Fantasy Football News 2010/2011

Search

hacheman@therx.com
Staff member
Joined
Jan 2, 2002
Messages
139,160
Tokens
Next Man Up "Next Man Up" is the fundamental belief in NFL circles that no drop-off is expected when a starter goes down. The next player on the depth chart must step in and play well to keep the engine going. This week's Waiver Wired is dedicated to finding the next man up for owners of early-season fantasy stalwarts Mark Clayton (torn patella tendon, out for the year) and Jermichael Finley (meniscus surgery, out 3-6 weeks).

Replacing Mark Clayton

In many leagues the top waiver decision will come down to Kenny Britt vs. Danny Amendola. For standard scoring formats, Britt is the winner by knockout. Amendola, severely lacking in playmaking ability, has one touchdown and a minuscule 8.3 yards per on 76 career receptions. Britt has three touchdowns in the last three weeks alone. Even better, he travels to Jacksonville this week to face a secondary surrendering the most fantasy points to opposing wide receivers.

We can't be certain that Britt will play starter's snaps this week, but it's highly probable. Justin Gage (hamstring) never came close to practicing last week. It's not even clear that the veteran would get his job back if he was healthy. This offense lives and dies by Chris Johnson, and Britt's ability to put stress on the opposing defense down the field finally helped open running lanes in Week 5. He's the only receiver on the roster with the potential to exploit in-the-box safeties leaving the middle of the field open.

If he holds onto the starting job the rest of the way, Britt is a legit WR3 with upside.

Replacing Jermichael Finley

The game plan for Finley owners hinges on league size. Viable TE1 candidates such as Heath Miller, John Carlson, and perhaps Owen Daniels are all owned in roughly half of all CBSSports.com leagues. Marcedes Lewis and Tony Moeaki are owned in closer to 40 percent, and the next man up for Green Bay, Andrew Quarless, is available in all but the deepest Dynasty leagues.

If Miller is available, he's the ideal target for Finley owners. Too many Miller owners grew disenchanted with his unsurprising lack of production under Dennis Dixon and Charlie Batch, leaving him available coming out of his bye week with Ben Roethlisberger set to give the Steelers' aerial attack a booster shot. As Big Ben gets re-adjusted to the speed of NFL defenses, he's likely to lean on Miller as a dumpoff outlet. Miller should pick up in Week 6 where he left off last year as fantasy's No. 9 tight end.

On to the players. Here is how I rank the top players available at each position as we head into Week 6. Full writeups of each player are below.

***

Editor's Note: Join subscriber only chats, get weekly rankings before anyone else, plus exclusive weekly projections, stat tools, dynasty ranks, columns, and much more including the Rotoworld Oracle in our Season Pass.

Wide Receivers
1. Kenny Britt
2. Danny Amendola
3. Golden Tate
4. James Jones
5. Mardy Gilyard
6. Deon Butler
7. Robert Meachem
8. Mike Thomas
9. Davone Bess
10. Nate Washington

Tight Ends
1. Heath Miller
2. John Carlson
3. Tony Moeaki
4. Marcedes Lewis
5. Owen Daniels
6. Andrew Quarless

Quarterbacks
1. Vince Young
2. David Garrard
3. Shaun Hill
4. Josh Freeman
5. Matt Cassel
6. Matt Flynn
7. Max Hall
8. Jason Campbell

Running Backs
1. Donald Brown
2. Deji Karim
3. Tashard Choice
4. Danny Woodhead
5. Earnest Graham
6. Keiland Williams
7. Derrick Ward
8. James Starks

Defense/Special Teams
1. Giants
2. Raiders
3. Dolphins

[SIZE=+1]Wide Receivers[/SIZE]

Kenny Britt, Titans - Britt's Week 5 statline of four receptions for 86 yards and a touchdown is nice, but it doesn't do his performance justice. He also caused 48 yards of pass interference penalties against CB Mike Jenkins on the first drive alone. Britt has now scored in three straight games, with a fourth on a way against the Jags' league-worst secondary. He's still owned in just 35 percent of CBSSports.com leagues, so pick him up and get him into your starting lineup this week.

Recommendation: Should be owned in all leagues

Danny Amendola, Rams - A mainstay in this space the past five weeks, Amendola is now the best bet for immediate production in St. Louis with Mark Clayton done. He was targeted a ridiculous 19 times on his way to 12 catches for 95 yards as the Rams passed heavily in a comeback attempt at Detroit. Amendola will end up leading this team in receptions if he stays healthy, but fantasy owners can't expect that volume to continue. Amendola isn't going to score or break big plays, so there's also a chance that he'll be bypassed by Laurent Robinson, Brandon Gibson, or Mardy Gilyard as a fantasy option.

Recommendation: Should be owned in all leagues

Golden Tate, Seahawks - We've recommended Tate the last couple of weeks, expecting his role to expand. Now that Deion Branch has returned to New England, the rookie's snaps are sure to increase significantly. A highlight reel in recent practices, he's the receiver to own in Seattle.

Recommendation: Should be owned in 12-team leagues

James Jones, Packers - Coach Mike McCarthy was already going heavy on three-wide sets before Jermichael Finley's injury. There's always a concern that Jones will get lost in the shuffle in a given week, but he led the team in targets against the Redskins. His role should continue to grow with Finley out.

Recommendation: Worth a look in 12-team leagues

Mardy Gilyard, Rams - Good luck figuring out Mark Clayton's replacement at flanker. Gilyard's snaps have picked up of late, he was the first candidate mentioned by coach Steve Spagnuolo on Monday, and the St. Louis Post-Dispatch deems him the favorite. Brandon Gibson has played more snaps than Gilyard, but he's expected to remain at split end. Laurent Robinson, the most skilled receiver on the roster, hasn't been the same since last year's foot fracture. He may end up taking Clayton's role late in the season, but he's been a shadow of his former self since training camp began.

Recommendation: Worth a look in 12-team leagues

Deon Butler, Seahawks - Coach Pete Carroll keeps talking up Butler, but the second-year receiver has cleared two receptions in just one start so far. Though Butler makes for a better roster stash than Big Mike Williams, owners shouldn't expect to use him for at least another couple of weeks.

Recommendation: Worth a look in 12-team leagues

Robert Meachem, Saints - We recommended Meachem last week on the off chance that his role would grow as he continued to get acclimated after offseason toe surgery. He responded with four catches for 57 yards and a touchdown. Marques Colston is still the only Saints receiver that can be trusted on a weekly basis, but Meachem's upside is well worth a roster spot as a WR5.

Recommendation: Worth a look in 12-team leagues

Mike Thomas, Jaguars - We can't expect the 53 rushing yards every week, but Thomas continues to settle in between four and six catches and 40-90 receiving yards each game. Pick him up to see if his role grows at the expense of an inconsistent Mike Sims-Walker.

Recommendation: Should be owned in PPR leagues

Davone Bess, Dolphins - Bess' last game was a 9-catch, 93-yard explosion in Week 4, but he's been forgotten in a lot of leagues with Miami idle last week. The 33rd ranked fantasy receiver this year is a must-add in PPR leagues, and he's handy for bye-week coverage in standard scoring formats.

Recommendation: Worth a look in 12-team leagues

Nate Washington, Titans - As mentioned above, no team in the league allows more fantasy points to opposing receivers than the Jaguars. Though Washington is averaging just three receptions per week, he's 26th in fantasy scoring thanks to three touchdowns. If he draws Derek Cox or David Jones in coverage this week, he has a strong chance to pick up a fourth.

Recommendation: Worth a look as a matchup play

Long-Term Fliers: Nate Burleson, Brandon Gibson, Laurent Robinson, Steve Johnson, Deion Branch, Anthony Armstrong, Arrelious Benn

Burleson could be the Lions' top receiver if Calvin Johnson's shoulder injury keeps him out of action, but he's hands-off in this week's matchup against the Giants. ... Robinson has to show he's healthy before deserving a look. ... Johnson has scored in three straight games, and he's been over 30 yards every week. The Bills are on bye in Week 6. ... Let someone else pick up a brittle and broken down Branch. ... Armstrong looks like the new No. 2 in D.C.

Cut Bait: Mario Manningham, Mohamed Massaquoi, Jerricho Cotchery, Devin Hester, Devin Thomas, Legedu Naanee, Harry Douglas, Stephen Williams

Manningham has zero catches on three targets the past two weeks. ... Massaquoi has Colt McCoy at Pittsburgh then a Week 7 bye. ... Cotchery wasn't producing even before Santonio Holmes returned. ... Hester isn't even playing starter's snaps anymore. ... Thomas is worthless with Jimmy Clausen at quarterback.

<!--RW-->

[SIZE=+1]Tight Ends[/SIZE]

Heath Miller, Steelers - It's not just the return of Big Ben that makes Miller an attractive pickup. Over the next five weeks, he faces four of the eleven softest defenses in fantasy points allowed to tight ends. He's a borderline TE1 for this week's game against the Browns.

Recommendation: Should be owned in all leagues

John Carlson, Seahawks - Similar to Miller, Carlson in owned just under 50 percent of CBSSports.com leagues. Also like Miller, he has a chance to take advantage of a soft schedule. Over the next five weeks, Carlson faces three of the softest four defenses against fantasy tight ends (Arizona twice, Oakland once). The next month sets up well for that long-awaited breakout.

Recommendation: Should be owned in 12-team leagues

Tony Moeaki, Chiefs - The Chiefs are now a run-dominated offense heading into a matchup against a Texans defense that squelches the run and lays over for the pass. Given Matt Cassel's trust issues with Dwayne Bowe, the rookie tight end remains his most reliable target. Starting with Houston, Moeaki faces the second, fourteenth, first, and fourth softest defenses against fantasy tight ends over the next four weeks.

Recommendation: Should be owned in 12-team leagues

Marcedes Lewis, Jaguars - Fantasy's No. 4 tight end has now scored a touchdown or reached 70 yards in four of five games. His matchups over the next three weeks aren't quite as enticing of those facing Miller, Carlson, and Moeaki. There also remains the risk of the occasional two-target stinkbomb. David Garrard's favorite red-zone receiver is just a TE2 this week against the Titans.

Recommendation: Should be owned in 12-team leagues

Owen Daniels, Texans - Lost amid the Texans' disjointed offense last week were the first signs of life from Daniels in 2010. He caught three passes for 45 in the first quarter and a half, finishing as the team's second-leading receiver. If Daniels is finally nearing pre-injury form, he has the highest fantasy upside on this list. Keep in mind that he has a Week 7 bye.

