Aaron Rodgers questionable....outlook not good Rodgers (shoulder) was at practice on Thursday, but did not participate, according to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. It's looking more and more likely that Rodgers will not be able to play
on Sunday, but the Packers are still holding out hope. They won't push
him until Friday or Saturday and see if things have healed enough to
allow him to play on Sunday. Matt Flynn would likely get the start if
Rodgers can't play.
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Not a smart move to play Palmer this week During the early portion of practice Thursday, Palmer was not throwing
passes, the Bengals' official site reports. Later, Palmer, who was
dressed in pads with his helmet, went to the side and threw at a
distance of about 10 yards. It's virtually certain that Palmer will officially be listed as a
limited practice participant Thursday. He'll need to do more Friday
though in order to have a realistic chance of getting the green light
Sunday against the Cowboys.
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Update on Brian Westbrook Redskins cornerback Byron Westbrook said he would be surprised if his
brother Brian played in Sunday's WAS/PHI contest, the Washington Post
reports. "I don't think he'll play," Byron Westbrook said of his older
brother. "The ankle injury is more serious than what the Eagles put
out." He's no doctor, so take that with a grain of salt, but what can be said
is that his brother is no lock to suit up in Week 5. For his part,
Brian Westbrook says "I'm definitely more optimistic than I was last
week...I'm close. I'm getting closer daily." More on his status
following Thursday's practice.
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Boldin's weekend plans still undecided Anquan Boldin
has a fractured sinus as a result of what he acknowledges was the worst
hit he's received in his football career. The Arizona Cardinals
standout wide receiver doesn't know how long he will be sidelined, but
when he returns, he says, there will be no change in his trademark
tough, aggressive style. "For me it was just a part of football,"
Boldin said after watching his teammates practice on Wednesday. "It's
an unfortunate incident that happened but, you know, you take your
bumps and bruises." NFL commissioner Roger Goodell suspended New York
Jets safety Eric Smith
for one game and fined him $50,000 for the vicious, helmet-to-helmet
hit on Boldin in the end zone during the waning seconds of the Jets'
56-35 victory over the Cardinals at the Meadowlands on Sunday. "You
never know somebody's intentions," Boldin said, "but I didn't think it
was intentional."
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Maroney close to being back on the field The Boston Globe reports that Patriots RB Laurence Maroney,
who missed Week 3 with a shoulder injury and was on a bye last week,
was not listed on the team's injury report Wednesday and is excited to
get back on the field for Week 5 against the 49ers. "Like a little kid
in a candy shop," he said. "Just to get back out there and get back in
the groove of things. That one week felt like forever."
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Top 5 Fantasy Duds Fox Sports Phillip Rivers - San Diego Rivers posted an adequate fantasy day by throwing for 180 yards and one touchdown with a two-point conversion. However, with 11 quarterbacks recording multiple touchdowns or 300 yards, that left many owners at a disadvantage at quarterback.
Marion Barber - Dallas After totaling at least 100 yards and one score in each of the first three games, Barber combined for just 37 yards. He was only given eight carries, making it difficult for the star running back to gain significant yardage and convert scoring chances inside the red
Ryan Grant - Green Bay After being a training camp holdout, Grant battled a hamstring injury in camp to delay his progress. He rushed for 92 yards in the opener, but has run for just 20 yards in two of the last three contests. He received 15 carries, averaging a meager 1.3 yards against Tampa Bay. Grant has yet to score this season.
Michael Turner - Atlanta He's been hit-or-miss in fantasy in his first season with Atlanta. Turner has amassed 324 rushing yards in two games (Weeks 1 and 3), but has averaged just 49 rushing yards in the other two contests. After struggling against Tampa Bay and Carolina, Turner faces the tough defenses of Green Bay, Chicago and Philadelphia in the next three games.
Reggie Bush - New Orleans After averaging 156 total yards in two of the first three contests, Bush disappointed by totaling only 38 yards against San Francisco. He only received 10 carries with teammate Deuce McAllister being given twice as many.
