Sunday, September 14, 2008, 12:57 PM EST [General]
WEEK 2 INACTIVES:
4:15pm Game Inactives
49ers: QB Jamie Martin (3rd), DB Marcus Hudson, DB Donald Strickland, DB Reggie Smith, LB Ahmad Brooks, C Cody Wallace, G Chilo Rachal, LB Tully Banta-Cain.
Seahawks: QB Charlie Frye (3rd), K Brandon Coutu, RB Maurice Morris, T Sean Locklear, DT Red Bryant, WR Deion Branch, WR Bobby Engram, DE Baraka Atkins.
Note: RB Julius Jones will see an increase in carries with Morris out, which adds to his fantasy value this week. WR Courtney Taylor and TE John Carlson will see more targets with all the wide receiver injuries.
Falcons: QB D.J. Shockley (3rd), DB Jamaal Fudge, CB David Irons, LB Tony Gilbert, C Alex Stepanovich, T Quinn Ojinnaka, TE Martrez Milner, DE Grady Jackson.
Buccaneers: RB Michael Bennett, QB Jeff Garcia (3rd), QB Josh Johnson, G Davin Joseph, T James Lee, LB Matt McCoy, WR Maurice Stovall.
Note: QB Brian Griese will start in the absence of Garcia. He’s a decent option in larger formats or leagues that start two quarterbacks.
Here are the inactives for all of today's 1pm games below. Stay tuned for updates.
DON'T FORGET THE RAVENS AND TEXANS HAVE A BYE TODAY!!!
Packers: QB Brian Brohm (3rd), CB Pat Lee, DB Charlie Peprah,
C Scott Wells, G Josh Sitton, WR Ruvell Martin, TE Jermichael Finley,
DE Jeremy Thompson.
Note: RB Ryan Grant and WR James Jones are both active, as is CB Charles Woodson. It looks safe to start Grant in all formats.
Lions:
QB Drew Stanton (3rd), CB Ramzee Robinson, LB Gilbert Gardner, G Manny
Ramirez, DE Corey Smith, DT Andre Fluellen, DE Landon Cohen.
Colts: NFL Network’s Scott Hansen is reporting that TE Dallas Clark and C Jeff Saturday are both inactive.
Bears: QB Caleb Hanie (3rd), DB Craig Steltz, RB Adrian
Peterson, G Dan Buenning, OT Chris Williams, DT Matt Toeaina, WR Earl
Bennett, NT Anthony Adams.
Note: The Bears DST is at pretty close to full strength for Week 2.
Panthers:
QB Matt Moore, WR Ryne Robinson, DB C.J. Wilson, LB James Anderson, LB
Donte Curry, G Mackenzy Bernadeau, DE Hilee Taylor, G Travelle Wharton.
Note: TE Dante Rosario is active.
Saints: WR Marques Colston, CB Randall Gay, RB Aaron Stecker, CB Mike McKenzie, SS Roman Harper, LB Mark Simoneau, LB Scott Fujita, T Jermon Bushrod, DT Antwan Lake.
Note: The Saints defense is loaded with injuries, so upgrade all Redskins offensive skill position players this week.
Redskins:
QB Colt Brennan, FS Reed Doughty, DB Kareem Moore, LB Khary Campbell,
LB Marcus Washington, G Jason Fabini, T Chad Rinehart, DE Rob Jackson.
Raiders: QB Marques Tuiasosopo (3rd), WR Todd Watkins, DB
Rashard Baker, C John Wade, T Kwame Harris, OL Fred Wakefield, TE John
Madsen.
Note: WR Javon Walker is active, but he’s a risky fantasy option.
Chiefs:
QB Martin Ingle, QB Brodie Croyle, RB Dantrell Savage, CB Maurice
Leggett, LB Napoleon Harris, G Brian De La Puente, T Barry Richardson,
WR Will Franklin.
Note: QB Damon Huard will start in the
absence of Croyle, but he’s more of an option in larger formats or
leagues that start two quarterbacks.
Vikings : QB John David Booty (3rd), DB Madieu Williams, CB
Marcus McCauley, RB Maurice Hicks, LB Erin Henderson, T Drew Radovich,
FB Jeff Dugan, DT Letroy Guion.
Note: Tarvaris Jackson is active, as expected.
Colts:
TE Dallas Clark, C Jeff Saturday, G Mike Pollak, WR Roy Hall, TE Jacob
Tamme, DT Daniel Muir, DE Curtis Johnson, DE Marcus Howard.
Note:
Look for healthier options at TE, because both are out for the Colts.
Seahawks TE John Carlson could be someone to pick up if you need a TE.