Recommendation: Should be owned in 12-team leagues

Andrew Quarless, Packers - With Jermichael Finley (knee scope) and Donald Lee (chest) both out for at least the next two games, the rookie out of Penn State is the next man up. Quarless has plus athleticism and pass-catching skills, falling in the draft only due to character concerns. His four catches for 51 yards in relief of Finley and Lee last week are a fair representation of his value against the Dolphins and Vikes in Weeks 6 and 7.

Recommendation: Worth a look in 12-team leagues

Hold Off: Ben Watson, Ben Patrick

<!--RW-->

[SIZE=+1]Quarterbacks[/SIZE]

Vince Young, Titans - In a sparse week for waiver wire quarterbacks, you can't beat Young's matchup. The Jaguars are surrendering a whopping 25.8 fantasy points per week to opposing quarterbacks, tops in the league. V.Y. is coming off his best fantasy performance of the season, reinvigorated by the presence of playmaker Kenny Britt. Pick him up as a spot starter.

Recommendation: Worth a look as a matchup play

David Garrard, Jaguars - The Bills are so bad they killed the road woes that have plagued Garrard going back to 2008. Thought to be sitting on the hottest seat in the league two weeks ago, Garrard now owns a passer rating over 120 in three of five games. Unfortunately, the other two have been under the Kordoza Line. He's at least back to solid QB2 consideration as fantasy's No. 15 QB.

Recommendation: Worth a look in 12-team leagues

Shaun Hill, Lions - At first glance, Hill merits the top waiver spot as fantasy's No. 5 quarterback over the past three weeks. A closer look reveals a red-light matchup at the Giants this week, a streaking defense allowing just the 30th-most fantasy points to quarterbacks on the season. The Lions head into the bye the following week, with Matthew Stafford (shoulder) due back. You may have missed your window on Hill.

Recommendation: Worth a look in 12-team leagues

Josh Freeman, Buccaneers - Freeman is providing the same production as Donovan McNabb and Matt Ryan this year, topping 20 fantasy points in three of four games. He's worth grabbing as a high-end QB2 option the next two weeks at home against the Saints and Rams before heading to Arizona in Week 8.

Recommendation: Worth a look in 12-team leagues

Matt Cassel, Chiefs - While I still have little faith in Cassel, he deserved a better fate against the Colts after Dwayne Bowe dropped a potential difference-making bomb. More germane to Cassel's fantasy outlook, he faces the dream lineup of the Texans, Jaguars, and Bills the next three weeks. The Texans and Jaguars are second and first respectively in fantasy points allowed to opposing quarterbacks. If you're feeling lucky or even desperate, Cassel is worth a dice roll.

Recommendation: Worth a look as a matchup play

Matt Flynn, Packers - Flynn could draw the start this week against the Dolphins with Aaron Rodgers coming off a concussion. "It's definitely possible," coach Mike McCarthy said, "I know at a minimum [Rodgers will] miss some practice time." Flynn would be a risky option in his first career start, but he's worth a look in two-quarterback leagues.

Recommendation: Worth a look in two-quarterback leagues

Max Hall, Cardinals - Hall is heading into his bye week, but he remains an interesting stash for those owners that have starters on bye later in the season. Steve Breaston (knee) and Early Doucet (groin) are expected to begin practicing next week and should be back to full speed by November. With upgraded weapons, Hall has a shot at reliable QB2 value down the line.

Recommendation: Worth a stash in 12-team leagues

Jason Campbell, Raiders - Campbell led two impressive touchdowns drives in the Raiders' upset over the Chargers, but coach Tom Cable insists that Bruce Gradkowski is still his starter. Gradkowski's shoulder is unlikely to cooperate this week, however, leaving Campbell as a QB2 option against the 49ers, a defense surrendering the 7th-most fantasy points to opposing quarterbacks.

Recommendation: Worth a look as a bye-week fill-in

Long-Term Fliers Matthew Stafford, Charlie Whitehurst, Matt Moore

Cut Bait: Ryan Fitzpatrick, Seneca Wallace, Jake Delhomme, Todd Collins, Jimmy Clausen

Fitzpatrick has a bye in Week 6 then a Week 7 matchup against the league's most stingy secondary in Baltimore. His garbage time stats have little predictive value. ... Colt McCoy is expected to start at Pittsburgh with Wallace and Delhomme both nursing high-ankle sprains. Needless to say, McCoy shouldn't be anywhere near fantasy lineups this week. ... Clausen has been the worst quarterback in the league this year.

<!--RW-->

[SIZE=+1]Running Backs[/SIZE]

Donald Brown, Colts - Sidelined by a hamstring injury the past couple of weeks, Brown is owned in just half of all CBSSports.com leagues. With Joseph Addai (shoulder/neck) in danger of missing this week's game against the Redskins, the starter could come down to Brown or Mike Hart. Brown returned to a light practice Monday, and Hart expects him to be back for Sunday's game. Brown would merit RB2 consideration if Addai sits out before the Colts' Week 7 bye. Keep an eye on Hart in case Brown suffers a setback in practice.

Recommendation: Should be owned in all leagues

Deji Karim, Jaguars - One of my favorite deep Dynasty league sleepers this summer, Karim came off the bench for 70 yards on 15 carries against the Bills. With video game moves and 4.40 speed, Karim offered more burst than banged up starter Maurice Jones-Drew. While he's no threat to Jones-Drew's starting job, Karim is worth a look considering MJD's nagging knee, ankle, and now wrist injuries. The rookie has legitimate talent.

Recommendation: Worth a look in 12-team leagues

Tashard Choice, Cowboys - As expected, a punchless Marion Barber has lost his starting job, giving way to Felix Jones. The new starter has been an injury waiting to happen early in his NFL career, so Choice could be one play from RB2 value. He's more worthy of a roster spot than Barber at this point.

Recommendation: Worth a stash in 12-team leagues

Danny Woodhead, Patriots - Woodhead has seen time in both three-receiver packages and two-tight end sets, earning his way into the Kevin Faulk role. Faulk was often used as a bye-week fill-in for desperate PPR leaguers, and Woodhead has similar potential.

Recommendation: Worth a look in PPR leagues

Earnest Graham, Buccaneers - Graham has to be thinking, "Why not me?". The Bucs keep trotting out a broken down Cadillac Williams and hyping LeGarrette Blount and Kareem Huggins while Graham outplays all of them from the fullback spot. The best pass catcher in the group as well as a potential goal-line solution, Graham is averaging 7.8 yards per touch as the No. 33 fantasy back. For comparison, "Poor Caddying" is averaging just 3.82 yards per touch as the No. 45 fantasy back -- on 60 more touches.

Recommendation: Worth a look in deeper leagues

Keiland Williams, Redskins - The only thing standing between Williams and a heavy workload is Ryan Torain, owner of major injuries to his ACL, PCL, Lisfranc, and elbow over the past few seasons. Williams is worth a stash as a RB4.

Recommendation: Worth a stash in 12-team leagues

Derrick Ward, Texans - Coach Gary Kubiak has noted Ward's improvement since he was cast off by the Bucs in late August. The veteran has emerged as the clear backup to Arian Foster, but he's strictly "handcuff" material.

Recommendation: Worth a look in deeper leagues

James Starks, Packers - Of all the backs on the Packers' roster, Starks has perhaps the best chance of emerging as an early-down bellcow in November and December. It's not especially likely, though, and the best bet is that he works his way into a committee role alongside Brandon Jackson and John Kuhn.

Recommendation: Worth a stash in deeper leagues

Cut Bait" Jerome Harrison, Marion Barber, Chris Ivory, Jason Snelling, Mike Bell, John Kuhn, Mike Goodson, Laurence Maroney, Correll Buckhalter

[SIZE=+1]Defense/Special Teams[/SIZE]

Giants - Due to their slow start in September, the Giants' defense is still only owned in two-thirds of fantasy leagues. They have 13 sacks and five turnovers over the past two weeks, though, re-emerging as one of the league's most dominant front-sevens. The Lions travel to the Big Apple, ripe for the picking after a blowout win over the Rams.

Recommendation: Should be owned in all leagues

Raiders - Fresh off two touchdowns, three fumble recoveries, and three sacks agaisnt the Chargers, the Raiders D/ST heads out to San Francisco to face the NFL's leader in interceptions.

Recommendation: Worth a look as a matchup play

Dolphins - Miami isn't an obvious play this week unless Aaron Rodgers (concussion) is forced to sit out. Keep the Dolphins in mind for later in the week if it looks like Matt Flynn will make his first career start.

Recommendation: Worth a look as a matchup play
 

hacheman@therx.com
Staff member
Joined
Jan 2, 2002
Messages
139,160
Tokens
Injuries In Depth
Jermichael Finley was just scratching the surface of his upside. Prior to tearing his meniscus on Sunday, he was averaging 5.5 catches for 79.7 yards with six touchdowns over his last 10 games. He is only 23 and was being used as a new breed of tight end, essentially a mammoth (6'5/247) wideout.

It's a devastating blow for owners. All hope is not lost, however. Finley came back from a minor knee sprain last year and lit the league up over the final five weeks plus the playoffs. To get an idea if he can do that again, we chatted with Dr. Brian Eckenrode, a board-certified orthopedic clinical specialist and the sports team leader for GSPP Penn Therapy and Fitness at the Penn Sports Medicine Center in Philadelphia.

And Chris Wesseling has you covered for fill-ins while Finley is out.

Editor's Note: For early rankings every Tuesday morning, tons of exclusive columns, subscriber-only chats, full projections updated all week and much more, get our award-winning Season Pass.

<BIG>JERMICHAEL FINLEY</BIG>
Injury: Torn meniscus in right knee. Needs arthroscopic surgery.
Timetable: Out 3-6 weeks

What exactly is the meniscus in your knee? You have two of them in each knee. There is one on the inside and one on the outside. They are c-shaped rings of cartilage that help act as a shock absorber, they help with joint attrition and they add joint stability.

I assume this is more severe than a MCL strain? Certainly because he needs to have surgery. The severity really depends on where the tear is and what they're going to do in there. If he just needs a cleaning, a meniscectomy, yeah he can be back in a couple weeks or so. If he needs a repair, that's a lot longer timeframe. You're on crutches for a longer period of time.

It also depends on where the tear is. Tears on the outer edge of the meniscus are much less severe than one on the inner part.

So what does it tell you that he needs surgery? It means he's out at least a couple of weeks. But if he has the more severe of the surgeries he might be looking at a longer period of time. Ideally for a lifetime on that knee, you want to try to repair it so that he will have full joint stability. It will give him that extra cushion in there versus if they removed 25 percent of the meniscus, then you've got more weight bearing on his bones than you need to.

Will he still have his speed and explosiveness when he returns? The big issue is the how long he won't be putting weight on his leg. That's where you lose your strength, your explosiveness. Certainly they'll have him in the pool, but the concern is that his muscles will be shut down for awhile. If he just has the cleaning, he'll still have that explosiveness and will be fine.