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Chris Chambers looking for big week against former team Chambers would like nothing more than to get a couple of touchdowns and
a win in his return to Miami, where he played his first seven seasons
in the league, the Chargers' official site reports. Chambers left Miami as the Dolphins' fourth-leading receiver for yards
(5,688) and TD catches (43), third in 100-yard games (17) and fifth in
receptions (405). Upon his arrival in San Diego, Chambers made an
immediate impact. He caught 35 passes for 555 yards and four scores in
10 regular-season games. In the playoffs, he had 16 more catches for
278 yards and another TD. So far this season, Chambers has only eight
receptions, but four of them have gone for scores, and he has averaged
a stout 24.5 yards per catch. The Chargers would like to get him more
involved in the offense, but he will always face stiff competition from
Antonio Gates and LaDainian Tomlinson for touches. Still, Chambers
could be a sneaky good play this week in front of his old team and fans.
Wednesday, October 1, 2008, 02:36 PM EST [General]
Reports say Westbrook may miss Week 5 The Washington Post reports that the brother of Brian Westbrook doesn't expect the Eagles RB to play in Week 5 vs. Washington. "I don't think he'll play," Redskins DB Byron Westbrook said. "The ankle injury is more serious than what the Eagles put out. You know how Andy Reid is about injuries." The Eagles say Westbrook is scheduled to practice on Wednesday, but
we'll just have to see how much work he does if he manages to see the
field. If Westbrook can't go again, Correll Buckhalter will likely
continue to get the bulk of the carries in Philly and could be a useful
No. 2 RB or 'flex' option.
********************
Week 5 Fantasy Stock Watch Brett Favre, QB, N.Y. Jets - UP Depending on when you held your Fantasy draft, Favre could have been selected as your backup quarterback. There's plenty of evidence to that since he was only started in 57 percent of leagues on CBSSports.com in Week 4. If Favre is your No. 2 option, now is the perfect time to trade him coming off his six-touchdown performance against Arizona. Or if your starting quarterback has struggled (Carson Palmer, Derek Anderson or Ben Roethlisberger, for example), trade that player and go with Favre as your No. 1 quarterback. He has a great schedule coming up after the bye week.
Philip Rivers, QB, San Diego - DOWN Now is the time to trade for Rivers after his first bad game. He had one touchdown and two interceptions in Week 4 against Oakland, and some owner may be willing to give up on him. If he struggles in Week 5 at Miami, then definitely make a low offer since Rivers was drafted as the No. 15 quarterback, according to his average draft position on CBSSports.com, which made him a backup coming into the year. He should return to being a solid Fantasy option, but we haven't seen the best of LaDainian Tomlinson yet, and you know that's coming, which will hurt Rivers' production.
Steven Jackson, RB, St. Louis - UP Several owners have e-mailed about trading Jackson because of the Rams struggles, but it appears like he's ready to get going. Jackson now has 316 total yards and a touchdown the past two games. He has 17 catches in his past three games, so he's back to being the total package at running back. And with Marc Bulger back as the starting quarterback, the Rams offense should improve with the coaching change. If Jackson can avoid the injury bug, he will great for owners down the stretch with a December run against Arizona, Seattle, San Francisco and Atlanta.
Willis McGahee, RB, Baltimore - DOWN The injuries (knee, eye and now ribs) and a lack of faith from the coaching staff are going to ruin McGahee's year. It already appears the Ravens are down on McGahee, and he might not be able to play in Week 5 against Tennessee. With LeRon McClain coming on strong, McGahee will likely lose touches even when he does return at 100 percent. If you spent a high draft pick on McGahee, you are likely going to regret it. The moment he has a good game, try shopping him around your Fantasy league to see if there are any takers. And if McClain is still available, pick him up now.
