|
|
 |
The ToolboxArticles and profiles from Fantasy Football Toolbox, the same people who've brought you indispensable fantasy football info, cheatsheets, fantasy picks, advice and more for the last eight fantasy football seasons. Your fantasy football season is not complete without these guys.
Week 11 Sleepers
by Vin Sadicario
Nov. 15, 2005
QB Aaron Brooks, New Orleans
Aaron Brooks and the Saints come off their bye to face the Patriots. The Patriots secondary is so banged up that they used Troy Brown at cornerback in week 10. The Patriots allowed 360 yards and 2 touchdowns to Gus Frerotte in week 10 and 321 yards and 3 touchdowns to Peyton Manning in week 9. Brooks will have a good day throwing the ball against the Patriots and should accumulate 225 yards and 2 touchdowns.
QB Kurt Warner, Arizona
Kurt Warner returns to St. Louis to face the Rams in week 11. The Cardinals have thrown the ball 93 times over the last 2 games. Warner has thrown for over 300 yards in each of the last 2 games, and without a decent running game, the Cardinals will rely heavily on the pass in week 11. Look for Warner to reach 275 yards and 2 touchdowns against his former team in week 11.
RB Samkon Gado, Green Bay
Gado and the Packers face the Vikings in week 11. The former 5th string running back for the Packers rushed for 103 yards and scored 3 touchdowns in his first career start in week 10. Gado has another good match-up this week against a Vikings defense that allowed over 200 total yards to Tiki Barber in week 10. Gado should top 100 total yards and score a touchdown against the Vikings in week 11.
RB Reuben Droughns, Cleveland
Droughns and the Browns face the Dolphins in week 11. Droughns is quietly having a good season and has a good match up against the Dolphins in week 11. Droughns had over 120 total yards and his first touchdown of the season last week against the Steelers. The Dolphins defense allowed 84 rushing yards to fullback Heath Evans in week 10. Look for Droughns to go over 100 total yards and score his second touchdown of the season.
WR Ashley Lelie, Denver
Lelie and the Broncos return home to face the Jets in week 11. Lelie has been playing better as of late after a slow start. This week could be Lelie's breakout game against a bad Jets team. Plummer has been looking for Lelie downfield more often over the last few weeks, and they should connect on a long pass or two this week. Look for Lelie to catch 5 passes for 100 yards and a touchdown this week against the Jets.
WR Kevin Curtis, St. Louis
Curtis and the Rams face the Cardinals in week 11. Even with Torry Holt and Isaac Bruce returning, Curtis remains a target for Marc Bulger. Curtis caught 6 passes for 51 yards and was targeted on 10 passes in week 10. Curtis will remain the number 2 option in St. Louis ahead of Isaac Bruce. With the Cardinals coming to town, Curtis could be in for a big day. Look for Curtis to catch 6 passes for 80 yards and a touchdown.
Champ or Chump? Week 10
by Chris Weeks
Nov 8, 2005
Some of you may be wondering if it's time to deal that chump or does he still have what it takes to make him a champ. Well I'm going to try and offer you some insight into some of the players you may want to bag and some that you may want to snag. If there's a particular player you'd like to know about let me know. Now on to the good stuff!
Kurt Warner (QB Arizona)
Warner returned to the starting line up this week to face the team that knocked him out five weeks ago, the Seahawks. In a losing effort Warner managed to throw for 334 yards and a touchdown. The thing that killed his stats was the three interceptions. The Cardinals have no running game and seem to always be playing from behind. If Warner remains the starter he could make for a solid backup.
David Carr (QB Houston)
Carr had his best performance of the season by far on Sunday. He finished the game 22 of 30 for 219 yards and a touchdown, which equates to a 104.7 quarterback rating. His performance this week was not a fluke. Carr's favorite target, Andre Johnson returned to the lineup after missing the last four games due to a calf injury. Almost half of Carr's completions were to Johnson. With Andres back in the lineup, Davis sidelined and the Texans inability to hold a lead, Carr should post respectable numbers in the coming weeks. However, unless you're in a large league avoid Carr, as there are probably better options on the market.
Reuben Droughns (RB Cleveland)
For the second time in the last three weeks Droughns hit the century mark. This should have been the third consecutive week had he rushed for one more yard week eight against the Texans. If he could only find the end zone Droughns would be a must start for the remainder of the season. The only defense the Browns face that is ranked higher than 17th against the run is Pittsburgh. If the Browns can stay in the game in the coming weeks Droughns should hit the century mark at least four more games this season.
Jamal Lewis (RB Baltimore)
The Ravens have found themselves playing from behind a little to often this season. Playing from behind has forced them to rely mostly on Anthony Wright and less on their star running back Jamal Lewis. Accompany this with an off-season spent in jail and Lewis just doesn't look like the guy who ran for 2000 yards two years ago. The Ravens have some favorable match ups for Lewis in the coming weeks. Many owners are down on Lewis so you may be able to obtain his services for next to nothing.
Ernest Wilford (WR Jacksonville)
Ladies and gentlemen I believe we have a second receiver in Jacksonville. Yes, it would appear the Jaguars have another go to guy in the offense. Look out Jimmy Smith here comes Ernest Wilford. Last week Del Rio said he was impressed by Wilford's performance in the Rams game and he would see more playing time this weekend. It looks like Wilford is going to take full advantage of this opportunity. Against the Texans this week Wilford had 89 yards and a touchdown. If Ernest continues to perform he should make for a solid second receiver in larger leagues.
Reggie Brown (WR Philadelphia)
Brown filled in for the suspended Terrell Owens in this weekends match up against the Redskins. The rookie from Georgia pulled down 5 receptions for 96 yards and his first NFL touchdown. While I wouldn't expect great numbers every week, it wouldn't surprise me to see a couple more good games from Brown. McNabb didn't appear to miss Owens at all as he threw for 304 yards. Someone has to be on the other end of these receptions and if it's not going to be Owens it may as well be Brown.
Larry Fitzgerald (WR Arizona)
At first I thought Fitzgerald might have problems getting open over the next few weeks as the Cardinals play without Anquan Boldin. As luck would have it for you Fitzgerald owners, I was wrong. Larry posted his fourth 100-yard game of the season this weekend against the Seahawks. Being that Arizona can't run the ball and they're always playing from behind Fitzgerald is a must start each week. Even without Boldin there to draw the double team Fitzgerald should post respectable numbers.