Rams: QB Brock Berlin (3rd), RB Brian Leonard, DB Brannon Condren, G Jacob Bell, G Roy Schuening, WR Drew Bennett, DE Leonard Little, WR Eddie Kennison.
Note:
WR Donnie Avery will see more work with Bennett inactive, but is not a
great option. TE Randy McMichael is a good fantasy start today.
Giants:
K Lawrence Tynes, CB Terrell Thomas, CB R.W. McQuarters, RB Danny Ware,
LB Jonathan Goff, T Adam Koets, DE Dave Tollefson, WR Mario Manningham.
Note: No significant injuries this week
Bills: QB Gibran Hamdan (3rd), WR Steve Johnson, RB Xavier
Omon, DB Reggie Corner, T Jason Whittle, T Demetrius Bell, TE Derek
Fine, DE Chris Ellis.
Note: T Jason Peters is active, and could help the Bills’ offensive line.
Jaguars:
DB Scott Starks, RB Chauncey Washington, MLB Thomas Williams, C Brad
Meester, OL Todd Wade, DT Jimmy Williams, WR Jerry Porter (3rd QB), WR
Troy Williamson.
Note: With a banged up offensive line,
RB Maurice Jones-Drew is a risky start, but avoid Fred Taylor. WR Matt
Jones is a sleeper with Porter and Williamson out.
Titans: QB Vince Young (3rd), WR Paul Williams, RB Quinton
Ganther, RB Chris Henry, LB Stanford Keglar, OT Michael Otto, DE Jacob
Ford, WR Lavelle Hawkins.
Note: QB Kerry Collins will
start for Young, and is a pretty good sleeper, especially in deeper
leagues and leagues where you start two QBs.
Bengals: QB
Jordan Palmer (3rd), SS Dexter Jackson, RB Reagan Maui’a, DB
Herana-Daze Jones, G Frank Davis, WR Andre Caldwell, DT Pat Sims.
Note: No significant inactives.
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Dallas Clark has slightly torn MCL NFL
Network’s Adam Schefter just told me Dallas Clark has a slightly torn
medial collateral ligament. The Colts aren’t overly concerned about
injury, and Clark could try to play today. But Adam points out that the
prudent course of action might be to sit out this week and try to come
back next. Even if he's active, it doesn't sound like he's going to get a lot of
balls thrown his way. The slightly torn MCL could be semantics as this
could just be another way to describe a sprain, but the injury could be
worse than first indicated since the Colts are not exactly forthright
with injury information.
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Hurricane Ike changes the League Schedule Now, on the
surface, you'd think this wouldn't have had a widespread impact on lots
of Fantasy Teams...but that is not the case. Here's the deal.
- The Houston Texans' home game against the Baltimore Ravens,
previously scheduled for Monday night, has been postponed until Nov. 9
because of hurricane-related damage to Reliant Stadium.
- The Nov. 9 game will be held during the Ravens' bye week. The
Texans' home game against the Cincinnati Bengals, originally scheduled
for Nov. 9, will be moved to Oct. 26, which was the bye week for both
of those teams.
- This Sunday will now count as the bye for the Ravens and Texans. The Bengals' bye will be Nov. 9.
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If you have Larry Johnson, might wanna play him... In four games against the Raiders since becoming the Chiefs' featured
runner in 2005, Johnson has averaged 127 yards per game on the ground,
the Kansas City Star reports. Not once was he held under 100 yards and
he scored at least once in each game. If last Monday night's game was any indication, the Raiders are a
complete mess right now. Look for Johnson to run wild, making him
worthy of starting in nearly every league this week.
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LT now listed as questionable...but isn't really The San Diego Chargers have listed fantasy superstar LaDainian Tomlinson as questionable for Week 2 because of an injured toe. However, he did
put in a full practice on Friday. Barring setbacks, I would look for
L.T. to be active and start in Denver.
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Benjamin Watson (TE) out The Patriots have downgraded
Watson (knee) to out for Sunday's game against the Jets, the Boston
Globe reports. Watson was at practice Friday, so he could be back next
week, but for
now David Thomas will be the team's top pass-catching threat at TE.
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I have Jamal Lewis....he's on my bench this week Lewis rushed for a
combined 70 yards and 0 touchdowns against the Steelers last season. He
also has just one 100-yard performance in 14 career games against them.
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I also have Frank Gore...he'll be starting Gore has a combined 616 scrimmage yards in his last four games against the Seahawks.