ROTOWORLD OPINION: Keep an eye out to see how long Finley is on crutches. If he isn't off them within 10 days or so, he likely had the full repair of the meniscus. That means he'll be out closer to the six-week timetable. For now, try to find a spot to stash Finley on your bench.

<BIG>MARK CLAYTON</BIG>
Injury: Torn patellar tendon in knee
Timetable: Out for season

What is the patellar tendon? The patellar tendon goes from the bottom of your kneecap to the tibia. It's essentially part of the quadriceps muscle. If you have a rupture, a tear of that, you won't be able to extend your leg. It's a pretty bad injury.

Is it career threatening? It's not necessarily career ending. You've seen guys come back from it. It's not the same as the ACL, but I'd certainly equate it to an ACL where just that time lost and getting back to where you feel you've got the control and the strength in your leg takes significant time. It might be like an ACL where he comes back in a year but isn't quite himself and it almost takes about a year and a half to get his legs under him.

Will he have a loss of speed and/or explosiveness when he returns? I think initially you'll see that. I would have definitely said he won't have his speed, but you saw what Wes Welker was able to come back from in six months. Certainly they are pushing guys more to the limit nowadays and it is possible he can come back next year looking the same. But past experience, this is something that takes a little time.


ROTOWORLD OPINION: Clayton is heading into free agency, so he will have to prove his health before getting a new contract. His prospects for 2011 depend completely on his rehab and where he lands.

Editor's Note: Pick a new fantasy team just for today and win real cash with Snapdraft!

<BIG>CLINTON PORTIS</BIG>
Injury: Grade 3 separation of groin
Timetable: Out at least 4-6 weeks

This sounds really serious. How bad is it? Obviously Grade 3 is bad because muscle strains are graded one through three. Grade 3 means there is a partial or full tear. We don't know exactly where it is. Is it up where it inserts onto the bone? That's a surgical issue if that's the case. If it is in the mid portion they'll just try to let that heal. But regardless, Grade 3 is going to take a long time to recover from.

Also, the groin is something that can be kind of chronic. That's the worst part about it. He's lost that integrity, the support. It's going to take 6-8 weeks just to heal non-surgically.

There has been talk that Portis' career could be over. Is that possible? That's a pretty bad injury to have at this stage in his career, especially if he's lost a step anyhow. If he comes back, I'd guess that he returns in a limited capacity. He needs that lateral cutting and moving.


ROTOWORLD OPINION: Portis should have already been dropped in all redraft formats. It's highly unlikely he'll play again this year. From a Dynasty perspective, he is not likely to be back with Redskins either. This injury is the straw that breaks his back.

The Upenn rehab specialists interviewed in this story have not examined the athletes discussed. Their statements are general guidelines regarding their experience with injured athletes, and should not be taken as medical opinions.

For more information on Brian Eckenrode, PT, DPT, OCS and GSPP Penn Therapy and Fitness, visit phillyrehab.com.

<!--RW-->

<BIG>TUESDAY HEADLINES</BIG>
NEWS OF THE DAY #1
The Saints picked up free agent Julius Jones off the street, but it's unclear if this is a hint on Pierre Thomas' (ankle) status. It could very well be that the Saints have seen enough of Ladell Betts and want to get a different plodding veteran deep in their backfield.

If Chris Ivory could just upgrade his pass protection, he's the clear best choice to back up Thomas. Until that happens, there is no real quality option should Thomas miss more time. Leave Jones on waivers and put Betts there as well.

NEWS OF THE DAY #2
Jay Cutler (concussion) has been cleared to practice and will start barring a setback Sunday. It's big news for the entire passing game, especially Johnny Knox. Just like Mike Wallace, Knox badly needs his strong-armed quarterback in the game. Both are excellent buy lows right now.

NEWS OF THE DAY #3
I'm a Dwayne Bowe guy. I think he's been on at least one of my teams in each of the last three seasons. Every year I'm convinced he is going to break out in a big way. But after watching him drop an easy touchdown pass last week, even I was ready to jump ship. Perhaps he'll just never "get it" despite his talent.

Surprisingly, coach Todd Haley was not ready to jump ship as he backed Bowe in a big way following the game. It's surprising because Haley isn't afraid to bench his talented players or rip them in the media. But Haley said Bowe's "arrow is going up."

"Dwayne Bowe did so many good things in that game, so many good things," Haley said. "He played smart, he understood the game plan and what he was supposed to do, and he did it at a high level in the run game and the pass game."

At least owners know Bowe isn't going to lose snaps. Leave him on your bench while the Chiefs figure out their passing game and Matt Cassel gains confidence. Bowe could still end up paying dividends.

INJURY QUICK SLANTS
The secretive Lions are hopeful that Calvin Johnson (shoulder) can practice this week. It does not sound like they plan on resting him through the bye. ... Dez Bryant (ankle) should be okay for practice Wednesday. ... Fred Taylor (toe) did not practice Tuesday. ... Sidney Rice (hip) was finally spotted walking without his crutches. ... Anthony Gonzalez (ankle) returned to practice Monday. His role is as a backup for now even if healthy. ... Donald Brown (hamstring) is tentatively expected to return this week. Joseph Addai's (neck/shoulder) status remains unclear. ... Peyton Hillis (thigh) expects to be ready for Week 6.

DEPTH CHART QUICK SLANTS
Marion Barber may maintain his nominal starting gig, but this is the Felix Jones show now. Barber is just a handcuff. ... Garrett Hartley is expected to be the Saints kicker this week after John Carney was released. ... Marshawn Lynch is expected to have a major role with the Seahawks right out of the gate. ... The Rams are reportedly not interested in Vincent Jackson. ... Colt McCoy is expected to start against the Steelers this week. It's a nightmare spot. ... Rookie Mardy Gilyard may be first up to replace Mark Clayton, but Danny Amendola is the better fantasy option. ... Devin Hester is barely playing on offense. Drop him in non-return yardage leagues. ... Packers coaches met Monday specifically to come up with ways to get Greg Jennings more involved. He remains a solid buy low.
 

hacheman@therx.com
Staff member
Joined
Jan 2, 2002
Messages
139,160
Tokens
Panic in Packerland The Packers are in trouble. Aaron Rodgers has a concussion and will probably miss next week's game, if not more. Jermichael Finley is out at least three weeks with a knee injury. Ryan Grant has been gone for a month. Even the backups are getting hurt: Donald Lee replaced Finley and caught a touchdown pass, then walked to the locker room with a shoulder injury. At the rate things are going, the Packers are going to have to call Lynn Dickey and Harlan Huckleby out of retirement to field a team.

The Packers' woes may have an impact on your fantasy team. You may need to replace Rodgers or Finley for a while. You may also be concerned about the remaining starters: is Donald Driver going to get enough balls with Matt Flynn at quarterback? Here's a position-by-position look at what's going on in Green Bay, with advice about how to get through the next few weeks without a Packer-related crisis.

QUARTERBACK
Matt Flynn is an unknown commodity, and he must be considered a last-stitch emergency fantasy starter at best. Given a healthy roster of weapons and a soft schedule, he'd make an appealing one-or-two week backup, but the Dolphins (Green Bay's next opponent) allow just 193 passing yards per game and have given up just five touchdowns in four games. If Rodgers misses multiple games, Flynn will face the Vikings and Jets: two tough opponents for an inexperienced passer.

The best option to get you through the Rodgers interim is Matt Cassel, who faces the Texans and Jaguars in the next two weeks. If you didn't scoop up Cassel like I told you to last week, and you don't have a good Rodgers alternative on the bench, you may have to bite the bullet. The two best quarterback options sitting on waivers are probably Ryan Fitzpatrick and Josh Freeman. Fitzpatrick is a great stat gobbler, but he is on bye. Freeman provides rushing yards (113 this season) and is growing up quickly, but he faces the Saints defense this week.

RUNNING BACK
Brandon Jackson gained 115 yards and a touchdown this week, but that doesn't mean he has turned the corner as a fantasy featured back. Take away his 71-yard run, and his numbers dip to 9 carries for 44 yards, right in line with his performance in Week 4 (9 carries, 33 yards) and better than his effort in Week 3 (7 carries, 12 yards). Jackson got one carry at the one-yard line against the Redskins and lost four yards. When the Packers had another goal-line opportunity, Fantasy Headache No. 1 John Kuhn got the call but failed to score.

Rodgers' absence may make the Packers more run oriented, and Jackson's 71-yard run, plus a few catches and receiving yards, were at least flickers of fantasy life. If you pounced on Jackson when Grant got hurt and need him to get through a bye week, so be it. Once Rodgers returns, Jackson appears slotted for a 10-carry role. Kuhn has shown no real skill as a goal-line back, so don't waste a waiver claim in the hope of cheap touchdowns.

Editor's Note: For early rankings every Tuesday morning, tons of exclusive columns, subscriber-only chats, full projections updated all week and much more, get our award-winning Season Pass.<!--RW-->

WIDE RECEIVER
No Packers wide receiver has produced a 100-yard game this season, so you may be tempted to bench Donald Driver or Greg Jennings until Rodgers returns and the dust settles. If you have depth, make the move. If you are thinking of promoting Danny Amendola or someone like him, don't be so hasty.

The Packers are one of the most pass-oriented teams at the goal line in the NFL. Rodgers threw 15 passes inside the 10-yard line in the first five games, completing short touchdowns to Donald Driver (2), James Jones and Lee, while completing a few more passes that were a broken tackle away from becoming touchdowns. Flynn may not throw at the goal line as often as Rodgers did, but the Packers are still likely to spread the field instead of handing off in short-yardage situations.

Also, keep in mind that Finley averaged 6.5 targets per game. Eight if those targets were deep passes, according to Football Outsiders. Those deep balls are more likely to go to Jennings or Driver than, say, Andrew Quarless, who gets the start if Finley and Lee are both hurt. Speaking of which ...

TIGHT END
Finley was the first tight end taken in many leagues, and most fantasy owners who grab a stud tight end don't invest heavily in his backup. So you could be in real trouble if you are the guy who took Finley. I'm here to help.

Quarless is a rookie from Penn State who has been targeted twice this season: once for an incomplete goal line pass against the Bears, once on the incomplete 4th-and-1 pass from the one-yard line against the Redskins. You know the drill: he was the "backup tight end surprise."

Quarless was slipping past Lee on the depth chart before the injury rash, and he has the size and speed to play a Finley-like offensive role. But he's inexperienced and had a reputation as a troublemaker in college, with DUI and marijuana suspensions. He's a fantasy long shot. Look elsewhere for tight end help. Like Detroit.