Tony Gonzalez (TE Kansas City)
Just when we thought Gonzalez was back he has another 5-reception 70-yard game. After last weeks 7 receptions for 97 yards and his first touchdown of the season we were hoping to see the Gonzalez of old. Unfortunately it appears defenses are focusing on shutting him down or the coaching staff just isn't calling his number. Even though Gonzalez remains one of the leagues top tight ends it's disappointing to see him fall to the bottom of the top 10. Lets hope Green can get him the ball in the red zone a little more often. One touchdown in eight games just won't cut it.
Champ or Chump? Week 6
by Chris Weeks
Oct 10, 2005
Some of you may be wondering if it's time to deal that chump or does he still have what it takes to make him a champ. Well I'm going to try and offer you some insight into some of the players you may want to bag and some that you may want to snag. If there's a particular player you'd like to know about let me know. Now on to the good stuff!
Joshua McCown, QB, Arizona
Let the quarterback controversy begin! I don't think there's a guy in the game with worse luck than Kurt Warner. A couple years ago the guy comes out and plays his heart out, gets injured and in comes Bulger. Now he's in Arizona and here comes that bad luck once again. McCown has been filling in for the injured Kurt Warner the last two weeks. In that time McCown has accumulated 779 yards passing and 4 touchdowns. Pretty good numbers if you're league doesn't penalize your quarterback for interceptions. If you play in a league which penalizes you for interceptions, which most do, the 3 INT's McCown threw Sunday wouldn't sit well. That's been the problem with McCown since day one. With 2:15 left in the game he was intercepted in the end zone. When you're up by 3 with time running out you can't throw away points, and that's what he did. I'm sure he learned from this mistake and it won't happen again. Even with this late game interception the Cardinals should have won the game and McCown would be 2-0 on the season. With that said, if you're a Kurt Warner owner and don't have this guy on your roster, you should grab him now. If you're in need of a bye week fill in this is your guy. With a couple of exceptions the Cardinals have a soft schedule for the rest of the year, which could make for some big games for McCown.
Lee Suggs, RB, Cleveland
Rumor has it Cleveland Browns running back Lee Suggs is healthy and ready for action. While the Browns running game has not been terrible, it hasn't been all that great. The Browns primary back this season has been Reuben Droughns. With 74 carries this season Droughns has yet to find the end zone and is averaging just 3.8 yards per carry. If you're in a 12+-team league then the 7 to 10 points a week Reuben has been scoring isn't half bad. However, if you're Romeo Crennel you need more out of your backfield. Suggs is the best running back on the team. Now that he's healthy I wouldn't be surprised to see Crennel give him a few more touches and eventually turn the reins over to Suggs. Lee most likely isn't on a lot of owner's radar yet. If you wait for him to have a big game everyone will be after him. Beat the rush and grab him this week.
Joe Jurevicius, WR, Seattle
Darrell Jackson will be watching from the sidelines for the next 4 to 6 weeks. Replacing him in the starting lineup will be Jurevicius. This weekend Joe had 9 receptions for 137 yards and a touchdown. Those are some pretty good numbers for a fill in receiver. Over the next 6 weeks the Seahawks face the Texans, Cowboys, @Cardinals, Rams and @49ers. None of these teams have a great secondary, which bodes well for Jurevicius. If you had the fore thought to grab Joe before the games this weekend good for you. If nobody in your league grabbed him you need to be the first one in line when free agency opens this week. When Jackson does return to the lineup Joe should remain a starter filling in for the often-injured Bobby Engram.
Andre Johnson, WR, Houston
Normally I like to try and find a tight end to write about but I couldn't let this one slide another week. I've about had it with Andre Johnson. You see I'm the kind of guy that hates to admit he made a mistake. I'll even go so far as to pull in injuries to backups and the ignorance of the coaching staff into a conversation to prove I wasn't wrong. In this case however, I have to admit I was wrong. I drafted this guy in two leagues this year and man am I paying for it. In his first two seasons Johnson had 976 and 1142 yards receiving. Heading into his third season I expected this to be his break out year. I mean after all isn't it a rule that one of these third year receivers has to have a career year. It happens just about every season. Last year it was Javon Walker and this year I thought it would be Andre. Man I don't think I could have been more wrong. Now don't jump down my throat if I'm wrong here but I don't think this is Johnson's fault. I don't have the opportunity to see a lot of Texans games but I'm think Johnson is being double or triple covered. What else could be the excuse? The offense is pretty much the same as the past two years. David Carr is still a tackling dummy, Davis is still running the ball and Johnson is the only receiving option. The only thing that could have changed from last season is the coverage. Unless Johnson figures out a way around the double or triple coverage, or the offensive line miraculously finds a way to block for Carr, I think it's time to deal Johnson. If you can find someone in your league that's willing to take a chance on him go for it. Personally I wouldn't trade a kicker for him right now. There are 50 guys on the free agent wire with more points than Johnson.
Champ or Chump? Week 4
by Chris Weeks
Sep 27, 2005
Some of you may be wondering if it's time to deal that chump or does he still have what it takes to make him a champ. Well I'm going to try and offer you some insight into some of the players you may want to bag and some that you may want to snag. If there's a particular player you'd like to know about let me know. Now on to the good stuff!
Vinny Testaverde (QB New York)
Searching for someone to fill in for starter Chad Pennington and backup Jay Fiedler the Jets have turned to 41 year old Vinny Testaverde. Last season with Dallas Vinny threw for 3,532 yards, 17 touchdowns and 20 interceptions. Divide this out over sixteen games and he averaged 220 yards, 1.06 touchdowns and 1.25 interceptions a game. These numbers don't look good from a fantasy perspective but they do give us some hope. He's not going to throw 3 interceptions every two games. It's more likely he'll have a bad game with 4 interceptions and no touchdowns and the next game throw for 300 yards, 2 touchdowns and no interceptions. The key will be starting Vinny for those good games and benching him when the match-up is unfavorable. Once he learns the offense and becomes the full time starter Vinny will post some good numbers. If you're a gambler and need a bye week fill in, Testaverde may be a viable option.
Steven Jackson (RB St. Louis)
I think Jackson is one of the most talented backs in the game. He's big, he runs hard and he plays for a team with a great passing attack. Unfortunately for Jackson he plays for the Rams. Let me rephrase that. It's not unfortunate he plays for the Rams, it's unfortunate he plays for Mike Martz. Now I know the Rams secondary is porous and they're often in a shoot out but that's no excuse for them to abandon the running game. If the offense could help keep the defense off the field maybe they wouldn't be in so many shootouts. Jackson would be a much better fantasy back if only Martz would learn to run the ball more often. If Jackson continues to get 10-12 carries a game it's going to be hard for fantasy owners to start him.
