Great news for Bengals / bad for potential fantasy owners
Cleveland Browns wide receiver Joe Jurevicius will miss the first six weeks of the regular season while he recovers from knee surgery.  The Browns placed Jurevicius on the physically unable to perform list Tuesday.  Jurevicius had swelling and discomfort in his right knee related to a previous operation and needed another procedure in June to further clean it out.  After the sixth week of the season, the Browns have three weeks to allow Jurevicius to start practicing.

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And to think, he could have been a sleeper pick
Wide receiver David Tyree was placed on the physically-unable-to-perform reserve list by the New York Giants on Tuesday, meaning the player who made a game-saving catch in the Super Bowl won't be making any for at least the first six weeks of the season.  The Giants can take Tyree off the PUP list any time from the first day after the sixth week of the season until the last day of the ninth week. Once he is taken off the list, he has 21 days to either be activated or he is finished for the season.

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Colts activate Manning, green light him on your draft board
Peyton Manning is finally healthy enough to start practicing with the Indianapolis Colts. Coach Tony Dungy says the team activated the two-time NFL MVP on Tuesday, clearing the way for him to begin working out with his teammates. Manning had been on the physically unable to perform list since training camp opened after surgery to remove an infected bursa sac from his left knee July 14. He didn't appear with the team until last week when he lobbed a few passes to teammates as the Colts practiced at the new Lucas Oil Stadium. Manning was expected to go through team drills for the first time Tuesday afternoon.

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Jeremy Shockey should not your top choice at TE...but he's close
Shockey (leg) will make his preseason debut this Thursday against the Dolphins, the Times-Picayune reports. "I'm ready to play," said Shockey, who hasn't seen any live action since he broke his left leg last December. "It's been a long time, and it's so important to get some reps to get the game speed down and to actually have some contact." The plan is for Shockey to play about one quarter in Thursday's game. Shockey expects to be at full speed in time for the team's regular season opener.

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Antonio Gates on the other hand...should be your top choice at TE
Gates (toe) did not play in Saturday's preseason game against the Seahawks, but he did work out before the game, the San Diego North County Times reports. Gates was not expected to play, but he continues to work out. The feeling in San Diego is that he will be ready for the regular season opener on September 7, so as long as we don't hear about any setbacks, he should be fine.

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Reggie Bush injury update
Bush, who left Saturday's preseason game with a thigh injury, appeared to miss practice Monday and had his right thigh wrapped, the Times-Picayune reports. Part of Monday's practice was closed to the media, so it's possible that Bush participated during that time. Bush wasn't available for comment on Monday, but he and head coach Sean Payton said on Saturday that the injury is a thigh bruise and is not considered serious.

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Don't run for Nate Burleson...but if he's there late...consider him
Burleson had one catch -- a 68-yard touchdown -- in Monday night's preseason game against the Chargers. It was only his third catch of the preseason, but he's been working without Matt Hasselbeck, who is nursing a back injury. Hasselbeck should be fine for Week 1 and Burleson -- who has climbed up the depth chart following injuries to Deion Branch and Bobby Engram -- could emerge as a low-end No. 2 or high-end No. 3 fantasy receiver.

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Lookin for a backup QB? Rivers will be a great pick
After sitting out San Diego's last preseason game, Rivers (knee) returned against the Seahawks on Monday night, going 11-for-21 for 143 yards. Rivers still looked a bit tentative on his knee at times, but nothing that should cause you to panic. Remember he's just seven months removed from ACL surgery, so it's likely that he'll only continue to get stronger and more confident as the season wears on.

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Could Julius Jones be a bust? It's not unlikely
Jones had eight carries for 30 yards in Monday night's preseason game against the Chargers. Jones finished with more carries that Maurice Morris, but Morris got the start and has outplayed Jones throughout the preseason. The third game is usually treated like a test run for the regular season, so it's interesting to note that Jones began the game on the sidelines. If Seattle turns into a full-blown running back by committee, it's unlikely Jones will live up to his draft position.

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Tuesday's Sleeper Pick
Brandon Jackson, RB - Green Bay
I can't remember if I've put him on my list this year...but although Ryan Grant has become the staple of the Packers backfield, Jackson has fallen in line behind him on the depth chart. And while it's Fantasy 101 to have the backups of your primary RBs on your roster, Jackson might end up with a bigger role than people expect. Grant, who settled on a new contract in the middle or training camp but didn't play much preseason ball because of a hamstring injury, will still have the bulk of the work. Jackson's versatility as a receiver (11 catches in three starts last season) could make him a candidate for third-down work, and maybe a little more. Moreover, how reliable is Grant to keep up the production he amassed in the second half of 2007 without Brett Favre as his quarterback? Jackson is a sleeper in the deeper drafts compared to standard 14- and 15-round leagues.

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Several reasons why not to trust the Browns on your team
ESPN
Now, let's add to the mix the injury problems the Browns already have so far in 2008: Star pass-catcher Kellen Winslow is coming off another knee surgery and has missed preseason action because of hamstring problems, and Braylon Edwards has stitches in his foot and might not be available for Week 1. Joe Jurevicius' knee might force him to miss the season, and Kevin Kasper suffered a neck injury and minor concussion and might not make the roster. Wide receiver/return man Josh Cribbs has a high ankle sprain, and running back Jamal Lewis suffered a pulled hamstring last week. Outside of Donte' Stallworth, will there be anyone else around to catch the ball?

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Jabar Gaffney should be on your draft chart....later in the draft
Donte Stallworth was supposed to be the third member of the crew, but he was outplayed by No. 4 option Jabar Gaffney. Stallworth (46 catches, 697 yards) had more catches and yards than Gaffney, but Gaffney (36 catches, 449 yards) scored two more touchdowns and became one of Tom Brady's favorite targets toward the end of the year. This season, Gaffney enters the year at No. 3 with Stallworth now in Cleveland. It's now Gaffney's turn to hold off No. 4 options in Chad Jackson and Kelley Washington, who are ready to emerge as offensive weapons. The winner of this battle could be a great sleeper in Fantasy leagues. With defensive coordinators focusing their attention on Moss and Welker, the Patriots third receiver could be a viable reserve and potential starter, especially since New England uses multi-receiver sets a lot during games.

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Punters in fantasy??? Yep.
ESPN

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Maurice Jones-Drew hurt, but will still share carries
The bad news remains that Jones-Drew is still hobbled by an ankle injury. But the good news is that it appears as though he has avoided a serious problem that could keep him sidelined to open the season. Most starters hardly play in the team's final preseason game, so it's not a big deal if Jones-Drew doesn't dress Thursday. He'll share carries with Fred Taylor once again this season, but Jones-Drew does so many other things, which is why he's considered a solid No. 2 Fantasy option.