Brandon Petitgrew and Tony Scheffler have combined for 71 targets this season, and chances are that one of them is available on waivers. Petitigrew was targeted three times in the red zone last week. Scheffler has five red zone targets on the year. Ben Watson has been targeted 35 times in Cleveland, though the quarterback situation there is scary: Colt McCoy makes Matt Flynn look like John Elway. I laughed off Tony Moeaki a few weeks ago, but he's catching four or five passes per week, has two touchdowns, and the Chiefs use multi-tight end sets on nearly every down. None of these guys can replace Finley, but they can ease the pain.

KICKER
Mason Crosby has scored 35 points, but he's a streak-shooter who missed two important field goals last week, and he may get fewer opportunities if the Packers offense slacks. If Jason Hanson (40 points) is still sitting on the wire, give him a look. Matt Bryant (47 points) is another busy kicker your opponents may have slept on. Nick Folk (49 points) may have slipped through the draft, but he'll be the kicker on everyone's mind (if there's such a thing as a kicker on everyone's mind) after Monday night.

DEFENSE
Clay Matthews' hamstring injury isn't serious, so don't worry: the Packers defense is still one of the two or three best in the league. In the wacky world of Packers football, there's at least one thing you can count on
 

hacheman@therx.com
Staff member
Joined
Jan 2, 2002
Messages
139,160
Tokens
V-Jax joins Halloween parade

Baseball may have Game 4 of the World Series on October 31, but football boasts more freaks in the Halloween parade this year. The Patriots hope Randy Moss doesn't come dressed as the 2007 version when he returns to Foxsboro for a Halloween grudge match. The Saints could be welcoming Reggie Bush (fractured fibula) back to the Superdome against the Steelers for a big-stage showdown on NBC's Sunday Night Football later that night. Now comes word from ESPN's Chris Mortensen, confirming an earlier Jason LaCanfora report, that Vincent Jackson will report to the Chargers by October 31.

Though Jackson will return by the end of the month, he won't be eligible to play for the Chargers until November 28 (Week 12) due to his standing on the "Roster Exempt" list. There's a strong chance that V-Jax, training hard the past couple of months in hopes of a trade, will be re-inserted into the starting lineup opposite Malcom Floyd just as fantasy league playoffs commence. Jackson should be grabbed immediately as a potential late-season WR2/3 if he remains available on waiver wires. While V-Jax's return could put a serious drag on Floyd's value, it means yet another weapon in the impressive arsenal of fantasy's No. 1 quarterback Philip Rivers.

Those planning ahead should note that the Chargers kick off Jackson's reunion tour at Indy (9th in fantasy points allowed to receivers), home against the Raiders (21st), Chiefs (19th), and 49ers (17th), and then on the road at Cincinnati in Week 16 (23rd). While it's not an ideal playoff schedule, there are no prohibitive matchups on the docket in December.

Packers Injury Ward
Mike Tanier has a handy position-by-position breakdown of the Packers' offense in the wake of their latest string of injuries. It's worth noting Wednesday's updates on Jermichael Finley and Aaron Rodgers, however.

After initial estimates that FInley would miss 3-6 weeks, various reports leaked out Wednesday that he would be sidelined anywhere from 6-10 weeks with a full meniscus repair as opposed to a simple scope. Finley reportedly informed teammates he was done for the season, but a later "tweet" suggests the Packers will keep him on the 53-man roster in hopes of a postseason return. Though he's obviously worth hanging onto in Dynasty formats, owners in 12-team leagues should feel free to cut Finley loose. Athletic rookie Andrew Quarless will become the Packers' starter as a fantasy TE2.

Though Matt Flynn took all of the first-team snaps in Wednesday's practice, the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel is only giving him a "slight chance" of starting against Miami. Aaron Rodgers will undergo concussion testing early Thursday, and the Packers are optimistic that he will play this week. Fantasy owners can lightly pencil him into starting lineups.

Clay Matthews (hamstring) has not yet been ruled out, but the Packers are said to be far less optimistic about his chances of playing. The latest prediction is that the NFL's sack leader will miss 1-2 weeks.

Trade Talk
The Browns and Eagles swapped disappointing running backs on Wednesday, with Jerome Harrison heading to Philly in exchange for Mike Bell. Though Harrison's late-season 2009 surge went a long way toward saving Eric Mangini's job, the Browns' coaching staff and front office never envisioned him as a true feature back.

Now that the team has changed it's offensive philosophy to fit Peyton Hillis' smash-mouth style, Bell makes sense as a physical backup with a run-to-contact style. Harrison is more similar to Eagles starter LeSean McCoy as a versatile back with pass-catching skills. Neither player will have fantasy value unless the starter goes down, so leave them both on the waiver wire for now.

Raiders Backfield
Darren McFadden (hamstring) surprisingly returned to a limited practice on Wednesday. Fantasy owners shouldn't go penciling him back into starting lineups just yet, however. Coach Tom Cable indicated that McFadden is headed for a backup role at San Francisco since he's clearly not 100 percent. Michael Bush, who touched the ball 29 times in an upset win over San Diego, will handle feature back duties for at least one more week.

McFadden was on pace for 2,216 total yards before the injury, and his game tape was as impressive as the numbers. It's hard to picture the Raiders' best offensive player losing the feature back role once he returns to pre-injury form.

Saints Backfield
Coach Sean Payton revealed that Pierre Thomas is still battling "soreness and swelling" in his injured ankle. Payton also conceded that the Julius Jones signing was merely an insurance move to provide depth in case Thomas can't go this week. Thomas failed to practice on Wednesday, and the early signs suggest he will be held out of a third straight game. Thomas owners should brace for one more week of a Ladell Betts / Chris Ivory fantasy draining split against a Bucs defense ranked 30th against the run.

Colts Backfield
Don't count on using Donald Brown or Mike Hart as a bye-week fill-in. Joseph Addai (shoulder) put in a limited practice Wednesday while Brown (hamstring) was held out altogether. Phillip B. Wilson of the Indianapolis Star predicts that Brown will end up being rested again on Sunday in advance of the Colts' Week 7 bye. Addai may end up splitting snaps with Hart against the Redskins.

Editor's Note: Check out our Season Pass package, featuring IDP rankings, Top 200 rankings, Evan Silva's running back report, Ryan Boyer's Wide Receiver Report, Chris Wesseling's Dynasty advice, advance workload and target data, exclusive chats, and schedule analysis you can only get with Season Pass.

Around the League: Colts McCoy is expected to start for the Browns this week with Seneca Wallace and Jake Delhomme both nursing multi-week ankle injuries. ... Coach John Harbaugh suggested that Ray Rice will see more goal-line work going forward after his success at the stripe in Week 5. ... Though Deon Butler was named the starting flanker following the trade of Deion Branch, the Seahawks plan to use a heavy rotation at wide receiver. ... Michael Jenkins (shoulder) is finally listed as the starter opposite Roddy White on the Falcons' latest depth chart. ... Falcons coach Mike Smith has formally named William Moore the team's starting strong safety, ahead of Erik Coleman. ... Jaguars RCB Derek Cox has regained his starting job over the slightly more burnable David Jones. ... Shawne Merriman's Chargers career is over after he was placed on injured reserve with a minor injury designation. Once he's 100 percent, he'll be let go with an injury settlement.

Injury Report: Though Michael Vick (ribs) has resumed throwing, he failed to practice on Wednesday. ... Brett Favre (elbow, ankle) performed hand-off drills Wednesday, but was held out of the team portion of practice. ... Bruce Gradkowski (shoulder) was a no-go in Wednesday's practice. ... Peyton Hillis (thigh) missed practice, but is fully expected to play this week as the Browns' offensive focal point in a brutal matchup at Pittsburgh. ... Ray Rice (knee), Jahvid Best (turf toe), Ryan Mathews (ankle), and LeSean McCoy (rib) were given practice off Wednesday, but they're not believed to be in any danger of missing game action. ... Arian Foster (knee) practiced without limitations Wednesday. ... Broncos Knowshon Moreno (hamstring) and Demaryius Thomas (neck) were both held out of practice. ... Calvin Johnson (shoulder) struggled in practice Wednesday and remains very much in question for Sunday. ... Andre Johnson (ankle) is no longer in danger of missing game action. ... Pierre Garcon (hamstring) and Austin Collie (foot) were both held out of Colts practice. ... Jacoby Jones (calf) and Dez Bryant (ribs, ankle) missed practice Wednesday. ... For the first time all season, Owen Daniels (knee) is not on the Texans' injury list. ... With coach Rex Ryan now calling the shots on Darrelle Revis' health status, the shutdown corner is expected to be held out against the Broncos this week. ... The Packers don't expect Clay Matthews (hamstring) to make it back by Sunday.
 

hacheman@therx.com
Staff member
Joined
Jan 2, 2002
Messages
139,160
Tokens
Week 6 Rankings
I often caution readers not to overthink fantasy football. There are only so many things we truly know, yet owners often make decisions based on complicated factors we can't truly understand.

You don't need to overthink Browns quarterback Colt McCoy's impact on Peyton Hillis this week. The rookie is going to ruin the former Razorback.

Hillis has been a revelation this season. I highly recommend sitting down and watching a Browns game this year if you get Shortcuts on DirecTV or NFL Rewind. Heck, you can even watch the Browns live. Hillis runs like a young Brandon Jacobs. Perhaps Jamal Lewis. I'm talking about the Jacobs that got us all excited a few years ago, not the moody toe tapper the Giants are saddled with now.

Like Jacobs, Hillis has excellent feet for a big man. He can nimbly get through a hole or jump over a defender better than you'd imagine. He runs with no regard for his body, looking to take defenders out. (His car crash hit on Roy Williams was one of the most fun plays of the year.)

Hillis is a factor as a receiver more than Jacobs ever was, which is why he can be a borderline RB1 this year as long as he's healthy. That brings up one last similarity between the two backs: Hillis provides a big target for defenders. He can run upright and he has an injury history. He delivers big hits, but he'll take some too.

That's why newly acquired Brown Mike Bell may wind up with some carries before long. I'd rather take a flier on James Davis in deep leagues. But that's all speculation for future weeks.

This week, the Browns have an overmatched rookie at quarterback. Really, they should make like the '06 Panthers and rock the Wildcat as their base offense for a game. Instead, they'll try to run the ball with little success against the Steelers front.

The Browns have kept games close all season, but it's hard to imagine them hanging with Pittsburgh. That's why I don't expect a particularly huge game from Ben Roethlisberger in his first game back. Big Ben should play well, he just won't have to throw the ball much to win.

