right matchup while healthy if this proves to be true. Jacksonville is on bye this week, so we'll have to wait a week. Spelling Taylor is still a good idea given how often Jacksonville will run, but he's definitely earned a bigger role.
Travis Henry - 11/35, 1 TD. He saved his day with a TD as Jacksonville solidified their run defense with this effort. Henry continues to be a reliable RB1 with 100 yard, 2 TD upside in better matchups.
Marcedes Lewis - 3/44. Lewis has developed into a solid weapon for the Jaguars, and Garrard might start looking his way more given the lack of quality options at WR for Jacksonville. This is purely speculation on my part, but he's a solid TE2.
Brandon Marshall - 7/133. Marshall broke through with a huge game against a great secondary. He has excellent talent and has emerged as a solid WR3. Denver is far more comfortable throwing the ball with Cutler this year than they have been in the past with the erratic Jake Plummer, and Cutler has the talent and the system to produce 2 fantasy-worthy WRs. His talent is comparable to Terrell Owens, but perhaps not quite as fast. He's for real.
Javon Walker - 2/10. Thanks, Rashean Mathis. Mathis is a legit shutdown corner and did an excellent job of taking Walker out of the game. It'll happen, but Walker is a WR2 at worst this year.
Cleveland Browns at Oakland Raiders
Derek Anderson - 18/37, 248 yards, 1 TD, 2 INT, 2/12. A far cry from his explosion at Cincy. He remains someone to keep an eye on, however, as he's not afraid to use the talents of Edwards and Winslow. Oakland still has a solid secondary and presented a tough matchup.
Daunte Culpepper - 8/14, 118 yards. He's the new starting QB in Oakland. It remains to be seen how effective he can be, but he's not a bad QB2 to stash if you don't play matchups with your QBs. He doesn't have the mobility that he used to possess thanks to the severe knee injury he suffered, but he still possesses a big arm and decent weapons in Oakland.
Jamal Lewis - 15/56, 2/22. Back to the Jamal Lewis we know and dislike. If you can deal him based on his week 2 performance, do it. He'll be lucky to hit 100 yards again.
LaMont Jordan - 29/121, 2/32, 1 TD. He busted out with a monster 2nd half to turned in yet another great performance. Jordan is clearly back to his 2005 form with a capable offensive system around him. Even when Jordan is held in check on the ground, expect continued solid games thanks to his receiving skills. He's a RB1 against non-elite defenses. His balky back remains a source of concern, but the fact he took 29 carries and got stronger as the game went on after a week filled with concerns shows that it's not a big deal right now.
Kellen Winslow - 6/88. Winslow is the only TE even close to Gates, and he's doing a great job keeping up with him. He's an elite TE1.
Braylon Edwards - 4/83, 1 TD. He's playing like a WR1 right now despite the uncertainty at the QB position. Don't get suckered into the hype regarding Brady Quinn...he'd be a drain on his numbers. Anderson is more pro-ready and hopefully he'll remain the QB over the rest of this season.
Ronald Curry - 3/62, 1 TD. Curry bounced back after a tough matchup against Champ Bailey with a solid showing against the weak Cleveland defense. I'm not sure how the switch to Culpepper will affect him as McCown made a concerted effort to get Curry the ball, but he's playing like a very good WR3 right now.
Cincinnati Bengals at Seattle Seahawks
Carson Palmer - 27/43, 342 yards, 1 TD, 2 INT, 1/-1. Palmer exploded for another huge yardage day, but he had problems producing TDs with all that yardage. He received no help from his rushing attack which prevented the team from moving the ball more efficiently.
Matt Hasselbeck - 24/37, 248 yards, 3 TDs, 2 INT. Hasselbeck had another solid afternoon and made use of his matchup against a weak Cincy secondary. He remains a borderline QB1 to be used in the right matchups.