Larry Johnson, RB, Kansas City - UP The reason you want to start Johnson most weeks is he's probably going to touch the ball 20 times a game even when trailing, which means an opportunity to break a long run or at least get close to a good yardage total. He has three games with at least 22 carries this year and has at least 74 rushing yards in those games, with two going over 120 yards. And, despite tough matchups, a subpar supporting cast and a defense that could put the Chiefs behind most weeks, he will still get the goal-line touches. As long as Johnson is healthy, start him despite the matchup.
Darren McFadden, RB, Oakland - DOWN This toe injury needs to heal over the bye week because right now McFadden is hurting plenty of Fantasy owners. He only has 62 rushing yards the past two games. You want to start him based on his potential, but he's being outplayed by Michael Bush. And once Justin Fargas comes back from his groin injury, McFadden's production will continue to suffer. Hopefully, if McFadden is healthy, new Raiders coach Tom Cable will get him the ball. But if the toe injury lingers, it could be a long year for McFadden and not a lot of production.
DeSean Jackson, WR, Philadelphia - UP Jackson has become a must-start Fantasy option at this point. He finally scored his first touchdown in Week 4 at Chicago and has three games with at least 71 receiving yards and five catches in each game. He is the No. 12 most targeted receiver with 35 passes thrown in his direction, so Donovan McNabb is counting on him. If an owner is willing to part with Jackson at this point, make an offer because he could be a solid No. 2 Fantasy receiver for the rest of the year. And if you own Jackson, you can safely ask for a lot in return because his value is high and should remain at this level.
Plaxico Burress, WR, Giants - DOWN We already know about the one-game suspension for Week 5 against the Seahawks, but there's a chance now the NFL can suspend Burress for more games. If that happens, he will severely hamper Fantasy owners who have him and Eli Manning. Burress is obviously a No. 1 Fantasy option on the field, but he needs to play to help owners. If he does receive an additional suspension, he might be worth trading if you can find an owner willing to take him off your hands. And we'll find out how Manning does now without his No. 1 target against the Seahawks.
Dwayne Bowe, WR, Kansas City - UP There's no sophomore slump for Bowe, who was the best rookie wide receiver in 2007 and is still playing well this year. He is the No. 1 targeted receiver despite playing with three different quarterbacks (Brodie Croyle, Damon Huard and Tyler Thigpen) in a running offense and with no help on the other side of the field in a complementary wide receiver. Still, Bowe has 22 catches for 267 yards and two touchdowns and has been thrown at 46 times. Hopefully that will continue because if he's involved in the offense that much he will remain a consistent playmaker. Vikings DST - DOWN The Vikings were the No. 1 DST drafted in the majority of leagues on CBSSports.com, according to the average draft position at No. 65 overall. But so far, they have been the No. 13 DST in a standard-scoring league, and the run defense hasn't been as good as advertised. After Chris Johnson scored two rushing touchdowns against the Vikings in Week 4, they have now allowed six rushing touchdowns for the season. Last year, they allowed only seven rushing touchdowns. The addition of Jared Allen also hasn't helped since they have just seven sacks. The Vikings DST will improve, but they won't finish as the No. 1 unit at this rate.
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Rudi named starter in Detroit MLive.com reports that the Lions have switched starting running backs, going with veteran Rudi Johnson over rookie Kevin Smith.
Johnson rushed 14 times for 83 yards and also caught three passes for
48 yards in Week 3 at San Francisco, including a 34-yard touchdown,
giving him the nod over Smith, who has 102 yards on 29 carries with one
score on the season. The rookie is not happy with the move. "I don't
like it. I think I should be playing a lot more. But it's all about
winning," Smith said. "I've got the mindset that I'm going to try to
hit a home run on every play now. I might only get one carry. If I only
get one carry, I've got to make it count."
Fantasy owners should consider Johnson a low-end No. 3 Fantasy RB for
Week 5 vs. Chicago as the Bears have been great against the run this
year. Smith still has value as an insurance policy for Johnson, plus he
could regain reps if he does indeed start hitting home runs on his
limited reps. Dropping him could be a hasty move this soon after his
demotion, especially when you consider that Johnson has been slowed
down by a hamstring injury in the recent past.