On to the rankings:

[SIZE=+1]Week 6 Quarterbacks[/SIZE]

<TABLE width="100%"><TBODY><TR class=TableTopRed><TD>Rank</TD><TD>Player Name</TD><TD>Opponent</TD><TD>Notes</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>1</TD><TD>Philip Rivers</TD><TD>at STL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>2</TD><TD>Peyton Manning</TD><TD>at WAS</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>3</TD><TD>Drew Brees</TD><TD>at TB</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>4</TD><TD>Aaron Rodgers</TD><TD>vs. MIA</TD><TD>Questionable(concussion)</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>5</TD><TD>Eli Manning</TD><TD>vs. DET</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>6</TD><TD>Tom Brady</TD><TD>vs. BAL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>7</TD><TD>Kyle Orton</TD><TD>vs. NYJ</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>8</TD><TD>Tony Romo</TD><TD>at MIN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>9</TD><TD>Jay Cutler</TD><TD>vs. SEA</TD><TD>Probable(concussion)</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>10</TD><TD>Joe Flacco</TD><TD>at NE</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>11</TD><TD>Vince Young</TD><TD>at JAC</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>12</TD><TD>Matt Schaub</TD><TD>vs. KC</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>13</TD><TD>Donovan McNabb</TD><TD>vs. IND</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>14</TD><TD>Ben Roethlisberger</TD><TD>vs. CLE</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>15</TD><TD>Brett Favre</TD><TD>vs. DAL</TD><TD>Probable(elbow)</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>16</TD><TD>Matt Ryan</TD><TD>at PHI</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>17</TD><TD>David Garrard</TD><TD>vs. TEN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>18</TD><TD>Matt Cassel</TD><TD>at HOU</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>19</TD><TD>Kevin Kolb</TD><TD>vs. ATL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>20</TD><TD>Mark Sanchez</TD><TD>at DEN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>21</TD><TD>Shaun Hill</TD><TD>at NYG</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>22</TD><TD>Josh Freeman</TD><TD>vs. NO</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>23</TD><TD>Sam Bradford</TD><TD>vs. SD</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>24</TD><TD>Chad Henne</TD><TD>at GB</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>25</TD><TD>Alex Smith</TD><TD>vs. OAK</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>26</TD><TD>Jason Campbell</TD><TD>at SF</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>27</TD><TD>Matt Hasselbeck</TD><TD>at CHI</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>28</TD><TD>Matt Flynn</TD><TD>vs. MIA</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>29</TD><TD>Colt McCoy</TD><TD>at PIT</TD><TD>- </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
Editor's Note: For exclusive projections of all ranked players and tons of extra stats tools and columns, check out Season Pass.
<!--RW-->[SIZE=+1]Week 6 Running backs[/SIZE]

<TABLE width="100%"><TBODY><TR class=TableTopRed><TD>Rank</TD><TD>Player Name</TD><TD>Opponent</TD><TD>Notes</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>1</TD><TD>Frank Gore</TD><TD>vs. OAK</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>2</TD><TD>Chris Johnson</TD><TD>at JAC</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>3</TD><TD>Adrian Peterson</TD><TD>vs. DAL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>4</TD><TD>Michael Turner</TD><TD>at PHI</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>5</TD><TD>Ray Rice</TD><TD>at NE</TD><TD>Probable(knee)</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>6</TD><TD>Arian Foster</TD><TD>vs. KC</TD><TD>Probable(knee)</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>7</TD><TD>Maurice Jones-Drew</TD><TD>vs. TEN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>8</TD><TD>Rashard Mendenhall</TD><TD>vs. CLE</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>9</TD><TD>Steven Jackson</TD><TD>vs. SD</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>10</TD><TD>Ahmad Bradshaw</TD><TD>vs. DET</TD><TD>Probable(ankle)</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>11</TD><TD>Jamaal Charles</TD><TD>at HOU</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>12</TD><TD>LeSean McCoy</TD><TD>vs. ATL</TD><TD>Probable(ribs)</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>13</TD><TD>Matt Forte</TD><TD>vs. SEA</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>14</TD><TD>LaDainian Tomlinson</TD><TD>at DEN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>15</TD><TD>Jahvid Best</TD><TD>at NYG</TD><TD>Questionable(toe)</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>16</TD><TD>Ryan Torain</TD><TD>vs. IND</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>17</TD><TD>Michael Bush</TD><TD>at SF</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>18</TD><TD>Felix Jones</TD><TD>at MIN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>19</TD><TD>Pierre Thomas</TD><TD>at TB</TD><TD>Questionable(ankle)</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>20</TD><TD>Ryan Mathews</TD><TD>at STL</TD><TD>Probable(ankle)</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>21</TD><TD>Joseph Addai</TD><TD>at WAS</TD><TD>Questionable(shoulder)</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>22</TD><TD>Ronnie Brown</TD><TD>at GB</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>23</TD><TD>Shonn Greene</TD><TD>at DEN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>24</TD><TD>Darren McFadden</TD><TD>at SF</TD><TD>Questionable(hamstring)</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>25</TD><TD>Brandon Jackson</TD><TD>vs. MIA</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>26</TD><TD>Marshawn Lynch</TD><TD>at CHI</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>27</TD><TD>Peyton Hillis</TD><TD>at PIT</TD><TD>Questionable(thigh)</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>28</TD><TD>Ricky Williams</TD><TD>at GB</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>29</TD><TD>Thomas Jones</TD><TD>at HOU</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>30</TD><TD>BenJarvus Green-Ellis</TD><TD>vs. BAL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>31</TD><TD>Mike Tolbert</TD><TD>at STL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>32</TD><TD>Brandon Jacobs</TD><TD>vs. DET</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>33</TD><TD>Knowshon Moreno</TD><TD>vs. NYJ</TD><TD>Questionable(hamstring)</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>34</TD><TD>Cadillac Williams</TD><TD>vs. NO</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>35</TD><TD>Willis McGahee</TD><TD>at NE</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>36</TD><TD>Donald Brown</TD><TD>at WAS</TD><TD>Questionable(hamstring)</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>37</TD><TD>Marion Barber</TD><TD>at MIN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>38</TD><TD>Deji Karim</TD><TD>vs. TEN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>39</TD><TD>Ladell Betts</TD><TD>at TB</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>40</TD><TD>Darren Sproles</TD><TD>at STL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>41</TD><TD>Justin Forsett</TD><TD>at CHI</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>42</TD><TD>John Kuhn</TD><TD>vs. MIA</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>43</TD><TD>Chris Ivory</TD><TD>at TB</TD><TD>Probable(-)</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>44</TD><TD>Jason Snelling</TD><TD>at PHI</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>45</TD><TD>Danny Woodhead</TD><TD>vs. BAL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>46</TD><TD>Chester Taylor</TD><TD>vs. SEA</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>47</TD><TD>LeGarrette Blount</TD><TD>vs. NO</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>48</TD><TD>Fred Taylor</TD><TD>vs. BAL</TD><TD>Questionable(toe)</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>49</TD><TD>Mike Hart</TD><TD>at WAS</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>50</TD><TD>Tashard Choice</TD><TD>at MIN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>51</TD><TD>Earnest Graham</TD><TD>vs. NO</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>52</TD><TD>Jerome Harrison</TD><TD>vs. ATL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>53</TD><TD>Correll Buckhalter</TD><TD>vs. NYJ</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>54</TD><TD>Javon Ringer</TD><TD>at JAC</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>55</TD><TD>Mike Bell</TD><TD>at PIT</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>56</TD><TD>Leon Washington</TD><TD>at CHI</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>57</TD><TD>Kevin Smith</TD><TD>at NYG</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>58</TD><TD>Steve Slaton</TD><TD>vs. KC</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>59</TD><TD>Kareem Huggins</TD><TD>vs. NO</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>60</TD><TD>Laurence Maroney</TD><TD>vs. NYJ</TD><TD>- </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
[SIZE=+1]Week 6 Wide Receivers[/SIZE]

<TABLE width="100%"><TBODY><TR class=TableTopRed><TD>Rank</TD><TD>Player Name</TD><TD>Opponent</TD><TD>Notes</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>1</TD><TD>Reggie Wayne</TD><TD>at WAS</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>2</TD><TD>Miles Austin</TD><TD>at MIN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>3</TD><TD>Hakeem Nicks</TD><TD>vs. DET</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>4</TD><TD>Roddy White</TD><TD>at PHI</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>5</TD><TD>Andre Johnson</TD><TD>vs. KC</TD><TD>Probable(ankle)</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>6</TD><TD>Anquan Boldin</TD><TD>at NE</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>7</TD><TD>Brandon Marshall</TD><TD>at GB</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>8</TD><TD>Brandon Lloyd</TD><TD>vs. NYJ</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>9</TD><TD>Randy Moss</TD><TD>vs. DAL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>10</TD><TD>Marques Colston</TD><TD>at TB</TD><TD></TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>11</TD><TD>Santana Moss</TD><TD>vs. IND</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>12</TD><TD>DeSean Jackson</TD><TD>vs. ATL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>13</TD><TD>Steve Smith</TD><TD>vs. DET</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>14</TD><TD>Percy Harvin</TD><TD>vs. DAL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>15</TD><TD>Calvin Johnson</TD><TD>at NYG</TD><TD>Questionable(shoulder)</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>16</TD><TD>Pierre Garcon</TD><TD>at WAS</TD><TD></TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>17</TD><TD>Austin Collie</TD><TD>at WAS</TD><TD></TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>18</TD><TD>Wes Welker</TD><TD>vs. BAL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>19</TD><TD>Greg Jennings</TD><TD>vs. MIA</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>20</TD><TD>Malcom Floyd</TD><TD>at STL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>21</TD><TD>Kenny Britt</TD><TD>at JAC</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>22</TD><TD>Michael Crabtree</TD><TD>vs. OAK</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>23</TD><TD>Jeremy Maclin</TD><TD>vs. ATL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>24</TD><TD>Mike Williams</TD><TD>vs. NO</TD><TD>Probable(foot)</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>25</TD><TD>Mike Wallace</TD><TD>vs. CLE</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>26</TD><TD>Hines Ward</TD><TD>vs. CLE</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>27</TD><TD>Donald Driver</TD><TD>vs. MIA</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>28</TD><TD>Santonio Holmes</TD><TD>at DEN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>29</TD><TD>Danny Amendola</TD><TD>vs. SD</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>30</TD><TD>Kevin Walter</TD><TD>vs. KC</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>31</TD><TD>Braylon Edwards</TD><TD>at DEN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>32</TD><TD>Mike Sims-Walker</TD><TD>vs. TEN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>33</TD><TD>Johnny Knox</TD><TD>vs. SEA</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>34</TD><TD>Dwayne Bowe</TD><TD>at HOU</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>35</TD><TD>Roy Williams</TD><TD>at MIN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>36</TD><TD>Louis Murphy</TD><TD>at SF</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>37</TD><TD>Eddie Royal</TD><TD>vs. NYJ</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>38</TD><TD>Dez Bryant</TD><TD>at MIN</TD><TD>Questionable(ankle)</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>39</TD><TD>Davone Bess</TD><TD>at GB</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>40</TD><TD>Lance Moore</TD><TD>at TB</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>41</TD><TD>Jacoby Jones</TD><TD>vs. KC</TD><TD>Questionable(calf)</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>42</TD><TD>Jabar Gaffney</TD><TD>vs. NYJ</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>43</TD><TD>Mike Thomas</TD><TD>vs. TEN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>44</TD><TD>Brandon Tate</TD><TD>vs. BAL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>45</TD><TD>Derrick Mason</TD><TD>at NE</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>46</TD><TD>Robert Meachem</TD><TD>at TB</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>47</TD><TD>Nate Washington</TD><TD>at JAC</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>48</TD><TD>Deon Butler</TD><TD>at CHI</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>49</TD><TD>James Jones</TD><TD>vs. MIA</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>50</TD><TD>Mario Manningham</TD><TD>vs. DET</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>51</TD><TD>Devery Henderson</TD><TD>at TB</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>52</TD><TD>Devin Hester</TD><TD>vs. SEA</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>53</TD><TD>Brandon Gibson</TD><TD>vs. SD</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>54</TD><TD>Dexter McCluster</TD><TD>at HOU</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>55</TD><TD>Mike Williams</TD><TD>at CHI</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>56</TD><TD>Jerricho Cotchery</TD><TD>at DEN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>57</TD><TD>Josh Morgan</TD><TD>vs. OAK</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>58</TD><TD>Anthony Armstrong</TD><TD>vs. IND</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>59</TD><TD>Golden Tate</TD><TD>at CHI</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>60</TD><TD>Julian Edelman</TD><TD>vs. BAL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>61</TD><TD>Chris Chambers</TD><TD>at HOU</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>62</TD><TD>Deion Branch</TD><TD>vs. BAL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><!--RW-->[SIZE=+1]Week 6 Tight Ends[/SIZE]