Greg Lewis (WR Philadelphia)
We all know that somewhere in the league there's a third year receiver waiting to break out. Don't get me wrong I don't think Lewis is this seasons Javon Walker, but he does make for a fine bye week fill in. Playing opposite Terrell Owens he doesn't get a lot of exposure, which in this case could be a good thing. He'll never draw double coverage, he'll never even draw the best corner and when Westbrook lines up in the slot, Lewis could end up with the third corner or a safety covering him. As the season progresses McNabb's confidence in Lewis will grow and so with it Lewis' production. If you're looking for a bye week fill in that will give 70+ yards and the occasional touchdown, Lewis is your man.
Courtney Anderson (TE Oakland)
Finding a quality TE from week to week is almost impossible. If you don't have one of the top five you often find yourself grabbing someone from the waiver wire each week. If you're one of these owners stop searching and grab Anderson. Courtney is a big guy standing 6' 7", which makes him a prime target for Collins when the Raiders are in the red zone. This was evident in the Raiders first game when Anderson had touchdown receptions of two and five yards. In week three he didn't have a touchdown but he hauled in five receptions for 100-yards. With Oakland still searching for a way to win don't be surprised to see Anderson utilized more often.
Champ or Chump? Week 3
by Chris Weeks
Sep 19, 2005
Some of you may be wondering if it's time to deal that chump or does he still have what it takes to make him a champ. Well I'm going to try and offer you some insight into some of the players you may want to bag and some that you may want to snag. If there's a particular player you'd like to know about let me know. Now on to the good stuff!
Trent Dilfer (QB Cleveland)
I never thought I'd be writing about Dilfer in a football article, let alone a fantasy football article. The thing is we're just two weeks into the season and this guy is posting some very solid numbers. In week one against an above average Cincy defense Dilfer went 26 of 43 for 278 yards with a touchdown and 2 interceptions. This week against the Packers he was 21 of 32 for 336 yards and 3 touchdowns. At this pace he will finish the season with 4000 yards, 25 touchdowns and 13 interceptions. Not to bad for a guy who played second fiddle in Seattle the past 4 years. His current quarterback rating is 95.1, which is 23.8 points higher than his career average. Don't look now but the 33 year old; 12-year veteran could be headed for the best season of his career. Also, don't forget Romeo Crennel is now running the show in Cleveland. The Browns play some tough defenses, Indy, Chicago and Baltimore in their next three games. Should Dilfer perform well against Indy it very well could mean he finishes the season as a top 10 fantasy quarterback.
Marcel Shipp (RB Arizona)
Rumor has it Shipp will be the starting back for the Cardinals week 3 match-up with the Seahawks. Head coach Dennis Green liked what he saw in Shipp this weekend and feels that he gives the offense more options. Shipp finished the day with 12 carries for 54 yards and 5 receptions for 39 yards. If the rumor is true Arrington owners need to rush to the waiver wire this week and grab Shipp. If Shipp gets the start and he continues to accumulate close to 100 yards a game it will be hard for Green to pull him from the starting line-up. Even though at this point in the season it doesn't appear the Cardinals running game will have much of an impact on the fantasy season, it wouldn't hurt to have a little insurance.
Troy Williamson (WR Minnesota)
Typically I don't like to tell people to grab rookies, as their performance is too unpredictable. However, in this case I'm going to make an exception. Vikings top receiver Nate Burleson left the game early this weekend with a sprained left knee. Replacing him in the line-up was the rookie Troy Williamson. Should the injury to Burleson be something more than just a sprained knee it wouldn't surprise me to see Williamson named a starter. The rookie from South Carolina was selected with the 7th overall pick in this year's draft. If the Vikings didn't think the kid could perform they wouldn't have wasted such a high pick on him. Williamson is a big receiver who could be the replacement for Moss that the Vikings have been searching for. Without a doubt Williamson is still learning the offense. If he's smart he will use this opportunity to learn quickly and show Tice why he should remain a starter even when Burleson returns. Even if the injury to Burleson is not serious enough for him to miss a game or two, don't hesitate to grab Williamson. The way the Vikings are playing they'll have to do something to spark the offense and this young man could very well be that spark.
Steve Heiden (TE Cleveland)
If you're in a league, which requires a tight end, Steve Heiden could be a great pick up. This weekend Heiden had 6 receptions for 104 yards and 2 touchdowns. His 6 receptions equaled the number of receptions by the top 2 Browns receivers. In just two games he has almost half the touchdowns and half the yards of his 2004 season. In an offense where rushing yards appear to be hard to come by, the Browns may be forced to the passing game often. It also appears Dilfer and Heiden are building a trusting relationship. This means when Dilfer gets into trouble the first place he'll look to dump off the ball will be Heiden. If Dilfer continues to have a good season, Heiden could be in for a career year too.
Week 2 Sleepers
by Ben Sadicario, FFToolbox.com
Sept 15, 2005
QB Kurt Warner, Arizona
Warner should have a good passing day at home against his former team, the St. Louis Rams. The Rams defense allowed nearly 11 yards per pass attempt against the 49ers in week 1, and if Warner is given time to throw, he should have over 200 yards and 2 touchdowns.
QB Drew Brees, San Diego
Brees travels to Denver this weekend to face a depleted Denver secondary. Champ Bailey is banged up, and even if he does play, he will not be at full strength. The Denver secondary looked terrible in week 1, allowing 275 yards passing and 2 touchdowns to Gus Frerotte. Brees should come close to 230 yards and 2 touchdowns.
QB Anthony Wright, Baltimore
Wright is my deep sleeper of the week. Wright makes his first start of the season against one of the leagues worst defenses, the Titans. The Titans allowed a perfect passer rating to Ben Roethlisberger last week, and Wright should have success throwing the ball. If you are really in a bind at quarterback or in a league where you start 2 quarterbacks, Wright could give you 200 yards passing and 1 touchdown.
RB Ronnie Brown, Miami
Brown looks like a good play this week against the Jets who allowed 198 yards rushing and 3 touchdowns on the ground in week one. Brown will not match those numbers, but he could have his first career 100 yard rushing day and touchdown.
RB Reuben Droughns, Cleveland
Look for Droughns to start and carry the ball at least 15 times against a bad Packers defense in week 2. Droughns should rack up close to 80 yards and find the end-zone this week.