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Barber in good shape for Monday Barber was already looking like someone who expected to play Monday
night despite a rib injury in that he fully practiced Wednesday and
Thursday. Friday did nothing to dispel that as he practiced fully yet
again. He is officially listed as probable, and with the extra day of
rest, it appears he will see a regular workload. Perhaps even more
significant is the idea that he has been doing so well already, he may
not need to wear the protective gear that could make ballhandling a
little more challenging. For someone who relies on speed and ball
control, carrying no extra weight and minimizing interference is a
bonus. Barber looks to be in good shape for Monday night.
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No big surprise....Ben Roethlisberger is a go Roethlisberger
(shoulder, probable) is expected to play in Sunday night's game against
the Browns, ESPN's John Clayton reports. Clayton speculates that
Roethlisberger might be limited on some of his
throws, but that the banged-up QB will be out there Sunday night
nonetheless.
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Possible Sleeper Pick for Today Sammy Morris at New York Jets Morris leaps onto the radar
as a solid Flex play this weekend in Matt Cassel's first start. He
carried the ball 10 times in the opener for 53 yards against the
Chiefs, a direct split of the workload with Laurence Maroney.
Where he excels and gets love in the fantasy realm is the fact that
he's a superb receiver out of the backfield (five receptions for 34
yards).
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Kerry Collins to start today for Titans Collins will start
on Sunday at Cincinnati. He should face very windy
conditions, as the National Weather Service expects gusts of up to 50
MPH in Cincinnati. Vince Young (knee) is the Titans' inactive third
quarterback. The weather could make things tough on Collins.
*************************
Javon Walker is a go Walker (hamstring) is listed as
active for Sunday's game against the Chiefs. He wasn't on the injury
report, but an FYI for those who feared a late
scratch. The Raiders handed Walker a deal featuring $16 million
guaranteed this offseason, so he'll get a chance to prove his worth,
but how extensively he is deployed in Week 2 is uncertain, as he could
lose time to Ashley Lelie, who filled in for him in the regular season
opener.
Friday, September 12, 2008, 03:05 PM EST [General]
I lost a bet.... Here's the deal....last week I made a bet in our Lot D Fantasy Football league with a listener, Drew. The best was simple: If I won, he's have to admit defeat live on the air. If Drew won, he would get to post my Sleeper pick for a day.
Well, Drew won. So here's his sleeper pick of the day. Congrats, I guess....
Aaron Rodgers QB Green Bay at Detroit Alright, now you sit here and say, "Oh Great. Aaron Rodgers." Aaron Rodgers is your fantasy football sleeper for this Sunday for multiple reasons. Aaron Rodgers, provided 20 fantasy football points in most standard leagues against the top fantasy defensive crew in the Vikings. Also, with Detroit showing that they can not stop the run, or pass, this will open up huge possiblities for Aaron Rodgers. I mean Detroit made Matt Ryan look like a Top 6 quarterback in the league, what will a player like Aaron Rodgers do with better weapons around him against possibly the worst secondary in the league? I say Aaron Rodgers goes for 240, 2 TD's 0 INT's this Sunday. So Aaron Rodgers this week is your Fantasy Sleeper.
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Donte Stallworth still doubtful Head coach Romeo Crennel said Stallworth (quad) was doubtful for Sunday's game, but would not rule him out completely, the Akron Beacon Journal reports. There have been unconfirmed whispers that his strained quad could threaten his season, but the Browns have not mentioned anything about his status past this week. Even if he does start, he is not the best fantasy play this week.
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LT will "definitly" play on Sunday Tomlinson, who received treatment for his sore right big toe Thursday and didn't practice for the second straight day, reiterated that he "definitely" will play Sunday in Denver, the San Diego Union Tribune reports. "It felt a lot better than (Wednesday)," Tomlinson said of his toe. "Just another day of treatment and rest. It did real good...I'll practice (Friday)." We'll be sure to circle back on LT's status after Friday's practice.
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Bad news for the Bengals....Haynesworth probable Haynesworth said the baseline test he took Wednesday regarding the concussion he had Sunday against Jacksonville looked close to normal and that he is likely to play Sunday in Cincinnati, the Nashville City Paper reports. "They said I wasn't too far off, so it wasn't that bad. If it was completely different from my first test that I had to take when I was normal, then that would have been bad. Everything was all right. They said I wasn't too far out," said Haynesworth, who had the test on Wednesday. "If I keep improving like I am, I think I'll be perfect on Sunday," Haynesworth said. Haynesworth is a major asset to a Titans' defense that held Jacksonville to just 33 yards rushing.