<TABLE width="100%"><TBODY><TR class=TableTopRed><TD>Rank</TD><TD>Player Name</TD><TD>Opponent</TD><TD>Notes</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>1</TD><TD>Antonio Gates</TD><TD>at STL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>2</TD><TD>Dallas Clark</TD><TD>at WAS</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>3</TD><TD>Vernon Davis</TD><TD>vs. OAK</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>4</TD><TD>Dustin Keller</TD><TD>at DEN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>5</TD><TD>Zach Miller</TD><TD>at SF</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>6</TD><TD>Jason Witten</TD><TD>at MIN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>7</TD><TD>Kellen Winslow</TD><TD>vs. NO</TD><TD>Probable(knee)</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>8</TD><TD>Chris Cooley</TD><TD>vs. IND</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>9</TD><TD>Aaron Hernandez</TD><TD>vs. BAL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>10</TD><TD>Tony Gonzalez</TD><TD>at PHI</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>11</TD><TD>Brent Celek</TD><TD>vs. ATL</TD><TD>Probable(wrist)</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>12</TD><TD>Visanthe Shiancoe</TD><TD>vs. DAL</TD><TD>Probable(hamstring)</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>13</TD><TD>Heath Miller</TD><TD>vs. CLE</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>14</TD><TD>Marcedes Lewis</TD><TD>vs. TEN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>15</TD><TD>Tony Moeaki</TD><TD>at HOU</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>16</TD><TD>John Carlson</TD><TD>at CHI</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>17</TD><TD>Brandon Pettigrew</TD><TD>at NYG</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>18</TD><TD>Tony Scheffler</TD><TD>at NYG</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>19</TD><TD>Jeremy Shockey</TD><TD>at TB</TD><TD>Probable(knee)</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>20</TD><TD>Owen Daniels</TD><TD>vs. KC</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>21</TD><TD>Todd Heap</TD><TD>at NE</TD><TD>Probable(shoulder)</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>22</TD><TD>Greg Olsen</TD><TD>vs. SEA</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>23</TD><TD>Andrew Quarless</TD><TD>vs. MIA</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>24</TD><TD>Anthony Fasano</TD><TD>at GB</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>25</TD><TD>Kevin Boss</TD><TD>vs. DET</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>26</TD><TD>Ben Watson</TD><TD>at PIT</TD><TD>- </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
[SIZE=+1]Week 6 Team Defense[/SIZE]

<TABLE width="100%"><TBODY><TR class=TableTopRed><TD>Rank</TD><TD>Player Name</TD><TD>Opponent</TD><TD>Notes</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>1</TD><TD>Steelers Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>vs. CLE</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>2</TD><TD>Giants Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>vs. DET</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>3</TD><TD>Bears Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>vs. SEA</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>4</TD><TD>Jets Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>at DEN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>5</TD><TD>Chargers Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>at STL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>6</TD><TD>Titans Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>at JAC</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>7</TD><TD>Cowboys Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>at MIN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>8</TD><TD>Vikings Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>vs. DAL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>9</TD><TD>Saints Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>at TB</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>10</TD><TD>Eagles Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>vs. ATL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>11</TD><TD>Fortyniners Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>vs. OAK</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>12</TD><TD>Packers Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>vs. MIA</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>13</TD><TD>Raiders Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>at SF</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>14</TD><TD>Patriots Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>vs. BAL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>15</TD><TD>Ravens Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>at NE</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>16</TD><TD>Chiefs Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>at HOU</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>17</TD><TD>Dolphins Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>at GB</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>18</TD><TD>Seahawks Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>at CHI</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>19</TD><TD>Texans Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>vs. KC</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>20</TD><TD>Falcons Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>at PHI</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>21</TD><TD>Colts Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>at WAS</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>22</TD><TD>Jaguars Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>vs. TEN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>23</TD><TD>Lions Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>at NYG</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>24</TD><TD>Broncos Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>vs. NYJ</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>25</TD><TD>Rams Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>vs. SD</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>26</TD><TD>Redskins Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>vs. IND</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>27</TD><TD>Buccaneers Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>vs. NO</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>28</TD><TD>Browns Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>at PIT</TD><TD>- </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
[SIZE=+1]Week 6 Kickers[/SIZE]

<TABLE width="100%"><TBODY><TR class=TableTopRed><TD>Rank</TD><TD>Player Name</TD><TD>Opponent</TD><TD>Notes</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>1</TD><TD>Nate Kaeding</TD><TD>at STL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>2</TD><TD>Rob Bironas</TD><TD>at JAC</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>3</TD><TD>Neil Rackers</TD><TD>vs. KC</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>4</TD><TD>Sebastian Janikowski</TD><TD>at SF</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>5</TD><TD>Ryan Longwell</TD><TD>vs. DAL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>6</TD><TD>Robbie Gould</TD><TD>vs. SEA</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>7</TD><TD>Josh Scobee</TD><TD>vs. TEN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>8</TD><TD>Adam Vinatieri</TD><TD>at WAS</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>9</TD><TD>Matt Bryant</TD><TD>at PHI</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>10</TD><TD>Jeff Reed</TD><TD>vs. CLE</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>11</TD><TD>Garrett Hartley</TD><TD>at TB</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>12</TD><TD>David Akers</TD><TD>vs. ATL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>13</TD><TD>Nick Folk</TD><TD>at DEN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>14</TD><TD>Mason Crosby</TD><TD>vs. MIA</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>15</TD><TD>Matt Prater</TD><TD>vs. NYJ</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>16</TD><TD>Stephen Gostkowski</TD><TD>vs. BAL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>17</TD><TD>Graham Gano</TD><TD>vs. IND</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>18</TD><TD>Josh Brown</TD><TD>vs. SD</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>19</TD><TD>Ryan Succop</TD><TD>at HOU</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>20</TD><TD>Dan Carpenter</TD><TD>at GB</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>21</TD><TD>David Buehler</TD><TD>at MIN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>22</TD><TD>Lawrence Tynes</TD><TD>vs. DET</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>23</TD><TD>Billy Cundiff</TD><TD>at NE</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>24</TD><TD>Joe Nedney</TD><TD>vs. OAK</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>25</TD><TD>Jason Hanson</TD><TD>at NYG</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>26</TD><TD>Connor Barth</TD><TD>vs. NO</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>27</TD><TD>Olindo Mare</TD><TD>at CHI</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>28</TD><TD>Phil Dawson</TD><TD>at PIT</TD><TD>-</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
 

hacheman@therx.com
Staff member
Joined
Jan 2, 2002
Messages
139,160
Tokens
Matchups: Here's Johnny
Playcalling is about probability. Not certainty.

- Ron Jaworski, Monday Night Football Week 5

The above quote is just as applicable to fantasy football as it is for real-life offensive coordinators. Anquan Boldin entered Week 5 as a top-five receiver, but a run-heavy game plan and a date with Broncos shutdown cornerback Champ Bailey resulted in a one-catch, eight-yard day. Based on Boldin's Weeks 1-4 performance, it seemed certain that Baltimore's No. 1 receiver would turn in a productive effort. But Bailey's coverage sharply decreased the probability of another big game, and the Ravens' heavy reliance on Ray Rice (league-high 31 touches) all but canceled it out.

We can't know a team's plan entering a particular week, but can make an educated guess. To supplement the probability of separating fantasy studs from duds, we can also account for one-on-one matchups (e.g. the likelihood of Bailey covering Boldin), roles (e.g. Demaryius Thomas playing fourth-receiver snaps), defensive and offensive tendencies, and sheer talent (e.g. Kenny Britt > Kevin Walter) to formulate a reasonable approximation. Also factoring in -- but not necessarily counting on -- recent performance, this column attempts to help you estimate the probability of a player having a highly productive, mediocre, or disappointing fantasy performance.

[SIZE=+1]1:00PM ET Games[/SIZE]

Miami @ Green Bay

The efficacy of Green Bay's defense depends heavily on Clay Matthews. Prior to Matthews' third-quarter hamstring injury in Week 5, Washington's offense worked its way into Packers territory once and punted on a whopping 7-of-8 possessions. The Packers fell apart after the injury, as the Redskins went on a 13-0 run to win the game. Green Bay has next to no pass rush with Matthews out, so upgrade Dolphins skill players if he sits. (He's not expected to play.) ... The rested Fins return from their bye on a two-game losing streak with a struggling quarterback. With four picks in his last two outings, it's even been speculated that Chad Henne is on a short leash. Miami is 3-7 when Henne has 30-plus pass attempts, so coach Tony Sparano has indicated that he'll recommit to a run-first plan of attack. Henne is a weak QB2 against a Packers team serving up just one passing TD per game.