Rudi Johnson - 17/9, 1/33. What a disasterous afternoon for Rudi who left the game early with a hamstring injury. He left his owners high and dry as his heavy workload over the past several seasons might be catching up to him a bit as his YPC has been a problem for over a year now. All Rudi owners should pick up Kenny Watson if they plan on utilizing a Cincy RB next Monday.
Shaun Alexander - 21/100, 2/8. Alexander had a big 2nd half in his 3rd straight game, but didn't manage a TD in this one. He looks much better than I thought he would this year so far, but I still think he's a solid sell high candidate. It was revealed that he's playing with a broken wrist, but he will continue playing through it.
T.J. Houshmanzadeh - 12/141, 1 TD. Finally a big yardage day from Housh who turned in yet another solid performance. He's turned into a borderline WR1 thanks to Cincy's horrible defense and propensity to throw a lot.
Chad Johnson - 9/138. Another great game from Chad Johnson who's easily putting up the monster season many were expecting. Like I said above, given Cincy's bad defense and the fact they need to throw all game, you can expect CJ to put up a career year this season.
Deion Branch - 6/77, 1 TD. Back to back solid games from Branch after being shutout in week 1. He was likely drafted as a WR3 and should outperform expectations this year.
Nate Burleson - 6/76, 1 TD. With Hackett out, Burleson has re-emerged as a fantasy option. If he's still available, I'd add him to your WR depth.
Carolina Panthers at Atlanta Falcons
Jake Delhomme - 10/18, 109 yards, 2 TD, 0 INT, 2/1. Atlanta was curiously playing solid defense in this one against the pass, but the major story here is the health of Delhomme's elbow. He left the game for good with an elbow injury, and his status for week 4 is up in the air.
David Carr - 3/4, 56 yards, 2/-1. Those in QB2 leagues looking for another starting QB to add to their roster should grab Carr in case Delhomme misses a week or more, but don't be expecting too much. He's shown happy feet in the pocket (for good reason) and the inability to throw the deep ball effectively. Steve Smith owners can't be happy.
Joey Harrington - 31/44, 361 yards, 2 TD, 0 INT, 1/4. What the? Harrington had a couple explosions like this last year, but don't read too much into the performance. His receiving options are still less than average, and Harrington just isn't very good. That being said, you might as well keep an eye on him.
DeShaun Foster - 20/122, 1/13, 2 TD. What the (part 2)? Foster owners should pay close attention to Foster's carries next week. Atlanta can't stop anything on the ground, but Foster is clearly running better than DeAngelo Williams (11/47) right now and could emerge as the featured RB in this offense. Don't read too much into one game (he only had 9 carries last week), but he might emerge as a solid option in the right matchup.
Warrick Dunn - 11/55, 4/13, 1 FL. Yet another mediocre outing from Dunn. He's barely worth discussing.
Jerious Norwood - 6/32, 3/34. Patience.
Jeff King - 4/56, 1 TD. He's a lower tier TE1 right now and is an excellent option for Vernon Davis owners.
Steve Smith - 1/10, 1/6. Ugh, but it happens. DeAngelo Hall's play caught up to his mouth for once. Smith owners should be more worried with Delhomme's health than this performance.
Roddy White - 7/127, 1 TD. He'll be a popular pickup this week and is worth serious consideration given your roster situation. He has emerged as the go-to WR that he was expected to become, but thanks to Joey Harrington and the poor Falcons offense, his upside is limited. He's a solid WR4.
Alge Crumpler - 6/63, 1 TD. He's not doing too bad with Harrington so far, maintaining his solid TE1 status.
New York Giants at Washington Redskins
Eli Manning - 21/36, 232 yards, 1 TD, 2 INT, 1/-1, 1 FL. Most importantly here is that Manning finished the game this time, again with no health problems. His shoulder is fine, and he'll have better games in better matchups. Washington's secondary is playing well now.
Jason Campbell - 16/34, 190 yards, 1 TD, 0 INT, 4/12. It's really hard to keep recommending him as a QB2 as he mixes solid decisions and pocket presence with some horrible plays as well. He's a young QB still learning the game, but if you can get someone like David Garrard instead, go for it.