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Javon Walker questionable Walker (hamstring) practiced for the second straight day on Thursday but his status for Sunday's game is still in question, the Oakland Tribune reports. Walker may not be back to 100 percent and head coach Lane Kiffin is unsure if Walker would start even if he plays on Sunday. If Walker can't go, Ronald Curry and Ashley Lelie would be the starting wide receivers. More should be known about Walker's status in the next day or two.
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Dallas Clark not looking good Colts TE Dallas Clark (knee) missed a second straight practice Thursday as the team prepares for Week 2 against the Vikings. Head coach Tony Dungy isn't so sure Clark will be active Sunday. "If he's not able to practice (Thursday), I would doubt that we'd play him, but we'll see," Dungy said. Clark is likely going to have to go through full practice Friday for the Colts to feel confident in him suiting up Sunday. Knee injuries are sometimes tough to overcome, but at least Clark didn't do any serious damage. If healthy, he is always worth a start in Fantasy playing with Peyton Manning. Continue to track his progress.
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Martz no worried about Issac Bruce...I would be The San Francisco Chronicle reports 49ers offensive coordinator Mike Martz didn't seem concerned that WR Isaac Bruce didn't catch a pass or even have one thrown in his direction in the Arizona game in Week 1. "There were probably five or six plays where he was the first choice in the route," Martz said. "We were trying at times to get him the ball. It just didn't work." Things don't figure to get any easier against a tougher defense in Seattle in Week 2. Bruce has a so-so history against the Seahawks. In his last four games -- with St. Louis -- against Seattle, Bruce has averaged 56.5 yards per game. He's only scored once in that span and that came last year in St. Louis. Bruce will get going, but his best days are behind him at this time. Consider him a low-end No. 3 Fantasy option going into Week 2.
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Week 2 Start 'em of Sit 'em
Start em
Kurt Warner (vs. MIA): Warner was efficient in his Week 1 outing at San Francisco with 197 passing yards and one touchdown. The Dolphins allowed two passing touchdowns against the Jets last week and were among the league leaders with 28 passing touchdowns last year, so Warner has a chance to throw multiple touchdowns. With Anquan Boldin, who grew up in South Florida, facing his hometown team, Warner could look in his direction a couple of times.
Eli Manning (at STL): Manning has to be giddy after watching what Donovan McNabb did against the Rams secondary last week. McNabb passed for 361 yards and three touchdowns, so Manning should be in line for a good day. Manning got off to a hot start against Washington in Week 1 before finishing the game with just 216 yards passing and an interception along with a rushing touchdown. Manning will throw his first passing touchdown this week, and he has the chance for multiple scores based on St. Louis' poor showing against the Eagles.
Jay Cutler (vs. SD): Cutler has a bad history against the Chargers with two touchdowns and three interceptions in three games, with only one game over 200 passing yards. But Cutler also had a poor history against the Raiders before lighting them up for 299 yards and two touchdowns in Week 1. This is a new year for Cutler, who is in the third year of coach Mike Shanahan's system, which is when his previous passers started to thrive. And Brandon Marshall returns from his suspension with Shawne Merriman (knee) out for the Chargers, making the matchup even better.
Matt Forte (at CAR): Forte became the first Chicago rookie to start at running back since Walter Payton in 1975, and he was impressive with 123 rushing yards and a touchdown in Week 1 at Indianapolis. He also caught three passes for 18 yards. There was some concern that Kevin Jones would cut into Forte's playing time, but Forte had 23 carries compared to Jones' 13. They will continue to split time, but Forte has established himself as the starter. Forte should be a candidate for 100 total yards against the Panthers. Chris Johnson (at CIN): Johnson started in Week 1 ahead of LenDale White against Jacksonville and had 15 carries for 93 yards and caught three passes for 34 yards and a touchdown. He can do it all and will likely be asked to carry the offensive load again with Vince Young (knee) out. The Bengals run defense is mediocre at best, so Johnson has a chance to shine this week also. It's been a good start to the season for East Carolina University, which is where Johnson went to college. Brandon Jacobs (at STL): The only thing missing from Jacobs' sensational season-opener was a touchdown. Otherwise, Jacobs looked dominant with 21 carries for 116 yards against the Redskins. Jacobs is in a contract year, so he should continue to run well, especially against poor run defenses like the Rams. St. Louis had trouble stopping Brian Westbrook last week, and Jacobs will punish the defense again in Week 2. Hopefully this time he will find the end zone.