RB Michael Bennett, Minnesota
This could be Michael Bennett's last chance to prove himself this week against the Bengals. Bennett should get the majority of the carries as Minnesota will try to establish a run game in week 2. Bennett is a good bet for 80 rushing yards and another 30 yards receiving.
WR Antonio Bryant, Cleveland
Trent Dilfer's number one target should have a good receiving day against a bad Packers secondary in week 2. If the Browns get down early, look for them to throw the ball often. This game could turn into a shootout because of the bad defenses.
WR Robert Ferguson, Green Bay
The Packers need Ferguson to step up following the season ending injury to Javon Walker. Ferguson should have a big day against the Browns who allowed 270 yards and 2 touchdowns to the Bengals in week 1. The Packers should score at least 24 points, and Ferguson should be on the receiving end of at least one touchdown.
DEF, Chicago Bears
The Bears have one of the most underrated defenses in football. The Bears come home for week 2 to face division rival Detroit. Look for the Bears to play a defensive, ball-control type game to try to make up for their inept offense. The Bears should be able to get to Joey Harrington 3 times, intercept one pass, and recover one fumble.
Champ or Chump? Week 2
by Chris Weeks
September 12, 2005
Some of you may be wondering if it's time to deal that chump or does he still have what it takes to make him a champ. Well I'm going to try and offer you some insight into some of the players you may want to bag and some that you may want to snag. If there's a particular player you'd like to know about let me know. Now on to the good stuff!
Anthony Wright, QB, Baltimore
The Ravens lost starting quarterback Kyle Boller in the third quarter of this weekend's game against the Colts. While Boller was being carried off the crowd cheered as if to say thank god he's gone. I can't understand why Ravens fans would think this is a good thing. Backing up Boller is 3-year veteran Anthony Wright. In seven games during the 2003 season Wright managed just 1199 yards, 9 touchdowns and 8 interceptions. If Ravens fans think this change at quarterback will save their season they need to think again. Wright did come in and throw for 214 yards and a touchdown in a little over a quarter of play. While that sounds like great numbers you have to remember the Ravens were playing from behind the entire time and oh yeah he threw two interceptions and fumbled the ball once. Boller has a hyper-extended right toe and at this time there is no timetable for his return. Unfortunately for Boller this is his plant foot and until it's fully healed he may not be able to return. If you're a Boller owner you may want to look elsewhere for a quarterback before it's to late.
Willie Parker, RB, Pittsburgh
In one of this weekend's surprise stories Willie Parker rushed 22 times for 161 yards and a touchdown and had 1 reception for 48 yards. The 209 combined yards accounted for almost half of the Steelers offense and he did all this in just three quarters of play. The Steelers running game was one of the most productive in the league last season. So long as Duce and Jerome are on the sideline Parker should be the starter. Heck with a couple more performances like this it will be tough for Cowher to pull the kid from the starting line-up.
Robert Ferguson, WR Green Bay
In the December 19th, 2004 game against Jacksonville, Ferguson was carted off after being clotheslined by Donovan Darrius, ending his season. Robert spent the off-season recovering and entered camp healthier than he had been in previous seasons. With the season ending injury to Javon Walker, Ferguson moves into the starting line-up to play opposite Donald Driver. Part way through training camp there were rumors Ferguson would be traded to the Eagles. When asked about the possible trade Ferguson said he was disappointed in his role within the offense, but he was focusing on having a successful training camp. Well now's the time to see how successful training camp was for Ferguson. Don't let Favres' poor numbers this week scare you away from Robert. Many believe this guy could be a 1000-yard receiver if he started every game.
Chris Baker, TE, New York Jets
The only bright spot in the Jets offense in week one was Chris Baker. This is Bakers' fourth season in the NFL. In his first three years Baker was used primarily as a blocking tight end. During that time he amassed 34 receptions for 333 yards and 4 touchdowns in 43 games. So if this week's 7 reception, 124 yard and 1 touchdown performance wasn't a surprise to you I'd like to hear from you, because the lotto is at $200 million here in NY and I could use the cash. I guess the question to ask here would be is this a fluke or can we expect more of this throughout the season? As a Jets fan I'd like to think we'll see more of this but at this time I think it's to early to tell. At the end or pre-season I heard some grumblings about the Doug Jolly's mediocre play and the possibility that Baker may become the starting tight end. I wouldn't be surprised to see Heimerdinger put a few more plays into the book for Baker for this weekend's game against the Dolphins. Keep on eye on Baker he could be this year's surprise tight end.
Hot & Cold Six-Pack
by Forrest Long
September 13, 2005
The Hot 6 Pack
QB Marc Bulger, St Louis (34 of 56 for 362 yards, 2 TDs, 1 int): In a loss for the Rams, Bulger was forced to play from behind most of the second half making his fantasy owners very happy this past weekend.
RB Willie Parker, Pittsburgh (22 carries for 161 yards, 1 TD and 1 catch for 48 yards): With both Jerome Bettis and Duce Staley injured, no problem for the Steelers as they bring in the second year man from North Carolina to run the ball. And run the ball he did Sunday, leading all NFL backs with 161 rushing yards.
WR Larry Fitzgerald, Arizona (13 catches for 155 yards, 1 TD): After having a preseason injury that concerned fantasy owners, Fitzgerald was red hot in week 1 and Kurt Warner's main target versus the Giants this past weekend.
TE Chris Baker, NY Jets (7 catches for 124 yards, 1 TD): Although the Jets were blown out, and threw the ball more than normal, Jets new offensive coordinator Mike Heimerdinger likes to use the TEs alot in his offensive schemes and Baker had a great opening day game.
K Rian Lindell, Buffalo: Lindell was red hot in week 1 with 5 FGs (35, 21, 42, 39, 31 yards), and 1 extra point.
D Indianapolis Colts Defense: Although Detroit only allowed 3 points to the Packers, it was the Colts defense (yes the Colts) that was the surprise of the weekend, as they would have shutout the Ravens if not for a late TD with 13 seconds left in the game. Indianapolis gave up only seven points, had three sacks, one forced fumble, and got 1 TD (a 30 yard interception return by Cato June).
The Cold 6 Pack
QB David Carr, Houston (9 of 21 for 70 yards, 0 TDs, 3 INTs, and 7 carries for 40 yards, 1 TD): Carr did not look good in the preseason, and it continued into the opening game as this was a terrible performance by Carr.
