Tuesday, August 31, 2010

The thumb, the thumb ... always the thumb

Oakland running Michael Bush fractured the thumb on his left hand in his team's last preseason game. He has already had surgery on it and the coaching staff is hoping he'll be ready for Week 1, although you have to wonder how effective he will be. He's still a low-end No. 3 back at this point.
Speaking of broken thumbs. Tampa Bay quarterback Josh Freeman had the soft cast removed from his broken right thumb this week. Head coach Raheem Morris is hoping the quarterback will be ready for Week 1. Freeman is a sleeper back-up quarterback heading into your draft

Houston running Steve Slaton has come down with a case of turf toe and has been wearing a walking boot this week. Although Slaton is expected to be ready for Week 1, his injury strengthens Arian Foster's hold on the No. 1 running back spot for the Texans. Foster should be considered a strong No. 3 running back.

Houston tight end Owen Daniels practice briefly this week but is still not ready to resume fulltime duties. He should either be drafted very late as a back-up or picked up off the waiver wire a few weeks into the season.

Fans of Detroit Lions rookie running back Jahvid Best can rest easy. Back-up running back Kevin Smith has been struggling this preseason which means Best is the clear-cut No. 1 going into 2010. Draft him as a solid No. 2 fantasy back.

Jacoby Jones may have moved ahead of Kevin Walter for the No. 2 receiving spot in Houston. Jones had five catches for 63 yards and a touchdown Saturday while Walter had one reception for 17 yards. Whoever wins the battle is a decent No. 4 or 5 fantasy receiver.

For those of you have already had your drafts here's a few players you might want to keep an eye on during the first week or two as potential waiver wire pick-ups.

Wide receiver Laurent Robinson (St. Louis Rams) may have some value if rookie quarterback Sam Bradford gets a fast start to his career. With Donnie Avery out for the season, Robinson is the main man. Running backs Javon Ringer (Tennessee) and Rashard Jennings (Jacksonville) are both one injury away from being quality fantasy backs. Wide receiver Mike Williams (Tampa Bay) will be the top receiver in an up-and-coming offense.Williams won't make anybody forget Andre Johnson, but he's had a great preseason and appears to be set for a productive year.


Check out Tuesday's print edition (Aug. 31) for The Fantasy Forum where I discuss a few tips going into your fantasy draft.

Saturday, August 28, 2010

MJD: Did he or didn't he?

Did he or didn't he? Rumors are swirling around Jacksonville running back Maurice Jones-Drew who apparently has issues with his knee. One report said he minor arthroscopic surgery to clean out the knee but his agent says that never happened. Regardless, he is still expected to ready for Week 1 and is a definite top five fantasy back.

Reports out of Denver are that running back Knowshon Moreno is progressing well from his hamstring injury and is on track to be ready for Week 1 of the season. He's a strong No. 2 back in fantasy.

Running back LaDainian Tomlinson continued his resurgence with the New York Jets Friday, rushing 11 times for 86 yards. Tomlinson has looked up the Jets' third-down back position and should be viewed as a solid No. 3 running back.


St. Louis Rams wide receiver Donnie Avery tore his anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in the team's game over the weekend and is done for the season. He had little fantasy value anyway, due to the Rams' unsettled play at quarterback.

Fantasy owners who are high on Dallas rookie wide receiver Dez Bryant will have to draft him on faith. He is just about healed up from his high ankle sprain but is not likely to see any action until Week 1. Considering his lack of preseason practice time, Bryant is, at best, a No. 4 fantasy receiver.

It appears Jerious Norwood has jumped back in front of Jason Snelling for the No. 2 running back spot on Atlanta's depth chart. That makes Norwood valuable as a handcuff to Michael Turner and makes Snelling all but undraftable.

Atlanta's Roddy White had six catches for 47 yards and  touchdown Friday. He should be drafted as one of the five best receivers in fantasy.

New York Jets tight end Dustin Keller had five receptions for 46 yards and a touchdown Friday against Washington. If you miss out on the elite tight ends, Keller could make a decent late-round pick.


San Diego's Malcolm Floyd had a nice game with four receptions for 51 yards and a touchdown against New Orleans. He's a strong No. 3 receiver in fantasy.

Kansas City's Jamaal Charles rushed six times for 40 yards Friday before tweaking his shoulder. He is expected to be fine and should be considered a strong No. 2 fantasy back.

Detroit Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford was 13 of 17 for 141 yards and a touchdown Saturday. He should be drafted as a solid No. 2 quarterback.

Cincinnati's Carson Palmer had another strong outing Saturday, completing nine of 11 passes for 95 yards and two touchdowns against the Bills. Palmer is a low-end No. 1 or strong No. 2 fantasy quarterback.

It looks as if Buffalo rookie C.J. Spiller is going to touch the ball a lot this season. He had 12 carries for 52 yards and two touchdowns and two catches for 33 yards against Cincinnati Saturday. As of now, he's a No. 3 back in fantasy.