Tuesday, September 30, 2008, 03:31 PM EST [General]
Free Agent Risk/Reward Alert: Chris Henry A source within the Cincinnati Bengals organization tells LUDWIG AT LARGE
that wide receiver Chris Henry will play against the Dallas Cowboys at Texas
Stadium on Sunday, Oct. 5. Kickoff is at 4:15 p.m. Henry is on a one-week roster exemption, meaning he can practice this week
without counting against the club’s 53-man active roster. I believe tailback DeDe Dorsey will be placed on the Injured Reserve list
with a right hamstring injury, and that tailback James Johnson will be promoted
off the practice squad to fill Dorsey’s roster spot.
********************
Steelers running game takes yet another blow The Steelers have officially placed Mendenhall (shoulder) on the injured reserve list. Coach Mike Tomlin said on Tuesday that Mendenhall will undergo surgery
to repair a fractured shoulder. The Steelers were counting on
Mendenhall to shoulder the load with Willie Parker sidelined but the
Ravens had other thoughts. Tomlin said he would have further
information regarding Mendenhall's prognosis following the operation.
********************
And Willie Parker won't play next week either Parker (knee) has been ruled out for Week 5 in Jacksonville, coach Mike Tomlin said at his press conference on Tuesday. Right now Mewelde Moore figures to see plenty of time at the running
spot against the Jaguars. Carey Davis (sprained ankle) is questionable
and the running backs Pittsburgh brings in during the week likely won't
have enough practice time to significantly impact the offense in
Jacksonville.
********************
Update on Anquan Boldin Boldin (head) made a brief appearance at the Cardinals' facility on Tuesday, the Cardinals' official site reports. His jaw was a bit swollen and he may have undergone some recent dental
work. Overall, the fact that Boldin is walking around two days after
being knocked unconscious by a vicious hit is a great sign. He still
needs to undergo more medical tests, chiefly to determine whether or
not he sustained a concussion. This article makes the same guess we did
earlier -- Boldin is unlikely to play in Week 5, but that is not
official.
********************
Bobby Engram may be limited this week Engram (shoulder) is expected to play this week, but how much is uncertain, the Seattle Times reports. "While he can do some stuff, you really don't know until he gets hit,"
coach Mike Holmgren said. "The problem with Bobby is he wants to play,
and he might not be totally honest with me." Engram practiced Monday
for the first time since breaking his collarbone in training camp.
********************
More trouble for Plaxico Burress, keep an eye on him CBS reported Sunday that the NFL is looking into a pair of domestic
disturbance calls to Burress' New Jersey home in recent months that
might violate the league's personal-conduct policy, Newsday reports. As
of Monday night, no agreement between the NFL and the NFLPA regarding
Burress' suspension had been finalized. The Giants suspended Burress after he missed a team meeting eight days
ago and could not be reached for two days. The two sides reportedly
reached a preliminary agreement over the weekend that would cut
Burress' lost salary in half (to about $117,000) while still having him
miss the upcoming game against the Seahawks. But the domestic
disturbance calls could throw a new wrinkle into the situation.
********************
Week 5 Add em / Avoid em Add 'Em
Michael Bush, RB, Oakland Owned: 45 percent of leagues Week 4: Had 14 carries for 48 yards and seven catches for 80 yards against San Diego. Analysis: Bush has been the best running back for the Raiders the past two weeks with Darren McFadden (toe) and Justin Fargas (groin) banged up. That will probably continue unless one or both come back at 100 percent in Week 6 following Oakland's bye week. Bush might end up as the goal-line back for the Raiders, but he's a good player to stash on your bench for now.