RB Michael Bennett, Minnesota (6 carries for minus-1 yards, 0 TDs, and 3 catches for 21 yards, 0 TDs): The Vikings need to name a starter and stick with him, because no RB can get into a rhythm in this situation, especially Bennett.
WR Amani Toomer, NY Giants (0 catches for 0 yards, 0 TDs): Toomer didn't even catch a pass on Sunday, ending a streak of 98 consecutive games with at least one reception.
TE Jason Witten, Dallas (1 catch for 12 yards, 0 TDs): Witten was one of the top TEs selected in most drafts after last season's success, but he was very disappointing Sunday for fantasy owners with only 1 reception from Bledsoe.
K Matt Stover, Baltimore: Stover had only 1 extra point, and he was 0 for 3 on FG attempts in week 1.
D Denver Broncos Defense: I can understand Tennessee surrendering 34 points to Pittsburgh, but Denver allowed the Miami Dolphins 34 points. The Broncos had no sacks, one interception, and no forced fumbles, at Miami in a big upset.
Champ or Chump? Week 1
by Chris Weeks
Sept 8, 2005
Some of you may be wondering if it's time to deal that chump or does he still have what it takes to make him a champ. Well I'm going to try and offer you some insight into some of the players you may want to bag and some that you may want to snag. If there's a particular player you'd like to know about let me know. Now on to the good stuff!
Byron Leftwich (QB Jacksonville)
Amazingly enough Bryon has been drafted in only 79% of fantasy leagues and is scheduled to start for just 14% of those teams. Why I think this is amazing is the guy could easily be a top 10 quarterback this season. The Jaguars have the 12th easiest schedule for quarterbacks during the regular season and the 4th easiest during weeks 14-16. What this means is not only will he get you to the playoffs, but come playoff time he should be lights out. Another thing I like about Leftwich is he reminds me of Daunte Culpepper. He's big, makes smart decisions with the ball and he's not afraid to tuck it and run when the pressure comes barreling down.
Kyle Boller (QB Baltimore)
Could someone explain to me why Ben Roethlisberger has been drafted in 66% of fantasy leagues while Boller has been drafted in just 21%? I realize Roethlisberger's numbers were a little better, but come on they weren't that much better. The difference between Kyle and Ben was a meager 70 yards and 4 TD's last season. I think a lot of leagues are shortchanging Boller for no reason at all. With the acquisition of Derrick Mason this off-season the Ravens now have a quality number one receiver. Couple this with a top-notch running back, Jamal Lewis and a solid tight end, Todd Heap and the Ravens are a team on the verge of a great season. If you have room on your roster don't be afraid to grab this guy.
LaMont Jordan (RB Oakland)
Probably the biggest surprise for me this pre-season has been the lack of respect given to Jordan. LaMont has been drafted in just 73% of fantasy leagues. How in the world is this possible? Most people would agree that a starting running back will carry the ball approximately 250 times. Over the past three years Jordan has been backing up the great Curtis Martin. In that time Jordan has carried the ball 223 times for 985 yards and 9 TD's. Unless my math is wrong that's an average of 4.4 yards per carry. Giving Jordan the ball just 4 more times would carry him over the 1,000-yard mark. The best part about all this is Jordan put together numbers like these in a back-up roll. This season he's the feature back in a high power offense featuring Moss, Porter and Collins. With all this talent I'm finding it difficult to believe Jordan is still available in 27% of the leagues.
Muhsin Muhammad (WR Chicago)
I've always liked Muhsin Muhammad and man did that pan out last season. Muhammad led the league in receiving yards with 1,405 yards, and touchdowns with 16 TD receptions in 2004. While all of this sounds great it's most likely not a reality for this season. Fortunately and unfortunately for Muhammad it has nothing to do with him. It is his own fault he's in Chicago this season, but it's not his fault the Bears will be starting a rookie at QB. For this reason and this reason alone I think it's best to leave Muhammad to the rest of the teams in your league this season. We all saw what Eli did last year when he started. I believe the Giants had one touchdown by a wide receiver when Eli started. Not to say the same thing will occur with Kyle Orton, but why take the chance when there are so many other talented receivers in the league.
Week One Defensive Preview
by Ben Sadicario
Sept. 7, 2005
courtesy of Fantasy Football Toolbox
3 Must Start Defenses
1) Buffalo Bills. The Bills open the regular season at home against the Houston Texans. The Bills accumulated 45 sacks and 14 interceptions last season, while the Texans allowed 49 sacks and threw 14 interceptions. Look for the Bills defense to have 4 sacks, one interception, and a fumble recovery. Terrence McGee is very dangerous as a return man and is capable of finding the end zone in any given week.
2) Pittsburgh Steelers. The Steelers open the season at home against the Tennessee Titans. The Steelers tallied 41 sacks and picked off 19 passes last season. The Titans offensive line allowed 44 sacks and the combination of McNair and Volek threw 18 interceptions last season. Look for the Steelers to hold the Titans under 14 points and to accumulate 3 sacks, one interception, and one fumble recovery.
3) Carolina Panthers. The Carolina Panthers start the 2005 regular season at home against the New Orleans Saints. The Panthers defense is looking stronger than ever with a healthy Kris Jenkins returning and the off-season signing of Ken Lucas. The Saints offensive line allowed 41 sacks last season. Look for the Panthers to force Aaron Brooks into making mistakes. The Panthers should hold the Saints to 14 points or less and should tally 3 sacks and 2 interceptions.
3 Good Defenses to Avoid
1) Baltimore Ravens. When is it acceptable to bench the number one fantasy defense? When they are playing the Colts. Last years meeting between these two teams resulted in 0 points for the Ravens defense. The Ravens allowed 20 points, had 0 sacks, and 0 interceptions. Although this game will be in Baltimore, there are many defenses that are safer plays than the Ravens this week. This should be the worst game for the Ravens defense this season.
2) Dallas Cowboys. The Cowboys open the season on the road against the San Diego Chargers. The Chargers explosive offense put up an average of 32.5 points per game at home last season, and only allowed 21 sacks all season. Look for the Chargers to put up at least 21 points, and the Cowboys to total 2 sacks and 0 interceptions.
3) New York Jets. The New York Jets open the 2005 regular season at the Kansas City Chiefs. The Chiefs averaged 33 points per game at home last season, and should score at least 21 points in week 1. The Chiefs offensive line allowed 2 sacks per game last season, and the Jets will probably get to Trent Green twice this week, and come up with one interception. The Jets defense is not a terrible play this week, but there are a lot of better options out there.