Santonio Holmes (at CLE): Holmes went to Ohio State, so he likes going on the road to face the Browns and Bengals. In two games at Cleveland in his career, Holmes has seven catches for 130 yards and two touchdowns. He also has eight catches for 211 yards and a touchdown in two games at Cincinnati. The Browns secondary is bad, and Holmes is ready to improve on last week's lackluster outing when he only had two catches for 19 yards. He should get back on track this week. Greg Jennings (at DET): Jennings has three touchdowns in two career games at Detroit with eight catches for 161 yards. The Lions secondary didn't have to do much in Week 1 at Atlanta with Michael Turner and Jerious Norwood running all over the place. But this week, the Packers will put the ball in the air. Detroit had the second-worst pass defense in 2007 and tied for the lead with 32 touchdowns allowed. Jennings will test that secondary this week.
Jerricho Cotchery (vs. NE): Cotchery is going to like playing with Brett Favre. The two connected on a 56-yard touchdown pass, and Cotchery had three catches for 80 yards in Week 1 at Miami. The Patriots have struggled to cover Cotchery in the past. In his previous four games, Cotchery has six catches in each outing with two touchdowns and one 100-yard game. The Jets will likely struggle to run against the Patriots, so expect a lot of passing from Favre and a lot of targets for Cotchery. He threw at Cotchery six times against the Dolphins.
Sit 'em
Marc Bulger (vs. NYG): It's never a good thing when you have to face two aggressive defenses in consecutive weeks with a banged-up offensive line. That's what Bulger is up against after facing the Eagles last week and now the Giants. Philadelphia sacked Bulger four times, and you can count on the Giants coming after him again. With Drew Bennett (foot) out, Bulger also is down another target, so that's one less player to help him in the passing game.
Matt Schaub (vs. BAL): The Ravens made a statement in Week 1 that their defense is still as talented as ever by limiting the Bengals to just 89 passing yards and no touchdowns. Schaub passed for a touchdown and ran for one in Week 1 at Pittsburgh, but he also threw two interceptions. He could struggle this week again, which means keep him on your bench. Schaub will always be a candidate for a touchdown since he plays with a dynamic receiver in Andre Johnson, but this matchup is not in his favor.
Matt Hasselbeck (vs. SF): Hasselbeck has a good history against the 49ers with 21 touchdowns and 10 interceptions in 10 career games as a starter. But he had healthy and talented receivers for those games as opposed to now. At some point, Hasselbeck is going to come around, but it could take the return of Deion Branch (knee) and one of his unknown receivers in Courtney Taylor, Logan Payne or converted quarterback Seneca Wallace to step up along with rookie tight end John Carlson. Until that happens, consider Hasselbeck a No. 2 Fantasy passer.
Fred Taylor (vs. BUF): The Jaguars have struggled to run the ball going back to their last two playoff games against Pittsburgh and New England and Week 1 at Tennessee. Granted, those are three of the top run defenses, but teams are stacking the box and forcing the Jaguars to pass. Taylor was held to 18 yards on nine carries against the Titans and could struggle against a stout Buffalo defense. Jacksonville's offensive line is also a mess, which won't help Taylor and the ground game.
Chris Perry (vs. TEN): This is another week where Perry should struggle to get going. Tennessee has a solid run defense behind defensive lineman Albert Haynesworth and should limit what Perry is able to do. Last week, Perry had 18 carries for 37 yards at Baltimore. If Perry does struggle this week, the Bengals could increase their efforts to sign Shaun Alexander. It would be nice to see if Perry can be productive, but it's unlikely to happen.
Laurence Maroney (at NYJ): If your choice is Maroney and Sammy Morris, go with Maroney. If your choice is starting Maroney or someone else with a better matchup, go with someone else. With Tom Brady out, the Jets are going to focus on stopping the run to force Matt Cassel to make plays. And the Jets run defense will be better this year with the additions of Calvin Pace and Vernon Gholston. Maroney has a good history against the Jets with 176 yards and a touchdown in his past two meetings, but that was when Brady was healthy.
Torry Holt (vs. NYG): Holt might have been the biggest disappointment in Week 1 with his performance. We expected him to fail but not catch just one pass for 9 yards. He also saw just two passes in his direction. Now the Giants will attack the Rams passing game and harass Marc Bulger, which won't help Holt's cause. And with Drew Bennett (foot) out, Holt will see even more coverage. Holt could be in line for a long year, and he should definitely struggle this week.
Chad Johnson (vs. TEN): I'm at the point with Johnson where he has to prove his health to me before counting on him as a starter. Last week, Johnson had just one catch for 22 yards, and he was only thrown at four times. He's dealing with the shoulder injury and isn't 100 percent. Maybe Johnson comes around against the Titans, but for right now the safe bet is to keep him on the bench. If he plays well, stick him in your lineup for Week 3.