Dustin Keller, TE, Jets Owned: 37 percent of leagues Week 4: Caught one pass for 24 yards and a touchdown against Arizona. Analysis: With the way Brett Favre is playing right now, you'll want to own all of his targets. And Keller appears to be one of his red-zone favorites with two touchdowns in his past two games. Keller is Favre's new Bubba Franks, even though Franks is on the Jets. Keller will lose some catches to Franks and Chris Baker, but Keller has the most upside and is a good bye-week replacement.
Deuce McAllister, RB, New Orleans Owned: 45 percent of leagues Week 4: Had 20 carries for 73 yards and a touchdown and caught one pass for 10 yards against San Francisco. Analysis: McAllister just passed the one-year mark of his second torn ACL, which was Sept. 24, 2007, so he's ready to go. And the Saints turned him loose against the 49ers. McAllister hadn't appeared in two games this season and was a non-factor in Week 2. But it appears like he's back and will regain the role of the traditional rusher for the Saints in tandem with Reggie Bush. With McAllister back, you can release Pierre Thomas.
Derrick Ward, RB, Giants Owned: 36 percent of leagues Week 4: Bye week Analysis: Ward is the No. 2 running back behind starter Brandon Jacobs, but Ward has been making plays even with Jacobs healthy. He has 26 carries for 177 rushing yards and six catches for 55 yards on the season. With Plaxico Burress suspended in Week 5, Ward could play an increased role in the passing game. Consider adding him as a handcuff to Jacobs or as a good bye-week option in deeper leagues.
Avoid 'Em
Brian Griese, QB, Tampa Bay Owned: 60 percent of leagues Week 4: Completed 15-of-30 passes for 149 yards, one touchdown and three interceptions against Green Bay. Analysis: I didn't like Griese in Week 4 against the Packers, and I don't think he will be a good Fantasy option going forward. Obviously, the 407 passing yards in Week 3 at Chicago were nice, but he has six interceptions in two games and not a lot of weapons. His job is to manage the game, and the Bucs will depend on their ground attack, which will limit what Griese can do.
Zach Miller, TE, Oakland Owned: 26 percent of leagues Week 4: Caught five passes for 95 yards and a touchdown against San Diego. Analysis: Miller had a career game against the Chargers, but so have several tight ends this year. It was just a good matchup for him. Dante Rosario, Tony Scheffler and Dustin Keller also had career games against the Chargers this year, and Anthony Fasano will be next in Week 5. The Chargers can't defend tight ends, and Miller took advantage of it. If he does it again, add him, but I don't know if that's possible.
Kyle Orton, QB, Chicago Owned: 17 percent of leagues Week 4: Completed 18-of-34 passes for 199 yards, three touchdowns and two interceptions and lost two fumbles against Philadelphia. Analysis: Orton has played OK the past two weeks against the Eagles and Bucs with 467 passing yards, five touchdowns and four interceptions and 21 rushing yards and two fumbles, and he could be in line for a solid outing in Week 5 at Detroit. But for the season, he's not a good quarterback, especially with all the turnovers. The Bears want to run the ball for a reason, and that's because Orton could lose a game by himself. Others to monitor ...
Brandon Jackson, RB, Green Bay Owned: 42 percent of leagues Week 4: Had one carry for no yards and two catches for 21 yards at Tampa Bay. Analysis: At some point the Packers are going to give up on Ryan Grant (15 carries for 20 yards in Week 4) and let Jackson get more touches. Even though Jackson has also struggled, he has a better yards-per-carry than Grant (5.2-3.4) and has one rushing touchdown to none for Grant. He also is the better receiver and could thrive with more carries. It might not happen for a while, but keep an eye on Jackson if Grant continues to falter. Fred Jackson, RB, Buffalo Owned: 24 percent of leagues Week 4: Had seven carries for 46 yards and a touchdown and three catches for 9 yards at St. Louis. Analysis: Jackson will occasionally be good for a game like this where he scores or puts up good yardage. He also should be owned by most Fantasy owners who drafted Marshawn Lynch. At some point, just like in 2007, Jackson will play a role for a week or two, and you'd be smart to add him in case Lynch gets hurt or the Bills continue to use the two in tandem. Leon Washington, RB, Jets Owned: 28 percent of leagues Week 4: Had seven carries for 26 yards and four catches for 17 yards against Arizona. Analysis: Washington started Week 4 against the Cardinals, but Thomas Jones still had more carries (18) and rushing yards (46). Still, this could be a sign of things to come with Jones' struggles. And with the Jets going to a more pass-oriented attack, Washington will likely be on the field more than Jones. If you have the roster space, add Washington now before he becomes the permanent starter for the Jets.