3 Sleeper Defenses
1) St. Louis Rams. The St. Louis Rams open the regular season on the road against the 49ers. In two meeting last season, the Rams held the 49ers to a combined 20 points. The Rams also managed 7 sacks, 2 interceptions, and one fumble recovery in those two games. The Rams should put pressure on the 49ers and accumulate 3 sacks, 1 interception, and one fumble recovery in week one.
2) Washington Redskins. The Washington Redskins open the season at home against the Chicago Bears. In one meeting last season, the Redskins held the Bears to 10 points and under 200 yards of total offense. The Redskins also got to the quarterback 4 times. Look for the Redskins defense to do a lot of blitzing in Kyle Orton's first career start. The Redskins should hold the Bears to under 14 points, and take advantage of Orton's inexperience with 3 sacks and 2 interceptions.
3) Denver Broncos. The Denver Broncos open the 2005 regular season on the road against the Miami Dolphins. The Broncos should be able to take advantage of a terrible Dolphins' offensive line and bad quarterback. The Broncos defense should have 3 sacks, 2 interceptions, and possibly a defensive touchdown, as Miami had 8 defensive touchdowns scored against them last season.
Wal's Calls - The Recliner's Edge
by Wal
August 25, 2005
courtesy of Fantasy Football Toolbox
Warning! This is not your traditional Fantasy Football article. WAL'S CALLS is an honest look at the sports world from the best seat in the house - my recliner.
I was glad to see Rich Gannon retire. It was time. He's just too old and broken. Great athlete in his prime - but definitely time to hang up the cleats. Yeah Rich, sit back in the CBS booth and just be grateful for the time you had. I don't like watching athletes flounder on the field or court. In fact I hate it. Alonzo Mourning should have hung up his sneakers years ago. Randy Johnson gives up four homers in a single inning. Hmmm? I hate the Yankees, but I did not like to see that happen. I wish Jerry Rice the best; but I'm scared to death he's going to go out there and embarrass himself this year.
I took Kurt Warner with my 20th pick in the VERY last round of the draft. If, and that is a BIG if, he can stay healthy, he could very well be a fantasy starter for many teams this year. He's got the very best wide receiver tandem in the league bar none. Draft them!
Steve Young & Dan Marino. Two classy athletes who deserved to make it to the Hall of Fame. I was thrilled that Michael Irvin got rejected. I hope all his "want-to-be" wide receiver friends with crappy attitudes will learn a lesson. You're not going to be voted into the Hall of Fame; because even though you may be GREAT athletes - you're still a bunch of jackasses.
Very seldom do I side with a player over management - but I have to say that San Diego is really stickin' it to Gates. $380,000 is not much of a reward for being the top tight end in the league. The guy is probably the second best player on that team. Yeah, he certainly doesn't deserve Gonzalez 2.5 million type numbers, but this is ridiculous.
Politics and football just don't mix. I don't want to hear about Rush Limbaugh on SportsCenter. I have nothing personal against him, and occasionally even agree with that bloated bag of hate; but didn't he learn his lesson a couple of years ago? What the hell is wrong with that guy?
For the record I actually complimented Lance Armstong by saying that he was one of the most dominate athletes EVER. And I never said he was gay. I'm just not real comfortable watching a bunch of sweaty guys wearing spandex. It just doesn't work for me. Is that so bad?
Well. Okay. I guess it could be worse, couldn't it.
The only satisfaction I've had this year as a Seattle Mariners fan is knowing that my retarded brother Kevin is a Kansas City fan. Yeah, that's funny. Makes me feel better about life. How crappy does a team have to be to LOSE 19 games in a row? You have to really TRY to lose to get that kind of record.
ESPN Fantasy Football commercial with the scantly clad chicks pillow fighting on the bed - STUPID. It's really getting on my nerves. I mean, after you've watched it seventeen times in one night it gets really, really annoying. The girls LOOK good, oh yeah, but the commercial IS lame.
If you are addicted to WAL'S CALLS or want to contribute to the mailbag, just send me a quick note at cwald71@yahoo.com. I would love to hear from you.
Mathematics is the Key
by Greg Cox
August 5, 2005
courtesy of Fantasy Football Toolbox
Remember when you used to complain that Algebra would never help you in the real world? Well it might help you out in fantasy football and here is how.
Let's say you can't figure out which running back to draft among the good ones out there. Which give you the best odds to succeed? The answer is easy if you look at it from a mathematical standpoint. Fantasy football is a point-oriented game. You score points for yardage and touchdowns. What is the easiest way for your player to achieve big numbers in those departments? They do it by touching the football.
If last year you decided on say Ahman Green (4.5 average carry) over Rudi Johnson (4.0 average carry) you found yourself on the short end. That is because Rudi had a 376 to 299 advantage in touches (rushes plus receptions), which led to a 1,538 to 1,438 advantage in total yards and 12 to 8 edge in touchdowns. In other words, even gaining a half-yard less running the ball he wound up with probably 29 more points over the course of the season. It doesn't sound like a lot until you realize that the less productive Green was taken much sooner than the more productive Johnson.
Another high touch player last year was Clinton Portis who had a horrible average (3.8) but his 383 touches led to 1,550 total yards and 7 touchdowns. Talking about strictly rushing, just nine players had 300+ carries in 2004, which translates to an average of 18.75 per game. If you are looking at a player who will rush the football 15-20 times per game that puts him immediately into the top 10 of fantasy running backs because none of these guys had under 1,500 total yards or 7 touchdowns. They averaged 1,813 total yards with 13.6 scores.
Predicting who will touch it isn't all that difficult if you look at three year history and pay attention to which teams have a battle in the depth chart. This theory also lends itself to buying low with players who had low touches in the previous season but are likely to jump back towards the top 10. Jamal Lewis is a key example after he missed time, and others are the rookie Jones pair (Kevin and Julius) and already overrated Willis McGahee since he didn't start the season as the main threat.
Taking this to the receiver position, just 15 players caught at least 80 footballs last year and only Laveranues Coles (950) had under 1,000 yards receiving or 4 touchdowns (he had one). Those high reception players averaged a healthy 1,217 yards with 8.7 touchdowns. As with the running backs, pay attention to guys who missed time such as Anquan Boldin to pop into that elite group. Also, pay attention to the players with gaudy average reception totals because that means they go deep. If they start getting the ball more often, possibly underneath, there is a potential for much better numbers. Players like Ashley Lelie (20.1), Plaxico Burress (19.9), Santana Moss (18.6) and Lee Evans (17.6) could make a move after they combined to average just 45.5 receptions. If they advanced just into the 70 range, even with a drop in average down to 16.5 it would translate into 1,155 yards, which is top-notch fantasy production.