Anquan Boldin finally showed up for Baltimore Saturday, catching four passes for 52 yards and a touchdown. Until he shows that consistently, he should still be considered a  No. 2 receiver in fantasy. Teammate Joe Flacco had a strong game against the Giants, completing 21 of 34 passes for 229 yards and two touchdowns. He's a low-end No. 1 QB.

Thursday, August 26, 2010

Who in the heck is Rob Gronkowski?

The news out of Arizona is that quarterback Derek Anderson will get some extended playing time with the first unit in the Cardinals' preseason game this weekend. Anderson is a more proven passer than Matt Leinart so, should he win the starting job, he'll improve the stock of all the Arizona receivers, including Larry Fitzgerald.

Minnesota's trade for Dolphins wide receiver Greg Camarillo probably doesn't do much for his value. Even with Sidney rice sidelined for at least half the season, Camarillo is still behind Percy Harvin, Bernard Berrian and Visanthe Shiancoe in Brett Favre's pecking order. Unless he proves differently in the last two preseason games, Camarillo should not be drafted in fantasy.

Seattle running back Leon Washington could be worth keeping an eye on in Saturday's preseason game against the Vikings. Washington is scheduled to start and will go against Minnesota's top defensive unit. If he does well it might be enough to make him the primary ball carrier for the Seahawks and he would have fantasy value as a No. 3 or 4 back.

Reports from Washington are that Clinton Portis will be the starter at running back come Week 1. If that's the case he's a solid No. 3 running back in fantasy.

Fantasy owners who had high hopes for Denver rookie wide receiver Demaryius Thomas this season might want to put those hopes on hold. Thomas injured his foot Tuesday and is considered doubtful for Week 1. His long term status is unknown.

New England's rookie tight end Rob Gronkowski  caught three passes for 66 yards and two touchdowns against St. Louis Thursday. That performance should put him on everyone's fantasy radar. He's a deep sleeper at best at this point.

Indianapolis running back Joseph Addai suffered a concussion against Green Bay Thursday and his injury status is unknown. Keep monitoring his situation.

Packers tight end Jermichael Finley continued his monster preseason Thursday, making six catches for 85 yards and a touchdown. With Rodgers as his quarterback, it's safe to draft Finley as an elite tight end.

Don't forget to check out the Fantasy Forum in the print edition every Tuesday.

Tuesday, August 24, 2010

If Sidney Rice is out, Bernard Berrian is in

Sidney Rice's hip surgery on Monday opens the door for teammate Bernard Berrian to make his presence felt in 2010. Rice is expected to miss at least the first eight weeks of the season and could even end up on injured reserve. Berrian goes from being almost undraftable to a No. 2 fantasy receiver.

Indianapolis tight end Dallas Clark suffered a leg injury during training camp and may have to miss the rest of the preseason. The exact injury is not known but Clark said he'll be ready by Week 1. Assuming it's not a serious injury, Clark should be one of the first three tight ends drafted in fantasy.


The Arizona Cardinals coaching staff is being optimistic about Larry Fitzgerald's recovery. The wide receiver suffered a strained MCL in Monday's preseason game against Tennessee but head coach Ken Whisenhunt expects him back as early as the last preseason game.


Houston Texans tight end Daniel Owens received some good news this week when an MRI on his surgically-repaired knee showed he is completely healed. Daniels could be cleared to resume practice later this week and may be ready for Week 1 of the regular season. If so, Daniels should be one of the top five or six tight ends selected on fantasy draft day.

Fantasy owners looking for a deep sleeper at running back might want to consider Kareem Huggins of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He looked good in limited call-up time from the practice squad in 2009 and has played well in the preseason this year (16 rushes for 99 yards). Derrick Ward is quickly falling out of favor with the Buccaneers which means the only real obstacle keeping Huggins from a starting spot is Cadillac Williams. Huggins might be worth the gamble if you can get him in the last round or two.

Check out Tuesday's (Aug. 24) print edition for the Fantasy Forum which identifies five players who are overvalued or will be busts in 2010.

Monday, August 23, 2010

The good and the bad from Preseason Week 2

Here are a few highlights/lowlights from this weekend's preseason action that likely have fantasy implications.

Philadelphia receiver DeSean Jackson looks as if he'll do fine with new quarterback Kevin Kolb behind center. Jackson caught four passes for 74 yards against Cincinnati. Jackson is a No. 1 fantasy receiver who should be drafted in the second or third round.

The Bengals' Carson Palmer also looked good, completing 15 of 23 passes for 169 yards. Palmer won't be a top-tier quarterback as he was in his prime but is a strong No. 2 QB in fantasy.  It also seems Terrell Owens will be an integral part of Cincinnati's passing game. He had another three catches for 67 yards and should be considered a solid No. 3 receiver at this point.

Another solid back-up fantasy QB to keep in mind is Kansas City's Matt Cassel. He was 14 of 19 for 125 yards and a touchdown against Tampa Bay Saturday and observers say he has had a good preseason.  

It may be time to start wondering about Anquan Boldin and how effective he is going to be in Baltimore with Joe Flacco throwing to him. In two preseason games he has just two catches for 33 yards. It's way too early for outright panic but his chemistry with Flacco should be monitored the next few weeks.