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Fantasy vs. Reality CBS Sports Fantasy: Brett Favre isn't the same Brett Favre we knew in Green Bay. Favre owes Kurt Warner a fruit basket after the Cardinals quarterback had six giveaways (three interceptions, three fumbles lost) and helped set up several of Favre's six touchdown passes, a career-high. That's a performance beyond anyone's expectations, and it should restore faith in Favre and his competent receiving corps. That's two straight weeks with touchdowns for Dustin Keller, by the way.
Reality: If Aaron Rodgers' right arm is banged up, the Packers are in big trouble. Ryan Grant isn't getting it done, and I suspect we'll see more of Brandon Jackson (and maybe Kregg Lumpkin) in the coming weeks. But without a dependable running game, Green Bay has really been leaning on Rodgers, and if he's out, that team will suffer a worse fate than the Patriots minus Tom Brady. Remember when everyone was lauding the Packers? They're 2-2 now and facing some real adversity. For those owners with Rodgers, get a backup plan in place. For those owners with Grant, hope you've already got your backup ducks in a row.
Fantasy: Jay Cutler is a can't miss Fantasy quarterback at the Chiefs. We were familiar with the history of the Broncos at Arrowhead Stadium but figured that it wouldn't matter against the lowly Chiefs. We were way off. Cutler was pressured into making mistakes, and Kansas City did a nice job of limiting Brandon Marshall to his worst numbers of the season (seven catches, 77 yards, one touchdown ... OK, not so bad).
Reality: Santana Moss will be a factor so long as he and quarterback Jason Campbell stay healthy. As we've seen countless times, when a talented passer and receiver mesh and work in harmony in a quality offensive scheme, they'll help each other post excellent stats. Campbell is quickly rising up the list of low-end starting quarterbacks, and Moss has cemented himself as a big-play receiver who will often do exactly that. He's finally become consistent at a high level, and with games vs. St. Louis, vs. Cleveland and at Detroit on the horizon after a Week 5 tilt at Philadelphia, Moss and his quarterback will have some incredible numbers.
Fantasy: Drew Brees is nothing without Marques Colston and Jeremy Shockey. Heck, even without a big-play day from Reggie Bush, Brees was able to have a monster stat line, hooking up with Lance Moore for over 100 yards on two touchdowns and second-year man Robert Meachem for another, as well as a pair of long receptions. In fact, Meachem has easily supplanted Terrance Copper and Devery Henderson as a deep threat in the Saints' offense. He's got better hands and size, and the offense will always call for a couple of long passes each week, and that will benefit Meachem. He's startable, and Moore has nowhere to go but up. You've got a couple of excellent bye-week receivers in those guys, and they have upside, which is more than what you can say for the majority of bye-week receiver candidates.
Reality: When the Raiders get receivers worth a darn, JaMarcus Russell will be a very good Fantasy quarterback. No one is starting Javon Walker or Ashley Lelie in Fantasy, and Russell isn't leaning on them or veteran Ronald Curry. But he is finding Johnnie Lee Higgins and tight end Zach Miller, and he's starting to put it all together and make some good decisions (one great example is hitting Miller on a mid-range touch pass that he took to the house against the Chargers). We might start seeing him get close to his potential late in the season, especially once Darren McFadden's toe gets well and gives him another option.