Averaging 11 yards per catch, slot man Davone Bess will take a major hit if the Fins' throwing dwindles. He doesn't score or make plays downfield. 2009 Defensive POY Charles Woodson also covers the slot when opponents go three wide, making Bess totally hands off for this one. ... On pace for 1,360 yards and 108 catches, Brandon Marshall remains an every-week WR1. "No. 1" wideouts have lit up the Pack in two straight games: Calvin Johnson - 6/86/2; Santana Moss - 7/118. ... Ronnie Brown is averaging 15 touches a week compared to Ricky Williams' 12. Ronnie has 4.86 yards per touch to Ricky's 4.70. Committees don't get more even. Brown is still the slightly better play, but Williams is worth flex consideration against a Green Bay defense that not only surrenders the sixth-highest yards-per-carry average in football (4.7), but will be without ILB Nick Barnett (wrist), probably run-stopping DE Ryan Pickett (ankle), and possibly Matthews.

The last time we heard of a coaching staff huddle to increase a player's involvement, Felix Jones went from fantasy afterthought to rock-solid RB2 in Dallas. The same thing happened in Green Bay this week, with Packers staff game-planning specifically to remake Greg Jennings their featured player. His targets were already destined to rise with Jermichael Finley (knee) out, and Donald Driver didn't earn similar treatment with four back-breaking Week 5 drops. Jennings has been running mostly fly patterns, but look for him on more slants and screens going forward. Aaron Rodgers (concussion) is on track to play, so Jennings should immediately capitalize on his burgeoning role. ... Andrew Quarless showed his underrated ability with 51 yards after Finley's Week 5 injury, but Donald Lee's (chest) return to practice makes Packers tight ends undesirable.

Rodgers is safe to plug into lineups. The Fins boast the NFL's No. 4 pass defense, but Rodgers is the No. 4 fantasy quarterback and an every-week starter. He's accounted for 11 touchdowns in five games. ... Behind Jennings, James Jones is a good bet to pick up quite a bit of the slack left behind by Finley. Like Finley, Jones can play outside and inside, and Rodgers loves throwing to him. Through five games, Jones has bested Driver, Jennings, and Finley in target-to-snap ratio, and Jones' playing time only projects to rise with not only Finley gone, but Green Bay increasing its spread offense usage. Consider Jones a more than viable bye-week WR3. ... The Packers wouldn't reinstall a concussed Rodgers if their plan was to feature the running game, so don't expect Brandon Jackson or John Kuhn to forge significant value. Throw out Jackson's fluky 71-yard run in Week 5 and he's averaging 3.35 yards per carry. The Dolphins' run defense also gets a big boost from the returns of DE Jared Odrick (leg) and ILB Channing Crowder (groin).

Cleveland @ Pittsburgh

With Colt McCoy debuting at Pittsburgh, Browns skill players should be avoided like the plague in fantasy leagues. Peyton Hillis is included, despite his fast start. The No. 6 fantasy back through five weeks, Hillis squares off with a Steelers team that leads the NFL in run defense and permits a league-low 2.6 yards per carry. As if that wasn't enough, Hillis aggravated his quad strain early in the Browns' Week 5 loss, finished with his smallest workload since formally supplanting Jerome Harrison, and averaged his fewest yards per carry on the year. Owners should pray that Hillis' injury doesn't worsen on the historically quaggy Heinz Field playing surface, once deemed by Fred Taylor "a lawsuit pending." The Browns face New Orleans' No. 22 run defense in Week 7.

McCoy, truly a fringe NFL talent despite his big name, averaged 5.95 yards per attempt on 39 preseason throws, committed four turnovers, took six sacks, and failed to throw a touchdown pass against third-stringers and defenders who didn't make rosters. Fire up the Steelers' fantasy defense. ... Jake Delhomme couldn't move the pocket, and Seneca Wallace couldn't throw deep. McCoy possesses both injured quarterbacks' weaknesses. He'll probably complete a few passes to Ben Watson or Chansi Stuckey, but neither is a fantasy option. Nor is Mohamed Massaquoi.

The Steelers figure to dominate the time-of-possession battle, boding particularly well for Rashard Mendenhall. The Browns played the run well entering Week 5, but fell apart against the Falcons last Sunday. Atlanta ran for 165 yards, including Michael Turner's year-best 7.37 YPC average. On Turner's season-long 55-yard run in the second quarter, Atlanta cleared a canyon-sized hole in the middle of Cleveland's defense. On Turner's 22-yard burst in the fourth, the running back went untouched off-left tackle until being "guided" out of bounds by CB Eric Wright. Mendenhall, who ranks third in the league in rushing yards per game, has outplayed Turner so far this season.

Ben Roethlisberger will be rusty after a five-week layoff, and a run-heavy game plan to "ease" him in is possible. Cleveland's pass defense has been incredibly up and down, but is coming off a strong effort, holding Matt Ryan to a season-low 187 yards. Big Ben is still a borderline top-12 option, but this looks like a wait-and-see week if you have viable alternatives. He'll be a surefire starter eventually. ... Roethlisberger's aggressive style remains a huge plus for Mike Wallace right off the bat. Easily Pittsburgh's top deep threat, Wallace has combined three clunkers with one big game, twiddling his thumbs as the Steelers tied for the second fewest 20-plus yard completions in the first month. That's all going to change. ... Hines Ward also gets a bump, but like Big Ben, it's a week to watch Heath Miller, not start him. Miller hasn't topped five targets or 40 yards yet.

Detroit @ NY Giants

It's only a matter of time before Hakeem Nicks begins drawing double teams, but so far defenses have routinely left him singled up, with Steve Smith seeing safeties over the top. Fantasy owners need to capitalize while the iron is still hot. Last season, Nicks only played 57 percent of the Giants' snaps compared to then-starter Mario Manningham's 71 percent. This year, Nicks is at 81.7 to Mario's 54.6. More importantly, Nicks is hogging targets, with 50 on the year to lead the Giants. ... Smith relied on volume last year to post what probably will go down as his career-best season, finishing as the 11th overall fantasy receiver. He's 34th in 2010. Smith is definitely worth using as a WR3 against the Lions, but he's clearly been bypassed by Nicks in the pecking order.

Detroit got a lift in the pass defense rankings last week from a Rams offense that fell apart after the early-game loss of Mark Clayton, but the Lions are still 24th and were giving up two passing TDs per week prior to Sam Bradford's egg-laying. An incredibly streaky passer, Eli Manning is hot coming off a 297-yard, three-score performance. Gregg Rosenthal and Chris Wesseling smartly consider Manning a top-five QB1 play. ... Continuing to play musical chairs at inside linebacker, the Lions rank 26th against the run and give up the third most yards per carry in football (only Oakland and Tampa Bay are more generous). Practicing fully again, Ahmad Bradshaw's ankle appears to be as healthy as it's been in weeks. Even goal-line vulture Brandon Jacobs is worth a look as a flex play in standard leagues. The red-hot G-Men shouldn't struggle to move the rock.

Whereas the Lions are defensive bottom feeders, the Giants give up the fewest passing yards per game and are No. 1 in total defense. Despite Shaun Hill's recent success, he's a better bet for a game like Week 3 against the Vikings (237 yards, 1 TD, 2 INTs) than Week 5 against the Rams (227 yards, 3 TDs, 0 INTs). ... Calvin Johnson is a game-time decision. He's still in pain after falling hard on his right shoulder in the fourth quarter last week, unable to stretch for catches in practice. Megatron is a top-ten fantasy receiver and must-start if he plays, but we won't know for sure until noon ET Sunday. ... If Johnson does sit, Hill is hands-off. His three-receiver set would morph from Calvin-Nate Burleson-Bryant Johnson to Burleson-Bryant-Derrick Williams. Ugly.

Megatron's absence could make Burleson a sneaky WR3. Burleson showed he's recovered from his early-season high ankle sprain with a 4-56-1 line against St. Louis. He operated mostly out of the slot, running well after the catch. ... Should Johnson not play, stopping Jahvid Best would become the Giants' focus. But he'd likely also be the focal point for Detroit's plan of attack. New Meadowlands Stadium uses FieldTurf, on which Best has been noticeably more effective (6.58 yards per touch; 3.33 on grass). Best's workload has climbed in three straight weeks (9/17/22). His toe injury is no longer a concern. ... The Giants are one of the NFL's toughest teams on tight ends. Through five games, only Dallas Clark has topped 45 yards against them. They've given up one tight end touchdown all year. It's bad news for Brandon Pettigrew and Tony Scheffler.

<!--RW-->

Seattle @ Chicago

The Soldier Field forecast calls for sunny skies and minimal wind. It's friendly passing weather, and Jay Cutler's matchup is even more kind. Seattle ranks 31st against the pass, forcing teams to rack up throws with the NFL's No. 2 run defense. Those rankings will move toward the mean as the year unfolds, but Cutler has the look of an elite play against a pass defense that surrenders 302 yards a game. In their pre-bye loss, rookie Sam Bradford touched up the Seahawks for 289 yards and a pair of touchdowns. Naturally, you'd expect Cutler to do even better. ... Deep threat Johnny Knox has been unsurprisingly quiet for two weeks, with the Giants' pass rush stymieing Cutler in Week 4 and weak-armed Todd Collins under center in Week 5. Along with Cutler, Knox should bounce back big. Chicago's split end projects to spend most of Sunday against Seahawks RCB Kelly Jennings, as opposed to LCB Marcus Trufant. Jennings is Seattle's weakest corner.

Though Matt Forte's matchup is tough for aforementioned reasons, it's impossible to sit a running back playing so well. He exploded for 188 total yards and two TDs last week against a previously top-five Panthers run defense (Forte and Chester Taylor dropped their rank to 27). Both of Forte's touchdowns (18, 68 yards) came on weak-side runs, where Seattle is especially light in the pants. Weak-side DE Chris Clemons is 240 pounds dripping wet, while weak-side DT Brandon Mebane is a pass rusher first and run stopper second. ... Owners still can't reasonably expect much from Greg Olsen, who's averaging 35.8 yards per game. ... Devin Hester, slated for a date with Trufant, has been even worse with 25.2 yards a contest. He also played just 19-of-64 snaps in Week 5.

Deion Branch's trade creates opportunity in Seattle, but the least affected player is Mike Williams. He'll see no increase in snaps, and was already leading Seattle wideouts in targets. Williams just does nothing with them, averaging 24.7 yards per game since a 64-yard opener that may go down as his most productive effort of the year. Big Mike's strength -- and it's debatable if he has one -- is run-after-catch ability. The Bears can easily neutralize this with sure-tackling RCB Charles Tillman. ... In a battle for WR5 value, Deon Butler gets the starting nod but will rotate with rookie Golden Tate. Tate has more big-play ability (supported by both early-season and college stats) and won't need as many snaps, targets, or catches to be a better bet for yards than Butler.