Miami's Chad Henne had another strong outing, completing 11 of 14 passes for 151 yards and two touchdowns. Henne is a strong No. 2 QB and might even be serviceable as a low-end No. 1 by the end of the preseason.

It is looking like no St. Louis Rams players will be worth having in fantasy this year with the exception of running back Steven Jackson. Jackson is still considered a low-end No. 1 back on most cheat sheets but, if he's going to see eight-in-the-box all season, he's probably better drafted as No. 2.

Chicago running back Matt Forte had a big game against Oakland, rushing five times for 109 yards and a touchdown. One of his runs went for 89 yards, but he still averaged 5 yards per carry in his other four attempts. Since it seems Forte will be the Bears primary ball carrier, he should be considered a solid No. 2 running back.   

Detroit's rookie running back Jahvid Best had a strong performance against Denver, running eight times for 49 yards. He also caught two passes for 10 yards. Best is a strong No. 3 fantasy back.

Green Bay tight end Jermichael Finley continues to have a monster preseason. Finley averaged 12 yards per catch Saturday, grabbing four passes for 48 yards and a touchdown. Finley is quickly moving up the rankings and is considered the fifth or sixth best tight end in most mock drafts.

It's looking more and more like running-back-by-committee in Seattle. Leon Washington is now healthy and back in the mix with Justin Forsett and Julius Jones. Until one separates himself, steer clear.

Check out Tuesday's print edition for the Fantasy Forum when I talk about five busts/undervalued players for the 2010 season.

Friday, August 20, 2010

Don't get too excited over Spiller just yet

With the exception of rookie C.J. Spiller, Thursday's Indianapolis vs. Buffalo preseason game had no significant news in terms of fantasy. Peyton Manning was pretty sharp and Colts running backs Josephi Addai and Donald Brown looked as if they'll be a solid 1-2 punch in the backfield this season. Addai is a low-end No. 1 or strong No. 2 fantasy back while Brown is a quality No. 3 or 4 back. Buffalo's Spiller electrified the crowd with a 31-yard touchdown dash and he finished with 10 carries for 54 yards. Spiller appears to be a very talented back but how productive he'll be behind the Bills' line is questionable. Unless he continues to shine in the preseason, Spiller is a No. 3 fantasy back at best.

 The reports that New England wide receiver Wes Welker was ahead of schedule on his recovery from knee surgery were apparently true. He played in Thursday's preseason game against Atlanta and caught two passes for 20 yards. If he continues to progress in the preseason he's a strong No. 2 fantasy receiver.

The news on the Vincent Jackson situation is not good for fantasy players. The wideout from San Diego, who has been holding out, is talking with the Seattle Seahawks who have been given permission to discuss contract terms with him. If Jackson ends up Seattle, he drops to a No. 3 receiver at best. Meanwhile, the Chargers Phillip Rivers falls to the second tier among quarterbacks. 
 
Here in Minnesota, the Vikings Sidney Rice (hip) admitted he may not be ready for Week 1 of the regular season. If that's the case, he moves from a low-end No 1 wideout to a middle of the pack No. 2 guy.

One back-up QB to consider in the late rounds is Tampa Bay's Josh Freeman. He has reportedly made big strides since last season. He still doesn't have a lot of offensive talent around him, but could be serviceable as a bye-week starter.

Check out next Tuesday's print edition (Aug. 24) when I unveil my five fantasy busts/overvalued players for 2010 in the Fantasy Forum.

Thursday, August 19, 2010

Harvin's migraines are cause for concern

The latest news on wide receiver Percy Harvin is troubling for Vikings fans. He experienced another severe migraine episode at practice Thursday in which he vomited and collapsed. Harvin had to be taken from the field by ambulance to a nearby hospital. His migraine issues are not new, but now they seem to be occurring more frequently. If his playing time is significantly limited by the ailment this season that's a big blow to the Vikings offense. As for fantasy, it probably drops his value from a No. 2 or 3 receiver to a No. 4 or 5.

One guy who has been barely a blip on the fantasy radar this preseason is San Diego wide receiver Legedu Naanee. He's been having a strong month of August and has a good chance to start in the wake of veteran Vince Jackson's suspension. If you need receiver help in the last round or two of your draft, he could be worth a flier.

And speaking of the Chargers, fellow wide receiver Malcom Floyd has also been having a good camp and has already been penciled in as a starter on Week 1. With Phillip Rivers as his quarterback, Floyd has a lot of upside and should be considered a strong No. 3 receiver in fantasy.

Another receiver slowly climbing up the fantasy ladder is Houston Texans wideout Jacoby Jones. He's in a tight battle for the No. 2 spot with Kevin Walter. Jones was recently taken off punt return duties so he could concentrate on his receiver position. Jones probably has more fantasy potential than Walter but, even if Jones wins the job, he's no better than a No. 5 or 6 fantasy receiver at best.