Matt Jones (vs. BUF): Jones was one of the biggest surprises in Week 1 when he caught six passes for 80 yards and was targeted 10 times at Tennessee. Most people thought Jones would be out of the NFL following his arrest for cocaine possession this offseason. But now with Jerry Porter back after missing the opener with a hamstring problem, Jones should take a backseat in the passing game. He has a lot of talent but has been inconsistent in his career, so don't trust him this week against the Bills.
Thursday, September 11, 2008, 02:59 PM EST [General]
Big Ben should be fine for Sunday's game at Cleveland Roethlisberger (shoulder) said he's feeling fine and rested on Wednesday as a precaution, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports. Roethlisberger attributed his injury to the mammoth Mario Williams.
"That is a big man," Big Ben said. "He about broke my arm when he
caused the fumble. I have been hit like that a lot, but my arm was
still attached to the football and he was holding my arm."
Roethlisberger holds a perfect 9-0 record when playing in his home
state of Ohio, winning five times in Cincinnati and four in Cleveland,
where Pittsburgh plays Sunday night.
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Darren McFadden should be back too... Despite leaving Monday night's game with a neck stinger, McFadden was
not listed on Wednesday's practice participation/injury report. McFadden should be fine for Sunday's game against the Chiefs. The
Raiders struggled to get their passing game going in Week 1, so look
for the team to go with what did work -- the running game -- as much as
possible in Week 2. Justin Fargas, who ran well in the opener, remains
the starter, but look for the Raiders to find ways to get McFadden the
ball going forward.
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Derrick Brooks will be a game-time decision In case you have him as a defensive player....Brooks said Wednesday he's under a "gag order" from Buccaneers head
coach Jon Gruden not to discuss his hamstring injury with the press,
the Tampa Tribune reports.Brooks suffered a hamstring injury of undisclosed severity during the
Bucs' Week 1 loss at New Orleans. He did not practice Wednesday and is
questionable for Sunday's game versus Atlanta. "We'll know on game day
whether I'll be ready to go or not," Brooks said on Wednesday. "I was
told by my head coach not to really go into details about my situation
and my injury. I'm under strict orders, more of a gag order." Brooks
has played in 209 consecutive games since entering the league in 1995.
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Vince Young out this week, maybe longer.... It's not time to dump Vince as your number two QB....yet. But that day could soon be coming. Coach Jeff Fisher said when Young (knee) is healthy he's going to have
to show he's made progress on all fronts before resuming his duties as
the starter. And that could be a while, the Tennessean reports. "He has some work to do. Obviously he has some work to do,'' Fisher
said. "He has to put some things back in perspective, and first and
foremost he has to get healthy.'' From these statements it looks like
Kerry Collins could be starting for the Titans for an indefinite period
of time, and the questions will begin to arise about Young's long-term
future with the Titans. The earliest Young is likely to return to
action is Oct. 19 at Kansas City, but recent events have the Titans
considering the possibility of Collins staying as starter if the team
plays well.
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Update on Tom Brady Inury The Boston Globe reports that Patriots QB Tom Brady
suffered a torn left ACL and MCL in Week 1 vs. Kansas City, according
to sources. Furthermore, Brady will wait four-to-six weeks for the MCL
to heal before having surgery for the ACL. That surgery should come in
at least a month, pushing Brady's timetable to be through rehab to
potentially July. This is alarmingly like other knee injuries we've seen over the course
of time, including those suffered by Willis McGahee in college and
Daunte Culpepper and Trent Green in the pros. Obviously, two of those
players came back OK from the injury while a third did not and recently
retired. With proper rehabilitation, Brady should make a full recovery,
and at least we won't have to worry about his arm being surgically
repaired. He should remain off rosters for the rest of the '08 season,
but our early prognosis for 2009 is that he'll be a worthy No. 1
Fantasy QB.
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Week 2 Projections
Plaxico Burress: He had more than 100 receiving
yards in a game where the Giants focused on the run. Against what
appears to be a really bad passing defense in St. Louis, there may be a
greater emphasis on throwing the ball downfield, leading to an even
better Week 2.
Adrian Peterson:Did very well against a tough
Green Bay defense, and after watching what Matt Forte did in Week 1
against the Colts, we foresee a stellar performance in Week 2 as well.
At least we know the Vikings aren't going to be successful through the
air, right? All Day!
Matt Forte:Forte's debut was impressive,
and we think he has the maneuverability to make the Panthers miss.
Certainly, with Kyle Orton at the helm, the game plan will call for a
steady diet of handoffs. We're believers.