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Top 10 Waiver Claims for Week 5 Fox Sports 10. Kyle Orton, QB, Chicago (Available 85.5 percent of FOX Sports leagues) After winning Chicago's starting quarterback spot in the preseason, Orton has fared well against the tough defenses of Tampa Bay and Philadelphia in the last two games. He threw for 268 yards and two scores against Tampa Bay in Week 3 and passed for 199 yards and three touchdowns vs. Philadelphia. Orton now has favorable matchups against the questionable defenses of Detroit and Atlanta in the next two contests.
9. Lance Moore and Robert Meachem, WRs, New Orleans (Available 98 percent and 80 percent of FOX Sports leagues) Marques Colston is expected to miss at least the next two games, so look for Moore and Meachem to continue to be a big part of the high-powered passing attack. In addition, Jeremy Shockey is recovering from sports hernia surgery, and David Patten is slowed by a groin injury. Both Moore and Meachem capitalized on their increased opportunities in Week 4. Moore caught seven passes for 101 yards and two scores, while Meachem had two receptions for 99 yards and one score.
8. Bernard Berrian and Bobby Wade, WRs, Minnesota (Available 32.2 percent and 98.4 percent of FOX Sports leagues) After being virtually ignored in the first two games, both Berrian and Wade posted respectable fantasy days in Week 4. Berrian had five receptions for 78 yards after gaining 79 yards on three receptions in Week 3. Wade caught seven passes for 75 yards after totaling just six catches for 77 yards in the first two contests. With experienced Gus Frerotte at quarterback, Berrian and Wade have appealing matchups against the shaky pass defenses of New Orleans and Detroit in the next two games.
7. Amani Toomer and Steve Smith, WRs, New York Giants (Available 67.1 percent and 95.9 percent of FOX Sports leagues) Plaxico Burress is suspended for Week 5, leaving Toomer and Smith as the Giants' likely featured wideouts. Toomer led all Giants receivers with 64 yards in Week 3 after catching six passes for 67 yards and a score in Week 2. Smith also showed fantasy promise when he caught a team-high seven passes for 60 yards in Week 3.
6. Steve Breaston, WR, Arizona (Available 98.1 percent of FOX Sports leagues) If Anquan Boldin cannot play next game against Buffalo after his Week 4 injury, look for Breaston to have another productive game. He caught nine passes for 122 yards against the Jets as Arizona's third wideout last game. Without or without Boldin, Breaston can duplicate his 100-yard receiving day, especially if Arizona is forced to play from behind again in the next two games against Buffalo and Dallas. 5. Fred Jackson, RB, Buffalo (Available 90.6 percent of FOX Sports leagues) Though Jackson received just seven carries last game, he was more productive than Marshawn Lynch in fantasy. Jackson ran for 46 yards and one score while catching three passes for nine yards. He also posted a solid fantasy game in Week 2 against Jacksonville when he totaled 100 yards by rushing for 17 yards and gaining 83 yards on seven receptions. Buffalo has a favorable matchup against Arizona's struggling defense next game when both Lynch and Jackson can be fantasy contributors.
4. Michael Bush, QB, Oakland (Available 78.8 percent of FOX Sports leagues) Oakland has a Week 5 bye, but if Justin Fargas continues to be out with a groin injury and Darren McFadden keeps battling a toe injury, then look for Bush to duplicate his solid Week 4 fantasy performance as Oakland's featured back. Bush totaled 128 yards by rushing for 48 yards and gaining 80 yards on seven receptions. He also ran for 90 yards and a score in Week 2.
3. Matt Schaub, QB, and Kevin Walter, WR, Houston (Available 51.8 percent and 71.4 percent of FOX Sports leagues) He struggled greatly in the first two games by throwing just one touchdown with five interceptions. However, Schaub displayed his fantasy potential when he passed for 307 yards and three touchdowns against Jacksonville last game. His No. 2 wide receiver Kevin Walter also came to life after gaining just 15 receiving yards in Week 3. Walter caught eight passes for 76 yards and two touchdowns against the Jaguars. He also scored a touchdown in the opener.