Although Philadelphia running back LeSean McCoy has missed some practice time with injuries this month, he has still been impressive. He has apparently improved his pass-catching skills and has looked strong running inside. The Eagles will probably still be a pass-first, run-second team but, at this point, McCoy is a strong No. 2 fantasy back.

Another running back to keep tabs on the rest of the preseason is Kareem Huggins of Tampa Bay. After carrying eight times for 55 yards against Miami over the weekend, Huggins has been promoted to the first-string offense this week against Kansas City. Huggins is still a long shot to have fantasy value this year, but keep watching his progress.

Check out next Tuesday's print edition (Aug. 24) when I unveil my five fantasy busts/overvalued players for 2010 in the Fantasy Forum.

Wednesday, August 18, 2010

Fantasy owners may get looks at Smith, Winslow this weekend

New York Giants receiver Steve Smith, who has missed much of the preseason with a groin injury, was back at practice Wednesday and could play in this weekend's preseason game. Quarterback Eli Manning (head) is already listed as out for the game, so that means fantasy owners won't be able to gauge what Smith can do until Week 3 of the preseason at the earliest. At this point, Smith is a high-end No. 2 receiver in fantasy if healthy.

Tampa Bay tight end Kellen Winslow may also make an appearance in this weekend's preseason game after recovering from a knee injury. Right now Winslow is considered a low-end starting tight end, but he could move up if fledgling quarterback Josh Freeman makes a couple of strides in his development.


Reports out of San Francisco are that veteran Brian Westbrook and rookie Anthony Dixon are battling for the No. 2 spot on the depth chart behind Frank Gore. Gore is still a solid first-round fantasy pick. Unless Westbrook or Dixon is used a third-down back, neither should be considered better than a No. 5 fantasy back.

The Torry Holt experiment in New England is over. Holt (knee) reached an injury settlement with the Patriots and is now a free agent. No matter where he may sign he has no fantasy value.

Veteran Baltimore tight end Todd Heap may have some fantasy relevance again. He has looked good in training camp and, if the Ravens tackles can play well enough to handle defenders 1-on-1, Heap may be more involved in the passing game again. He might be worth a late-round flier on draft day.

Oakland running back Darren McFadden missed his 10th consecutive practice Tuesday with a bad hamstring. His absence improves the value of teammate Michael Bush who is considered a low-end No. 3 or solid No. 4 fantasy back.

Check out next Tuesday's print edition (Aug. 24) when I unveil my five fantasy busts/overvalued players for 2010 in the Fantasy Forum.

Tuesday, August 17, 2010

Favre returns, fantasy players rejoice

The big new Tuesday was quarterback Brett Favre's arrival in Minneapolis. Although there will be no press conference until Wednesday, most are predicting he will announce his decision to play at least one more season. If that happens, he immediately takes a spot among the top fantasy quarterbacks, just below the likes of Aaron Rodgers, Drew Brees, Peyton Manning, Matt Schaub, Tom Brady and Tony Romo. Favre's return also increases the value of wide receivers Sidney Rice and Percy Harvin and tight end Visanthe Shiancoe.

It's official, rookie running back Ben Tate's season is over. The Houston back was placed on IR this week, leaving Arian Foster and Steve Slaton as the two main ball carriers. If Slaton continues to have fumble issues, Foster could be a mid-to-late round steal in fantasy drafts.

Kansas City running back Jamaal Charles' value took a hit Tuesday when head coach Todd Haley said his role in the offense has yet to be determined. Although Haley said Charles has had a good preseason so far, he described him as a "developing player." Until we see or hear otherwise, Charles should still be considered a low-end No. 1 or strong No. 2 fantasy back.

Reports out of New Orleans are that newly-signed running back Ladell Betts could be the goal-line guy for the Saints. That hurts Pierre Thomas' value but not much. Thomas should still be considered a strong No. 2 running back.

Fantasy owners should have a pretty good idea of rookie running back C.J. Spiller's worth by the time they have to draft. Spiller has been taking the majority of snaps with the first unit in Buffalo in the wake of injuries to Marshawn Lynch and Fred Jackson. Neither Lynch nor Jackson is expected to be back before Week 1.

Fantasy players might want to take a late flier on oft-injured tight end Owen Daniels in their drafts this year. Daniels was having a career year when he suffered his third ACL injury last season. Houston head coach Gary Kubiak said Daniels is on pace to return to the field in the team's final preseason game.

News out of Oakland is that newly-acquired quarterback Jason Campbell is not yet in synch with his receivers. Until they start clicking, it's best to stay away from all Oakland skill players except for running backs Michael Bush and Darren McFadden and tight end Zach Miller.
Check out Tuesday's print edition (Aug. 17) for my Fantasy Forum. It identifies five undervalued/sleeper players for the upcoming season.

Monday, August 16, 2010

Westbrook, Betts return to the NFL

Here is some NFL news with fantasy football relevance:

New York Jets quarterback Mark Sanchez solidified his status as a solid fantasy back-up quarterback Monday, completing 13 of 17 passes for 119 yards and a touchdown in a game against the crosstown rival New York Giants. He also threw an interception.