Willie Parker: OK, so much for concerns that
he'd be lifted in goal-line situations. Parker found the end zone three
times in Week 1, representing a career high, and two of those came from
within the 10-yard line. Apparently Rashard Mendenhall's fumbling
problems are troubling enough to keep him out of that mix, and Heath
Miller's magic in red-zone situations wasn't evident Sunday. Parker is
an exceptional fantasy play for Week 2. He has averaged nearly 110
rushing yards in six career games against the Browns, and if you tack
goal-line work on to those duties, boy, what upside there is here.
Chris Johnson:What an NFL debut he had, and
things should only get better from here. Cincinnati lacks the personnel
to contain a talent like Johnson, which is why we're calling for his
first career rushing score. We have a feeling he's going to break off a
long one, maybe a few, in fact.
Chad Johnson (Ocho Cinco):Oh, the drama with Mr. Ocho
Cinco. Now comes word that Chad can't even wear "Ocho Cinco" on the
back of his jersey until Reebok produces jerseys with that name for the
public, meaning that since the opening kickoff, let's tally things up,
shall we: Ocho Cinco controversies 1, Ocho Cinco receptions 1. Much of
the blame for the latter number rests on Carson Palmer's shoulders, but
who throws the ball to your receiver absolutely matters for fantasy. No
huge game should be expected from Ocho Cinco, but we expect a rebound to a decent level.
Carson Palmer:That was an ugly, ugly season
debut for Palmer, and while some might blame the fact that he didn't
get much preseason time with his receivers, who were both nicked up,
let's face it, he deserved most of the blame. Palmer's accuracy was a
real problem, and he'll need significant improvement to be a standout
fantasy choice against the Titans and their defense. Oh, he might get
you a score or two, but prepare yourself for mistakes, meaning in
leagues that penalize interceptions, there's a bigger downside to him.
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If you had Vince young as a starter.... Probably not the ideal situation, but if you had Young as your main starting QB...or have no one else to play. Kerry Collins, sadly, may be a good waiver selection. Consider this: The Sports Xchange reports that Titans QB Kerry Collins, who will start for Tennessee in place of the injured Vince Young, has a 7-2 career record in starts against the Bengals. Collins is a decent sleeper for Week 2 at Cincinnati, but is a mediocre
pick up off the waiver wire, particularly for those owners grasping at
straws in the wake of Tom Brady's knee injury. Don't trust Collins as
anything more than a possible platoon option for the foreseeable
future, though he'll probably not be as bad of a passer as Young has
been for the past year-plus.
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Add 'em / Avoid 'em
Add 'em Deion Branch, WR, Seattle Owned: 24 percent of leagues Week 1: Did not play at Buffalo. Analysis: Branch is trying to come back from a torn ACL and nearly surprised owners in Week 1 by almost playing against the Bills. Now, with Nate Burleson (knee) out along with Bobby Engram (shoulder) and Ben Obomanu (broken clavicle), Branch might come back in Week 2 if he can. The Seahawks need receivers, and it appears Branch could be a savior for the team and Fantasy owners.
Anthony Fasano, TE, Miami Owned: 9 percent of leagues Week 1: Caught eight passes for 84 yards and a touchdown against the Jets. Analysis: Fasano led the Dolphins in receiving against the Jets, and that could happen most weeks with Miami's lack of talent at receiver. Chad Pennington doesn't throw outside much, so when he looks over the middle of the field, Fasano will likely be his main target. And Fasano appears to be a solid red zone threat.
Tim Hightower, RB, Arizona Owned: 29 percent of leagues Week 1: Had eight carries for 13 yards and a touchdown and caught three passes for 21 yards at San Francisco. Analysis: Hightower is the No. 2 running back for the Cardinals behind Edgerrin James, but Hightower is going to be the goal-line back. That was evident in the preseason and it happened in Week 1 also. Last year, the Cardinals went to a goal-line package with Marcel Shipp, but Hightower will fill the role now. And with James an older running back, it's worth grabbing Hightower in case James gets hurt or falters.
Sammy Morris, RB, New England Owned: 13 percent of leagues Week 1: Had 10 carries for 53 yards and a touchdown and caught five passes for 34 yards against Kansas City. Analysis: Here we go again with the Patriots running backs. Morris split time with Laurence Maroney (10 carries for 51 yards), but Morris had the better game against the Chiefs. We'll see how it plays out now that Tom Brady is out, but it appears New England is content to rotate running backs. That means add Morris in case this type of production continues.