With quarterbacks, it is a little trickier, but one thing to look at is pass attempts. This is one reason that Ben Roethlisberger was able to win so many games yet was fairly useless in FFL. Of the nine players who threw the ball at least 495 times the low in yardage was 3,495 and other than old man Vinny Testaverde (17) the low in touchdowns was 21. On average (tossing out Peyton Manning's numbers just to make it a fair representation) these guys threw for 4,026 yards with 26.4 touchdowns. The natural danger is interceptions with an average of 17, plus 3 fumbles lost for 20 average turnovers. Still, the starter value is there and you will be able to distinguish who the habitual turnover kings are like Jake Plummer, Kerry Collins and Aaron Brooks.
Taking it farther down the chart, of the top 15 in attempts only Joey Harrington (3,047) failed to throw for at least 3,500 yards. That list ends at 466 attempts, which amounts to 29 per contest so you have to figure out which teams are apt to throw that much. Twelve of the fifteen threw for at least 20 touchdowns. The only really successful fantasy quarterback who didn't throw a lot of passes was Drew Brees (400) thanks to an outstanding 27-9 touchdown/turnover ratio, but 3,159 yards is poor.
It may seem ridiculous, but you can also use this theory on kickers. The top five point scorers all had at least 31 field goal attempts, and of the top seven in attempts only erratic rookie Josh Scobee failed to score 117 points. Obviously you want a kicker on a team that scores a lot of points, but while you would think Mike Vanderjagt would benefit from the Indianapolis offense he actually wound up #7 in scoring because he was just #18 in field goal attempts with 25. You really want a kicker on a team that has a good offense, but not a great one. You will recall the great ground game of the Super Bowl team Baltimore had where Matt Stover kept taking advantage of the field position that outstanding defense put them in.
The moral is to use the math and reap the benefits.
2005 Super Sleeper Running Backs
by Jack Clifford
June 28, 2005
courtesy of Fantasy Football Toolbox
Picking your top ten fantasy running backs isn't that difficult of a task, especially the first five or six. And normally when someone comes up with 10 "sleeper" picks, if he or she is right about say, five or six of the picks, then that's considered a successful prediction percentage.
When it comes to the phrase "super sleeper," well, if a person can be on target with three or four good players from a list of 10, kudos to that person. In fact, in some circles, batting .300 or better is a good argument for making the Hall of Fame.
Now, I can't promise that success rate with this article. I will attempt, however, to at least give you something to think about when your fantasy draft rolls around. Or more than likely - since these guys are to be considered "super sleepers" - ones to keep in mind once the season gets rolling, injuries occur, or poor play benches a starter or two.
This list is in no particular order, because trying to rank "super sleepers" is just plain idiocy, but some of the more intriguing players are listed up top.
Ciatrick Fason, Minnesota - With Onterrio Smith out for year thanks to his Whizzinator incident, the rookie Fason has a good chance of making some noise for the Vikings. During his senior year at Florida, he ran for almost 1,300 rushing yards and added nearly 300 more yards on 35 catches. His 12 TDs weren't bad either for a Gators team that had a fair number of offensive weapons.
LaBrandon Toefield, Jacksonville - Now that Fred Taylor has cleared up the persistent rumors about his knee injury - it was more serious than first reported at the end of last season - the Jacksonville RB situation becomes cloudy. Greg Jones has been moved to fullback, which gives Toefield some breathing room to at least slide in as the top back-up. If Taylor's injuries continue to give him trouble, Toefield will be a decent first-teamer.
Mike Anderson, Denver - Anderson and Tatum Bell both worked with the first team in one of the Broncos' minicamps, which just means that Mike Shanahan could be up to his old shenanigans when it comes to his philosophy on running backs. He doesn't care about utilizing just one guy, especially if three or four can get the job done. That said, Anderson has flourished in this system once before, back in 2000 when he rushed for nearly 1,500 yards and scored 15 TDs. Don't be shocked to find Anderson carrying the load again in 2005, if he is fully recovered from the groin injury that sidelined him in 2004.
Eric Shelton, Carolina - The stat from Shelton's senior year at Louisville that pops out the most is his 20 rushing TDs. Yet, fantasy owners shouldn't overlook his average per carry, which stood at a very healthy 6.4 yards. The Panthers are a running team first, and could use those big chunks of yardage to eat up the clock. The biggest question about Shelton right now is 'Will he be able to establish himself in a field that includes the oft-injured Stephen Davis and DeShaun Foster?'
Travis Henry, Buffalo - Where oh where will Travis end up? Almost certainly, his days in Buffalo are over. He has had nibbles from Jacksonville and Tennessee, two teams that need depth at RB. Henry, however, could still end up as a quality starter for a team. In the two-year span from 2002 to 2003, before Willis McGahee arrived in Buffalo, the fifth-year back averaged 1,630 total yards from scrimmage to go along with his 25 total TDs. Just because the Bills don't want him doesn't mean you should throw him completely out, too.
Derrick Blaylock, NY Jets - I know that those "Curtis Martin is so old ..." jokes get old after a while, but jeez, the guy is ancient by NFL running back standards. Blaylock on the other hand is just hitting his prime, and when he played in place of Priest Holmes last season, Blaylock scored nine TDs on 143 touches. Besides, the Jets have no other RBs on the depth chart that are worth spit.
Correll Buckhalter, Philadelphia - Buckhalter will try to play that old game of "Remember me?" in 2005, after sitting out the entire 2004 season with a knee injury. Although Brian Westbrook is the starter in Philly, Buckhalter is a big, strong guy who will get a good number of attempts around the goal line, in addition to racking up a decent amount of yards as the back-up. Don't forget about Buckhalter on draft day.
Maurice Morris, Seattle - This choice soars should Shaun Alexander be traded before the season starts, a scenario that seems less and less likely each day. Morris maximizes his touches, however, averaging 5.3 yards on his rushing attempts and pass receptions combined since he entered the league in 2002. He has scored just two TDs, though. Yes, he doesn't look great statistically, but remember, this is a super sleepers column, and given the right circumstances, Morris can produce.
Ladell Betts, Washington - Betts was given the ball as the starter in the 2004 final regular season game, he responded with 118 yards and one TD. While Clinton Portis is still the go-to man in Washington, head coach Joe Gibbs no doubt appreciates Betts' hard-nosed type of play. Should Portis continue to exhibit sub-par play - he had eight games in 2004 with less than a 3.5 yards per carry - Betts is likely to steal some playing time.