Two familiar running backs found new homes this week. Former Philadelphia Eagles standout Brian Westbrook signed with San Francisco and former Washington runner Ladell Betts has caught on with the New Orleans Saints. Westbrook will likely be used as a third-down guy which slightly hurts starter Frank Gore's value. Betts is a third or fourth-string player who replaces the injured Lynell Hamilton (knee) and doesn't  have much worth in fantasy.

Veteran receiver Steve Smith (arm) of the Carolina Panthers came off the Physically Unable to Perform (PUP) list on Monday but head coach John Fox said he probably won't compete in a preseason game anytime soon. The goal is to get Smith ready for the regular season. Considering Matt Moore is his quarterback, Smith is no more than a No. 2 receiver in fantasy.

T he Arizona Cardinals have all but shut down star wide out Larry Fitzgerald (knee) for the remainder of the preseason. Fitzgerald's value was already slipping with Kurt Warner's retirement and now it slips even more.
He's a still a mid-to-low-end No. 1 fantasy receiver if healthy.

Cincinnati's Carson Palmer showed he still has something left over the weekend, completing 12 of 15 passes for 105 yards. Although his days as a marquee fantasy quarterback are over, he's still a solid back-up.

Rookie Victor Cruz may have thrust himself into the New York Giants wide receiver derby Monday, catching six passes for 145 yards and three touchdowns. Steve Smith and Hakeem Nicks are expected to be the top two starters but keep tabs on Cruz to see if Monday was just an aberration.

Check out Tuesday's print edition (Aug. 17) for my Fantasy Forum on five undervalued/sleeper players for 2010.

Sunday, August 15, 2010

The preason DOES matter in fantasy (but Week 1 not so much)

Here are a few things gleaned from Week 1 of the preseason. Remember, it's only Week 1 so performances and stats should not be weighed too heavily.

New England running back Laurence Maroney may have made himself fantasy relevant again, carrying the ball eight times for 30 yards and two touchdowns in a  27-24 win over New Orleans. Even if Maroney turns out to be the starter for the Patriots, he's a No. 3 fantasy back at best, more likely a No. 4 guy.

Also in New England, Julius Edelman is a player with a lot of upside fantasy owners may be able to draft in the later rounds. Edelman filled in for Wes Welker when his season ended due to injury last year and did OK. He appears to have picked up where he left off, catching six passes for 90 yards against New Orleans over the weekend. If Welker is slow to come back, Edelman should have value as a No. 4 fantasy receiver.

In the Washington-Buffalo game, Donovan McNabb looked sharp in his abbreviated performance with his new team. He was 5 for 8 passing for 58 yards and a touchdown in a 42-17 victory. Teammate Devin Thomas, a wide receiver, looks to be on track for a starting job with three catches for 64 yards and a TD. McNabb is a low-end fantasy starter while Thomas is a good No. 4 wideout if he gets the starting nod.

In the Kansas City vs. Atlanta game, both projected starting running backs had good days. KC's Jamaal Charles carried four times for 37 yards and Atlanta's Michael Turner rushed four times for 29 yards. Turner should be one of the top six running backs off the board and Charles is also a low-end No. 1 or excellent No. 2 back. Charles' chief competitor, Thomas Jones, suffered an undisclosed injury during the game which, if serious, should only increase Charles' value.


In Miami's 10-7 win over Tampa Bay, Dolphins' running back Ronnie Brown looked pretty good in his first game back after a season-ending foot injury in 2009. Brown had five carries for 20 and figures to be a solid No. 2 fantasy back if healthy.

Aaron Rodgers of the Green Bay Packers showed why he is the first quarterback off the board in most fantasy mock drafts this summer, going 12 for 13 for 159 yards and a touchdown. If the Packers offensive line can play better than it did a year ago, Rodgers should put up some spectacular numbers this fall.

In Texas, the arrival of heralded rookie running back Ben Tate may already be over. Tate suffered a serious ankle injury over the weekend and may be out for the season. Arian Foster took advantage with four carries for 31 yards. Teammate Steve Slaton was a mediocre 10 for 22 and fumbled into the end zone. Foster now had the edge over Slaton for playing time but wait and see how each of them gets used before putting them in any kind of draft order.

In San Diego's 25-10 win over the Chicago Bears, rookie Ryan Mathews lived up to his advance billing, carrying nine times for 50 yards. Mathews is expected to get a lot of work this season and is a definite No. 1 back in fantasy.

The Bears Devin Aromashodu made a strong bid for a starting spot, catching four passes for 78 yards and a touchdown. He finished strong last season and should be considered a low-end No. 3 or solid No. 4 receiver in fantasy.

Arizona's marquee wide out Larry Fitzgerald suffered a sprained knee over the weekend and will probably be out for a least a few weeks. His value will depend heavily on the play of his team's starting quarterback -- either Derek Anderson or Matt Leinart.