Avoid 'em Hank Baskett, WR, Philadelphia Owned: 3 percent of leagues Week 1: Caught two pass for 102 yards and a touchdown against St. Louis. Analysis: Baskett played well against a bad Rams team, but he did most of his damage on a 90-yard pass following a missed tackle. The Eagles will rotate their receivers with Kevin Curtis (hernia) and Reggie Brown (hamstring) out, but Baskett wasn't thrown at enough to be considered a good Fantasy receiver. You want to find players involved in the offense on a regular basis, and Baskett isn't that guy right now.
David Martin, TE, Miami Owned: 0 percent of leagues Week 1: Caught four passes for 53 yards and a touchdown against the Jets. Analysis: The Dolphins are going to depend on their tight ends since Chad Pennington doesn't have the arm strength to throw outside to his receivers on a regular basis. But Anthony Fasano is the starter for Miami, and Martin won't be on the field as often as Fasano. If you need a tight end, go with the Dolphins starter and not the No. 2 guy.
Le'Ron McClain, RB, Baltimore Owned: 0 percent of leagues Week 1: Had 19 carries for 86 yards and two catches for 24 yards against Cincinnati. Analysis: McClain took advantage of Willis McGahee (knee) being out and played better than Ray Rice against the Bengals. But McClain is third on the depth chart when everyone is healthy and should not be used going forward. The Ravens still like Rice at No. 2, and McGahee is going to start once he's 100 percent recovered from his injury.
Others to keep on your radar Shaun Alexander, RB, free agent Owned: 16 percent Week 1: Did not play. Analysis: Alexander could sign with Cincinnati, which would help the Bengals and owners who spent a late-round pick on Alexander. If this move happens, don't expect Alexander to return to prominence, but he could be better than Chris Perry and Kenny Watson. Remember, the Bengals talked to Alexander this offseason and could be ready to add him with the hopes he will improve their running game. Michael Pittman, RB, Denver Owned: 6 percent of leagues Week 1: Had seven carries for 13 yards and two touchdowns at Oakland. Analysis: Pittman was moved to fullback in training camp, but when he signed with the Broncos this offseason, it was thought he would be the goal-line back. That played out against the Raiders. Don't expect Pittman to score like this on a regular basis, but if he continues to get goal-line carries, he should be added immediately. For now, just see how Mike Shanahan uses Pittman in a committee with Selvin Young and Andre Hall.
Dante Rosario, TE, Carolina Owned: 0 percent of leagues Week 1: Caught seven passes for 96 yards and a touchdown at San Diego. Analysis: Jake Delhomme needed someone to throw to with Steve Smith suspended, and Rosario stepped up in Week 1. He should play well again in Week 2, and if he does, add him. But for now, let's see how Rosario performs for another week without Smith. The Panthers will need a second receiving threat once Smith returns, and Rosario could be that player.
Name: Katie Wafer School: Arizona State University Birth Date: September 14th Hometown: Denver Year: Junior Major: Business and communications
1. I love Arizona State, but I almost went to: I love ASU but I almost went to the University of Colorado.
2. My favorite college class is: Class is class, but I enjoy learning.
3. My three favorite movies are: Dumb & Dumber, Superbad and anything with Brad Pitt.
4. Music I can't live without: Country...and anything I can dance to.
5. Next risk I want to take: To Skydive.
6. The most embarrassing thing that's ever happened to me while cheering at a game is: I kicked the clip board out of a TV announcer's hand as she walked by. Papers flew everywhere! Oops.
7. My favorite sport and team are: Football without a doubt is my favorite but I love the Broncos, Nuggets, Avalanche and Rockies. Have to support my home teams!
8. If I won the lottery, the first thing I would do is: Take a tropical vacation with my family and friends.
9. My one guilty pleasure is: I love watching movies all day in bed, with a gallon of ice cream of course.
10. My best physical feature is: I'm told my smile, but my boyfriend would say my legs.
11. A strange and unusual fact about me is: I want to work at In-N-Out Burger...for a day.
12. My friends would be surprised to know that I: Can rough it in the woods. I love to camp, fish, and ride horses.
13. My favorite foods are: This list could go on forever, but I'm a meat and potatoes kind of girl.
14. If I could be any animal, I would be: A lion, so I could sleep 22 hours a day, get everything done in one hour and still have time to be king of the jungle.
15. Three people who annoy me: Lil Mamma, Flavor Fav and Hillary Clinton.
16. Three People who inspire me: Oprah, Angelina Jolie and my parents.
17. If I could change anything in the world it would it be: Orphans, I wish every child had a family.
18. The craziest thing I've done in college so far is: I spent the night on the football field.
19. The worst date I ever went on was: I am very lucky to have not had a bad date yet. I'll keep my fingers crossed.
20. If I could write my life-story starting from now, it woudl read like this: I like not knowing, as long as I am happy in the future.