Najeh Davenport, Green Bay - Davenport is a perennial "super sleeper" candidate, so perhaps his listing here is unfair. But Ahman Green can't seem to stay out of trouble - he will possibly face a jury August 31 on his disorderly conduct-domestic abuse charges - so Davenport might need to step in and pull the Pack from trouble. If the fourth-year pro could catch a ball out of the backfield, he would likely see more playing time considering Green Bay's offensive scheme involving running backs. For now, keep an eye on Green's legal troubles and keep a pencil handy, ready to circle Davenport's name for your roster.
Long Snaps - The Summer Report
by Forrest N. long
courtesy of Fantasy Football Toolbox
My first report of the season kicks off with some tidbits of information, as we all get ready for the summer training camps to start up in July!
Viking RB Onterrio Smith's suspension has opened the door for RB Michael Bennett's fantasy value to rise this summer in early drafts. If Bennett is the main starter and if he could stay healthy for an entire season, he would be a great #2 fantasy RB, but for those that draft him make sure you get Mewelde Moore as a handcuff in the late rounds.
Tampa Bay RBs, Michael Pittman and Charlie Garner both appear to be out with the drafting of rookie RB Cadillac Williams. Williams is the projected starter for the Buccaneers, and Pittman/Garner's value will be only late round depth or handcuffs to the Cadillac.
Atlanta WR Peerless Price is dealing with a retinal condition that is either no big deal or career threatening, depending on the different sources. Price has been a huge disappointment since his arrival from Buffalo a few years ago, but with this hanging over him, I would expect his fantasy draft status to slide to possibility undraftable in early drafts this summer.
Laveranues Coles went from the outhouse in Washington to the penthouse in New York, as the WR returns to the Jets after a disappointing stint with the Redskins. I expect his fantasy status to rise as much as Santana Moss' falls in early drafts.
Packers WR Javon Walker is a current holdout after a great season, so fantasy owners that draft early beware, as this could be a long holdout even if Favre is begging for his return.
Brian Westbrook's value has dropped some this summer due to the drafting of rookie RB Ryan Moats, and the return of Correll Buckhalter. Fantasy owners should be careful about the amount of touches you project for Westbrook this year, even though he will be the Eagle starter again this season.
Giants RB Tiki Barber was a great fantasy RB in 2004, but it appears the Giants still want to reduce his responsibilities. Tiki is likely to be replaced near the goal line this season following the positive early reports on rookie RB Brandon Jacobs. If Jacobs proves to be a quick study, Barber's touches could diminish this season.
The RB's in Carolina... Deshaun Foster appears to be the early favorite in preseason mock drafts, but with Stephen Davis returning from injury and the drafting of rookie RB Eric Shelton, unfortunately it looks like a RB-by-committee approach in Carolina this year.
I think its time for QB Joey Harrington to put up this year, because Jeff Garcia was signed to push him for the starting job should he struggle this season. Garcia was Steve Mariucci's QB in San Francisco and he knows the system, so fantasy owners drafting him should beware he is most likely on a short lease this year with all that offensive talent around him in Detroit.
And speaking of Detroit, how many WRs are they going to draft with their first round picks? As good as the threesome of Charles Rogers, Roy Williams, and rookie Mike Williams will be, its tough for anyone to predict which one has the most fantasy value this year.
RB Thomas Jones' Dynasty League owners have saw his value diminish when the Bears used the number four overall draft pick to select RB Cedric Benson.
WR Koren Robinson is out in Seattle, so does this make WR's Joe Jurevicius or Jerome Pathon draftable? One of them is most likely to start opposite Darrell Jackson this year, so keep an eye on the Seahawks' July training camp to see who gets the starting job.
Cardinals RB Marcel Shipp is finally 100% and practicing with the team after the former UMass star broke his leg and dislocated his ankle last August, sidelining him for the 2004 season. That's the good news for Shipp owners, and the bad news is that Arizona used their second round draft pick to select RB JJ Arrington.
Dynasty owners of QB Drew Henson have to be disappointed to read that Tony Romo currently has the slight edge over Drew Henson in the battle for the backup quarterback job in Dallas. Dynasty League owners hoping for Henson to pan out can't be happy, especially after Romo's recent two-year deal. Unless you are in a large Dynasty League where you can continue to hold a spot for Henson, its time to cut him loose, as he will mostly likely spent the entire 2005 season on the bench.
Getting a quality TE in leagues that use the TE scoring format can be a big plus, and owners lost one of the better prospects in Browns' Kellen Winslow after his motorcycle wreck and reported torn ACL. If you own Winslow in a Dynasty/Keeper league, then hopefully your league allows you to place him on injured reserve this season, but if not it might be time to drop him, rather than hold him for another entire year.
RB Domanick Davis had 302 carries for 1188 yards, plus 13 rushing TDs in 2004, but his 3.9 yards per carry average has Houston concerned, and there are rumors of a reduced workload for Domanick Davis after the Texans used the 73rd overall pick in the draft to take RB Vernand Morency. I would advise fantasy owners to keep an eye on the situation before using a high draft pick on Davis.
WR Eric Moulds and WR Lee Evans saw their value drop when QB Drew Bledsoe left for Dallas, and JP Losman became the starting QB in Buffalo.
Rookie RB Ronnie Brown was taken number two overall in the draft by the Dolphins to help improve their running game, and his value was very high until the rumored Ricky Williams return. How there are questions that only time can answer, and owners that have summer drafts can't wait, thus Brown's value has slid.
WR Andre Davis could be the top target in Cleveland this year, although QB Trent Dilfer will be the one throwing him the ball.
Questions surround Jaguars RB Fred Taylor more this summer than probably any other RB. A planned simple arthroscopy on Taylor's knee turned more serious, and his slow recovery this spring is a huge concern sidelining him until training camp. There has been no official reports of the exact time table for a return, thus fantasy owners have to be concerned, and thus Taylor should be near the bottom of the starting running back rankings. I suggest owners follow this situation very closely because if the injury is more severe, then obviously RBs LaBrandon Toefield and Greg Jones values will increase in drafts.
Tennessee RB Chris Brown is recovering from yet another injury (a broken hand), thus owners need to beware that he very injury prone. I expect Brown to still go in the late second round or early third rounds of most summer drafts, but owners should keep an eye on the Titans RB.
| |
|