In the San Francisco-Indianapolis game, rookie running back Anthony Dixon celebrated his new-found No. 2 spot on the depth chart (behind Frank Gore) by rushing 21 times for 100 yards and a touchdown. He also caught three passes for 22 yards. Former No. 2 guy Glen Coffee unexpectedly announced his retirement over the weekend, Giving Dixon value as a No. 5 back and as a handcuff to Gore.

Buffalo running back Marshawn Lynch will be sidelined three to four weeks with a sprained ankle suffered in his team's first preseason game. Healthy or not, he's no better than a No. 4 or 5 fantasy back. Teammate Fred Jackson is expected to miss four to six weeks with a broken bone in his left hand.hand. This means rookie C.J. Spiller may turn out to be Buffalo's No. 1 back by default and should be considered a No. 4 or 5 fantasy back.

Thursday, August 12, 2010

Wide receivers Driver, Crabtree nursing injuries

Here's a few fantasy updates:

Green Bay Packers wide receiver Donald Driver is nicked up. He missed his fifth straight practice Thursday with a calf injury. Driver is not expected to play in the team's first preseason game this weekend. If healthy, Driver is a No. 3 or 4 fantasy receiver.ed

Chris Chambers is ahead of rookie Dexter McCluster for the No. 2 receiver spot in Kansas City while Dwayne Bowe is entrenched as the top starter. Unless the talented McCluster can bypass Chambers, he has little fantasy value this season.

Chiefs head coach Todd Haley has listed Thomas Jones as the primary ball carrier and Jamaal Charles as the back-up on the team's initial depth chart. Apparently Jones has been getting most of the first-team snaps in practices, as well. Haley said both backs will see enough work to keep them happy. It sounds like a running-back-by-committee (RBBC) for the Chiefs. That makes both players No. 2 fantasy backs at best. Stay tuned.

If you're high on San Francisco wideout Michael Crabtree this year, you better take a second look. Crabtree dropped the first two passes thrown his way on Wednesday before leaving the workout with a neck strain. Unless he improves, he's at best a No. 3 fantasy receiver.

It looks like there's a pretty tight battle for the No. 1 running back spot with the New York Giants. Ahmad Bradshaw has been doing a lot of work with the first team and Brandon Jacobs has looked faster this year after offseason surgery. If there's RBBC, the winner of the competition should have value as a low-end No. 2 running back.

The preseason began in earnest Friday night with a full slate of games. I'll report back after the weekend to assess whose fantasy value took a hit and who got a boost.

Don't forget to check out my Fantasy Forum in Tuesday's print edition. This week I'll be writing about sleepers and undervalued players heading into the season.

Wednesday, August 11, 2010

Young QB's getting long looks

Reports out of Detroit are that second-year quarterback Matthew Stafford is showing noticeable improvement. His arm strength is better, the receivers have confidence in him and he takes charge under center. If the reports are true, Stafford would make a solid back-up fantasy quarterback.

In St. Louis, rookie quarterback Sam Bradford is expected to come off the bench in his team's preseason game against the Vikings Saturday night. Bradford is expected to play with the first-team offense for at least a few snaps. Right now A.J. Feeley is the No. 1 guy for the Rams. No matter who wins the starting job by Week 1, he will have little to no fantasy value.

Things are looking up for Philadelphia quarterback Kevin Kolb. After a slow start in training camp he's starting to hook up with his receivers more consistently. Kolb is surrounded by some talented skill players and is expected to have a pretty good season. Right now he's considered a low-end starting QB in fantasy.



Former Oakland running back Justin Fargas has signed a free-agent contract with the Denver Broncos. Fargas would have to work his way up to No. 2 on the depth chart to have any fantasy value.


It appears Terrell Owens is all but a lock to win the No. 2 receiving spot in Cincinnati behind Chad Ocho Cinco. His only real competition is from free-agent signee Antonio Bryant who has been injured. There is talk the team might give Bryant an injury settlement and part ways. If Owens is the guy, he's a No. 3 or 4 fantasy receiver.

Tuesday, August 10, 2010

Beanie goes down, but not necessarily out

Arizona running back Beanie Wells injured his ribs on Monday and is considered questionable for this weekend's preseason opener. X-rays on the ribs were negative. Wells is a strong No. 2 running back in fantasy.

Washington running back Clinton Portis experienced tightness in his groin Tuesday and was unable to finish practice. His status is unknown. Portis is, at best, a No. 3 fantasy running back if healthy.

 San Diego rookie running back Ryan Mathews will get his first game action Saturday in the team's preseason opener. Head coach Norv Turner has given no indication how long Mathews will play. The first-year back is projected as a low-end No. 1 or strong No. 2 fantasy back.

 Denver's rookie wide receiver Demaryius Thomas injured his foot Saturday and has not been at practice since. The team doesn't believe the injury is serious and the first-round draft choice is listed as day-to-day. If he's healthy and wins a starting spot, Thomas is a No. 4 or 5 wide receiver.

 Jacksonville quarterback David Garrard says Mike Thomas is making a strong bid for the team's No. 2 receiver position in training camp. If Thomas makes it, he'll be no more than No. 5 or 6 fantasy receiver.