2. Muhsin Muhammad, WR, Carolina (Available 76.9 percent of FOX Sports leagues) He's surprisingly available in three quarters of FOX Sports leagues and showed his fantasy value by catching team highs of eight receptions for 147 yards and one touchdown against Atlanta. Muhammad had an excellent rapport with Jake Delhomme in 2004 when he caught 93 passes for career highs of 1,405 yards and 16 touchdowns for Carolina.
1. Bobby Engram and Deion Branch, WRs, Seattle (Available 56.8 percent and 64.8 percent of FOX Sports leagues) Both Engram (shoulder) and Branch (knee) are expected to return after missing the first three games of the season. Engram was the more productive receiver than Branch last season, recording career highs of 93 receptions for 1,147 yards and six touchdowns last season. Branch has disappointed in his first two seasons with Seattle, catching just 49 passes for 661 yards and six scores in only 11 regular-season games last year. With Matt Hasselbeck at quarterback, Engram is a weekly start while Branch is a candidate to start as a third wideout in favorable matchups.
Monday, September 29, 2008, 04:39 PM EST [General]
Keep an eye on Boldin Anquan Boldin (head, neck) will rest on Monday. He will undergo more tests later in the week, the Cardinals' official site reports. Head coach Ken Whisenhunt isn't sure whether or not Boldin sustained a
concussion. He is very questionable for Week 5, but fortunately, it
continues to look like Boldin avoided serious injury.
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Looks like Aaron Rodgers has a sprain Packers coach Mike McCarthy said Monday that medical tests revealed no
major structural damage to Rodgers' throwing shoulder, according to the
Associated Press. The injury is being referred to as a sprain. At this point, Rodgers intends to play Sunday against Atlanta, but
McCarthy wouldn't commit to Rodgers' availability, saying he would have
a better idea of the quarterback's status after the team's practice
Wednesday. Rookie Matt Flynn would get the nod under center if Rodgers
can't go in Week 5.
*************************
Westbrook was "really close to playing" last night...didn't help me Westbrook (ankle) nearly played Sunday night, PhillyBurbs.com reports. "We really thought he was going to play," Eagles general manager Tom
Heckert said before the game. "He wanted to play. He just wasn't quite
there yet, so we thought it was best to just give him another week. It
was close." About two hours before kickoff, Westbrook came out to the
field and stretched and ran some half-speed drills with two trainers,
but in the end decided to sit out. This is good news regarding his
availability for Week 5 against the Redskins.
*************************
Jamal Lewis may fall into a lower tier of RB's soon Lewis said Sunday that he felt "beat up" after carrying the ball 25
times in Cleveland's victory over Cincinnati, the Akron Beacon Journal
reports. Lewis was less than effective in the second half against the Bengals,
24 yards on 13 carries, and perhaps the physicality of Sunday's contest
wore on him as the game went on. He'll have an extra week to rest up,
however, as Cleveland has its bye this week.
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Top Fantasy Performers through Sunday QB's Player Yds TD Int FPTS B. Favre 289 6 1 45 M. Schaub 307 3 0 32 D. Brees 363 3 1 30 T. Romo 300 3 1 28
RB's Player Rush yds Rec yds TD FPTS L. Johnson 198 0 2 29 S. Jackson 110 78 1 24 L. Tomlinson 106 9 2 22 A. Peterson 80 21 2 20
WR's Player Rec Yds TD FPTS L. Coles 8 105 3 28 L. Moore 7 101 2 22 G. Jennings 6 109 2 22 M. Muhammad 8 147 1 20
TE's Player Rec Yds TD FPTS J. Witten 7 90 1 15 Z. Miller 5 95 1 15 A. Gates 5 58 1 11 T. Gonzalez 3 47 1 10