Derrick Ward - 26/94, 6/26. He again put up a great yardage total, but it was extremely disappointing that Reuben Droughns came in on the 1 yard line twice to vulture TDs. This seems to be the arrangement that the Giants will use despite Ward being plenty big to assume goal line duties. He's a solid RB2 while Jacobs is hurt, however.
Clinton Portis - 14/60, 6/37, 1 TD. A week after showing progress in the touches department, Portis dropped back down this week again, but he made the most of his touches and scored for the 3rd straight game. Despite his goalline work the first 3 games, Gibbs used Betts inside the 5 at the end of the game, and Betts was stuffed and then tripped up on 3rd and 4th down carries. Hopefully that will prove to Gibbs who needs to be in the game in the redzone.
Plaxico Burress - 5/86, 1 TD. Another great game from Burress who turned in a solid 2nd half to post good numbers. His ankle was sore after the game, but he appears just fine and gets a nice matchup against a banged up Eagles secondary this week. Keep an eye on Lito Sheppard's health to determine exactly how good of a matchup it'll be. He's worth starting no matter what, however.
Jeremy Shockey - 5/79. He continues to post solid yardage totals on a weekly basis and is still a very good TE1.
Santana Moss - 3/82. Luckily he had a big 49 yard catch in the first half to keep his yardage total solid for the day. He's playing like the WR3 he was expected to be, but Campbell's inconsistency is holding him back. Worse yet, he suffered yet another groin injury, but he'll have a bye week to rest up and hopefully he'll be ready for week 5.
Chris Cooley - 3/19, 1 TD. The TD saved his afternoon as he is suffering from Campbell's growing pains as well. He's still a quality TE1.
Dallas Cowboys at Chicago Bears
Tony Romo - 22/35, 329 yards, 2 TD, 1 INT. This is the first time I've been able to watch Romo this year, and there's absolutely no question this kid is for real. He has excellent pocket presence combined with quick feet that allows him to buy time and find an open receiver. He undoubtedly has a strong arm as well, and he's a very real QB1.
Rex Grossman - 15/32, 195 yards, 0 TD, 3 INT, 1/12. He had a flash for a drive of solid play, but his boneheaded throws continued and he's officially lost his job. If Griese plays well, this will be Grossman's last game in a Bears uniform. He can be dropped in all but deep 2 QB leagues.
Marion Barber - 15/102, 1/10, 1 TD. Is this the changing of the guard? Barber had another huge game despite coming off the bench, and with Jones' concussion, his season looks bright. Don't go crazy over this one outing against a worn down defense, but his carries are well worth watching next week and he's again a great RB2.
Julius Jones - 7/26, 2/29. A concussion knocked him out of the game, and he's bound to continue losing carries to Barber. His role is very uncertain, and he's not a good RB3 anymore.
Cedric Benson - 16/46, 1/8, 1 TD, 1 FL. Stuffed again. He's a borderline RB2 right now that should be used in the right matchup. Owners should hope that Griese can bring some stability to the offense and open up a few extra running lanes for Benson. He's not a RB that can create plays by himself.
Terrell Owens - 8/145. Another huge day from Owens, although he didn't find the endzone this time. He's an elite WR1.
Jason Witten - 8/90, 1 TD. Romo loves him and he's emerged as the 3rd best TE in fantasy football right now behind Gates and Winslow. He's a great TE1 despite likely being drafted as a TE2.
Bernard Berrian - 6/73. He's remained a solid WR3 despite Grossman's struggles. Griese can't throw the deep ball like Grossman can which may limit his big play potential, but Berrian has rounded out his game this year and will likely continue to be a very solid producer regardless. Grossman wasn't hitting him down the field this year, anyways.
Greg Olsen - 2/28. Keep an eye on him. He's healthy and the Bears want to use him in the redzone, assuming they can get there.
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