There appears to be two big kicking battles going on during the preseason. In Houston, Neil Rackers is competing against Kris Brown and, in Baltimore, Shayne Graham is kicking against Billy Cundiff. The two winners will be viable fantasy starters. The two losers could easily end up kicking for other teams.

Check out the Fantasy Forum in next Tuesday's print edition when I discuss some sleepers/undervalued players heading into the season.

Monday, August 9, 2010

Parker, Holt on the bubble

Here are a few more fantasy updates:

Those fantasy players hoping for a comeback year from former Pittsburgh running back Willie Parker should probably look elsewhere. Washington released its unofficial depth chart Monday and Parker was listed as the No. 4 back. Right now it looks as if Clinton Portis will be the primary carrier and Larry Johnson will be the back-up.

The same is true for veteran wideout Torry Holt in New England. Some fantasy players thought quarterback Tom Brady might make Holt valuable again, but the receiver has shown little in training camp, There's a good possibility he won't make the team.

In Chicago, veteran Devin Hester is nursing a hamstring strain and that has led to more opportunities for Devin Aromashodu and Johnny Knox at the wide receiver position.If one or both ends up as a starter, they are both decent sleeper candidates. 


Updating an injury report from last week, Atlanta's No. 2 receiver Michael Jenkins suffered a shoulder injury that will force him to be out 4-6 weeks. That means he will likely miss the season-opener.

Detroit's rookie running back Jahvid Best has been impressive in training camp and the Lions can't wait to unleash him. The team should know a lot more about Best and the team's offensive line after he takes a few hits in a preseason game. Right now, Best is considered a low-end No. 2 or strong No. 3 fantasy back.

Ahmad Bradshaw may be moving ahead of Brandon Jacobs in the battle for the New York Giants' starting running back spot. Bradshaw has been getting the majority of work with the first unit in training camp. Whoever wins the spot will have value as a No. 3 fantasy back.

Check out Tuesday's print edition for The Fantasy Forum with my take on the key training camp battles fantasy players should be watching. Keep checking back here for daily fantasy updates.

Sunday, August 8, 2010

Fantasy Island continues ...

Here are a few fantasy tidbits:


Updating a previous report, Denver running back Knowshon Moreno is nursing a hamstring injury and is not expected to play until the team's third preseason game at the earliest. If healthy, Moreno is considered a low-end No. 1 or high-end No. 2 fantasy running back.


Oakland's Darren McFadden is also having hamstring issues and did not participate in Saturday's evening practice. The injury is not considered serious. There is no word yet on how Oakland plans to use McFadden and Michael Bush but it's likely they'll both get a decent amount of playing time. There's speculation that McFadden will be more of the third-down, change-of-pace back and that Bush will be the primary carrier.


The good news from Philadelphia is that DeSean Jackson (back) returned to practice this weekend and participated in all the drills. Although he's a streaky fantasy player, he is definite No. 1 receiver. Teammate Jeremy Maclin (knee) also returned to practice Saturday.


New York Giants receiver Steve Smith suffered a knee injury Saturday morning but said it's not serious. There are no plans for an MRI and he is considered day-to-day. Smith is a weak No. 1 or strong No. 2 receiver in fantasy.



There appears to be a dogfight going on for the No. 2 receiver position in Houston. Jacoby Jones and Kevin Walter are the top two candidates and the competition has been close. Although Andre Johnson is far and away the primary receiver in that offense, the No. 2 guy could have value, especially if tight end Owen Daniels is slow to return from last year's injury.


Baltimore's No. 2, Derrick Mason, has a bruised knee and will likely miss a few days of practice. Atlanta's second receiver, Michael Jenkins, injured his shoulder Saturday morning and did not participate in the evening session. The severity of the injury has not been disclosed.

Friday, August 6, 2010

Here are some fantasy updates:

It's starting to sound more and more like a running-back-by-committee situation in Dallas. Head coach Wade Phillips was talking up Tashard Choice after practice Friday morning, saying he'd like to see him play more. With Felix Jones and Marion Barber already in the mix, that hurts the fantasy value of all of them.

Baltimore's Willis McGahee did not practice Friday morning due to swelling in his knee. Regardless of McGahee's health, Ray Rice is entrenched as the team's No. 1 back and should be a Top 5 pick on draft day.

First-round draft choice C.J. Spiller of the Buffalo Bills has signed a five-year contract worth about $25 million. The running back is expected in camp today. Although Spiller is a talented back, Buffalo's offensive line is weak and he'll probably have to share time with Fred Jackson. Neither is a No. 1 or No. 2 fantasy back this year.


Reports from Chicago are that Bears wide receiver Johnny Knox is seeing a lot of action in training camp. Depending on how he looks in the preseason, Knox could have value as a No. 4 fantasy receiver.

The Philadelphia Eagles are backing off their early assessment of wide receiver's Jeremy Maclin's knee injury. It was originally announced that he'd be day-to-day, but not it looks as if he'll miss at least a few weeks. Unless the injury lingers into the regular season, Maclin should still be considered a solid No. 3 fantasy receiver.

Don't forget to check out my Fantasy Forum in Tuesday's print edition. This week I'll be discussing training camp battles you should be keeping an eye on.

Thursday, August 5, 2010

It's just a fantasy ... whoa, oh, oh, oh

Here are some quick fantasy football updates:

Two up-and-coming receivers, Jeremy Maclin of Philadelphia and Hakeem Nicks of the New York Giants suffered knee injuries in camp this week but both turned out to be minor. Maclin is expected to return to practice within in a few days and Nicks could be back as early as this afternoon. Both should be starters for their respective teams and are considered solid No. 3 fantasy receiving options.

New England's Wes Welker is progressing much faster than anybody anticipated from the surgery he underwent after seriously injuring his leg last season. He has already been removed from the PUP list and was involved in full-contact drills this morning. Last year he was a legitimate No. 1 fantasy receiver before he got hurt. Until you can watch him in some preseason games, consider him a No. 2 receiver this year.

In case you missed it, missed it, it appears as if Sidney Rice's hip injury is more serious than first realized. Vikings' head coach Brad Childress said Rice is still a ways away from coming off the PUP list. He'll have to play in a couple of preseason games before his value can be assessed.

The Detroit Lions received some good news Wednesday when second-year tight end Brandon Pettigrew took part in a complete practice after having his rookie season cut short by a knee injury. He was one of the elite tight ends coming out of college last year and will be a nice sleeper candidate if he turns out to be healthy.

Wednesday, August 4, 2010

With Brett Favre's status still up in the air, fantasy football players are in limbo as to the value of the rest of the Vikings skill players. Right now it looks like a 50-50 chance that Favre will be back so all we can do is wait and hope a decision is made before our fantasy drafts.

In the meantime, here's some other fantasy news:

Oft-injured running back Ronnie Brown of Miami said his foot is feeling fine after last year's surgery and that he's ready to go in 2010. If there were no injury issues with Brown, he would easily be a Top 10 fantasy back but, as it stands now, he's probably a weak No. 2 back or strong No. 3.

Pittsburgh quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, who will miss a minimum of four games to start the season, has been looking strong in training camp. Offensive coordinator Bruce Arians says Roethlisberger has a live arm and is in the best shape he's ever seen him. Roethlisberger should be the first back-up quarterback taken in fantasy.

New York Giants receiver Hakeem Nicks suffered a hyper-extended knee in practice Tuesday and the results of his MRI have not yet been released. Assuming the injury is not too serious, Nicks should be drafted as a No. 3 fantasy receiver.

On Tuesday it was reported that New Orleans running back Pierre Thomas had injured his shoulder in practice, but it was actually his wrist. The coaching staff does not believe the injury is serious and that Thomas will probably not miss much practice time. Thomas is a low-end No. 1 and strong No. 2 running back.

Saints' tight end Jeremy Shockey (knee) was on the field Wednesday but did not practice for the fifth straight day. Shockey should be one of the last tight ends drafted as a starter in most leagues.


Philadelphia receiver Jeremy Macklin suffered no ligament damage in his knee which he injured Tuesday. His status is considered day to day.

Tuesday, August 3, 2010

Here's some non-Favre related fantasy news

While the Brett Favre will-he-or-won't-he retirement saga plays out at Vikings training camp in Mankato, here are some other fantasy football tidbits that might be of interest.

On the injury front, New Orleans Saints running back Pierre Thomas injured his shoulder while getting tackled during a red zone drill Tuesday and left the field. The extent of the injury is unknown.

Pittsburgh Steelers running back Rashard Mendenhall is dealing with a toe problem and is considered day-to-day. Cleveland rookie running back Montario Hardesty, who has been a popular late-round pick in many fantasy mock drafts, also has a knee injury and his status is unknown.

Philadelphia receiver Jeremy Maclin hyper-extended his knee on Tuesday and is expected to miss a few days of practice. Derrick Mason was also sidelined from practice early with an ankle problem but says the injury is not serious and he'll be back soon.

On the good news side, New Orleans wide receiver  Marques Colston came off the PUP list and was back at practice Tuesday. Teammate Jeremy Shockey (knee), a tight end, is almost ready to resume full contact.

Three players who have been getting good reviews from their respective coaching staffs in training camp are San Diego receiver Malcom Floyd, Washington running back Clinton Portis and Kansas City quarterback Matt Cassell. 

Favre to retire -- again (maybe)

The Minneapolis Star-Tribune is reporting that quarterback Brett Favre has informed the Vikings that he plans to retire.

If it is true, that will be a major hit to the team. Tarvaris Jackson and/or Sage Rosenfels will have to step up their games considerably if the team is to even come close to the success it enjoyed last season.

Fantasy-wise, it also has some significant impact on some other players, too. Sidney Rice moves from a No. 1 to a No. 2 receiver as does Percy Harvin. Tight end Visanthe Shiancoe also drops in value.

Adrian Peterson's stock probably stays about the same as does the value of back-up running back Toby Gerhart.