Already Seattle's target and reception leader, John Carlson could also be positively impacted. Eight of Branch's nine grabs came on passes thrown inside ten yards, where Carlson does much of his work. ... Indications out of Seattle are that Marshawn Lynch in store for a sizable workload in Seahawks debut, but it's advisable to wait a week to be sure. Seattle's run blocking is only slightly better than Buffalo's, and the Bears' No. 3 rush defense stifled DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart for a combined 3.87 yards per touch in Week 5. Williams and Stewart are both more talented than Lynch, and Carolina's line is light years better than Seattle's. ... Justin Forsett immediately moves into a third-down role behind Lynch, and is droppable in non-PPR leagues.

New Orleans @ Tampa Bay

Relative to last year, the Saints' offense is scuffling. Though they're fifth in the league in passing yards per game, New Orleans ranks 10th in offense and an awfully disappointing 31st in rushing. Pierre Thomas (ankle) and Reggie Bush's (knee) injuries have cost the Saints identity, but the Bucs could provide some cure. Drew Brees won't have to sweat pass rush from a Tampa team that ranks dead last in sacks, and the Bucs have thrived off turnovers, their nine INTs ranking second in the league. Brees only has seven picks in the Saints' last 12 games. ... On paper, New Orleans' running game has a picturesque matchup with a Bucs team that surrenders the most yards per carry in the NFC. Unfortunately, there's little clarity in the backfield if Thomas doesn't play. Chris Ivory is the best desperation start in the group, but got only 10 touches in Week 5.

Marques Colston got off the schneid with seven grabs for 97 yards against Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie in Week 5. The Saints figure to be in the red zone far more often than they were at Arizona, which would make Colston an increasingly good bet for his season's first score. We'd call Aqib Talib's potential "shadow" coverage a concern, but Talib has been burned for a TD in each of the three games he's played. Terrell Owens roasted him for a 43-yard bomb down the left sideline last Sunday. At this point, Colston owners might want Talib covering their man. ... Robert Meachem had his best game of the year in Week 5 (4-57-1), while Devery Henderson (4-61) and Lance Moore (1-8) essentially canceled each other out. Until one of the three emerges as consistent -- as Meachem did down last season's stretch -- they're risk-reward WR3s. ... Jeremy Shockey has five touchdowns in his last 30 games. You should be able to do better in fantasy.

Rookie Mike Williams (foot) missed Thursday's practice after a "limited" Wednesday workout, and is questionable for Week 6. The Bucs' passing game gets nothing from its Nos. 2-4 receivers, so Williams' absence would be a major blow to Josh Freeman's bye-week start-ability. Easily pacing the Bucs in targets, Williams is a rock-solid WR3. If he doesn't play, Kellen Winslow would be the heavy favorite to dominate catches in Tampa. The last time the Saints faced a halfway decent tight end, Tony Gonzalez tore through their secondary for eight catches, 110 yards, and a score.

The Saints present a fairly friendly matchup for opposing ground games (No. 22 run defense, four rushing TDs allowed), but the Bucs employ a value-draining four-headed backfield monster. Coming off their bye last week, Earnest Graham led Tampa in rushing and scored on a third-quarter goal-line carry. (The short-yardage role was supposed be LeGarrette Blount's, according to Raheem Morris.) But Cadillac Williams led them in carries (11), while Blount (4-3) and Kareem Huggins (1-4) took backseats. For all we know, Blount could lead the team in carries this week with Huggins pacing the backfield in total yardage. It's an extremely unreliable fantasy situation.

Atlanta @ Philadelphia

LeSean McCoy was unlimited by his broken rib in Week 5, handling his second biggest workload of the year (23 touches) and playing 83 percent of the snaps. Fantasy's No. 3 back has shown matchup-proof ability in his last two games, racking up 312 total yards and a score against the Skins and 49ers. Atlanta ranks eighth against the run, but McCoy is an every-week starter. ... The Eagles may rely especially heavily on McCoy this week with King Dunlap replacing LT Jason Peters (knee). An awkward-looking 6-foot-8, 310-pounder, Dunlap gave up sacks to Travis LaBoy, Justin Smith, and Manny Lawson in Week 5. It's scary to think how badly he'll be exposed by Falcons RE John Abraham. Expect a hand-off and check down-filled day for Kevin Kolb.

Of course, check downs can work in favor of Brent Celek, who's caught a TD from Kolb in back-to-back weeks. He's been Kolb's most oft-targeted pass catcher, with 16 on the year. ... The rest of Kolb's targets: DeSean Jackson - 14; McCoy - 14; Jeremy Maclin - 13; Jason Avant - 7. ... Despite Jackson's 24-yard Week 5 clunker, you can't sit his big-play ability. Kolb is trying to get D-Jax the ball, and they showed plenty of rapport last year. ... Maclin, on the other hand, isn't a great bet to repeat last week's 95-yard game. Kolb will have Abraham breathing down his backside, and Maclin typically lines up as the backside receiver. Dunta Robinson rarely moves from his RCB spot, so Maclin will also be covered by Atlanta's top corner for most of the day.

There were some whispers that Michael Turner didn't look as explosive as usual early on, and his 3.79 yards-per-carry average entering Week 5 did nothing to diminish the concern. A 19-carry, 140-yard gashing of the Browns should lay it to rest, however, and a matchup with the Eagles' No. 24 rush defense will allow Turner's YPC to continue to spike. Philly is also without NT Brodrick Bunkley (elbow), whose primary task is to keep blockers from reaching MLB Stewart Bradley so that Bradley can plug the run. Bunkley's replacement will be 2009 undrafted free agent Antonio Dixon. The Falcons can control this game on the ground, with Turner as the offensive focal point.

Eagles LCB Asante Samuel (concussion) is back, but No. 6 overall fantasy receiver Roddy White remains matchup proof. Across the league, only Terrell Owens has been targeted more this season. ... With blocking wideout Michael Jenkins (shoulder) finally returning, Falcons receivers behind White are completely hands-off in fantasy. But there's nothing better for a scuffling tight end than a successful running game, and Tony Gonzalez should stay in fantasy lineups. Though he's topped 41 yards just once this year, Gonzo now takes on an Eagles team that's allowed a tight end to find the end zone in back-to-back weeks (Chris Cooley, Vernon Davis). In addition to the touchdown, Davis had five catches for 104 yards against Philadelphia last Sunday night.

Kansas City @ Houston

Owners searching for a Jermichael Finley replacement need look no further than Tony Moeaki. Rookie tight ends often struggle to become every-down players due to blocking weaknesses, but Moeaki has bucked the trend, playing 57-of-59 snaps in Week 5. No team is more generous to Moeaki's position than Houston, which through five games has given up 42 catches for 471 yards and four TDs (9/95/1 weekly average) to tight ends -- including last week's game against the Giants' non-factor TE corps. ... Texans "defensive" coordinator Frank Bush doubled Steve Smith in said game and left oft-burned rookie CB Kareem Jackson on an island with Hakeem Nicks. Predictably, Nicks went off for 12 catches, 130 yards, and two scores. Will be Bush so kind to Dwayne Bowe? Maybe, but he'd probably drop the ball. Bowe has nine catches in four games.

The Chiefs smartly used their Week 4 bye to execute a changing of the guard at tailback. Jamaal Charles emerged as the lead dog in Week 5, receiving five carries on Kansas City's opening possession and 19 touches compared to Thomas Jones' eight for the game. Jones barely played in crunch time, handling the pigskin once in the fourth quarter of a close game against the Colts. Charles was targeted, caught, or carried the ball seven times over the same span. Deservedly the Chiefs' offensive centerpiece again, Charles should continue to capitalize against a Texans run defense that showed vulnerability to the Giants last week. Houston allowed Ahmad Bradshaw (at less than 100 percent) and Brandon Jacobs to rack up 130 total yards and a touchdown.

Unafraid of Joseph Addai, the Chiefs used constant nickel and dime looks to successfully slow Peyton Manning in Week 5. K.C. can't repeat the strategy against NFL leading rusher Arian Foster, but Matt Schaub's blind-side protection has been just as big a concern as his drop in pass attempts. Texans fill-in LT Rashad Butler's pass blocking has worsened weekly, and he yielded two sacks to Osi Umenyiora last Sunday. Butler now faces Defensive POY candidate Tamba Hali. The Chiefs have allowed four passing touchdowns in four games, and are giving up just 6.4 yards per throw. A healthy Andre Johnson is a must-start, but Schaub's breakout week may have to wait. ... Also avoid Texans RWR Kevin Walter, who projects to spend most of the day covered by Chiefs shutdown LCB Brandon Flowers. Walter has topped 35 yards once all year.

Jacoby Jones (calf) can't be used at less than 100 percent. ... The Chiefs took Dallas Clark out of last week's game (3-20), and the Texans use Owen Daniels in similar fashion. Daniels isn't an option until he puts something substantial in the box score. ... Foster's scoreless, 27-yard Week 5 was a killer, as he saw just one post-half carry due to a "banged-up" knee. Still, Foster practiced fully this week and has been too productive to sit, even against K.C.'s top-six run defense. Leaving six and seven in the box certainly made life easier for Addai and Mike Hart, but they did combine for 144 total yards and a touchdown against the Chiefs last Sunday. If Hali is whipping Butler on Schaub's backside as expected, the Texans will have no choice but to lean heavily on Foster.

<!--RW-->

Baltimore @ New England

Rushing offenses capable of gashing defenses up the middle can literally impose their will on an opponent. And that's exactly what the Ravens did to Denver in Week 5. The Broncos bottled up Chris Johnson for 64 total yards the week before, but Baltimore saddled up Ray Rice and C Matt Birk and went to work. According to Pro Football Focus, the Ravens generated 73 yards on 14 carries (5.2 YPC) on runs off Birk's back, while Rice led all running backs in touches (31) for the week. And that isn't even the best news. Rice supplanted Willis McGahee as the Ravens' goal-line specialist, scoring twice on one-yard runs. His scoring upside soaring, Rice now takes on a Patriots defense that ranks 20th against the run and allows 4.4 yards per carry -- tied for ninth most in the league. Hopefully, you've already bought Rice low. The arrow is pointing skyward.

Taken out of Week 5 by Champ Bailey and a Rice-centric game plan, Anquan Boldin should return with fury against an extremely vulnerable Patriots pass defense. The Pats rank 28th in the category, have let up nine passing touchdowns in four games, and are allowing quarterbacks to complete a league-high 69.1 percent of their throws. As of Thursday afternoon, Weather.com called Sunday the "best day to golf" in Foxboro over the next several days. Golfing weather is passing weather. Shake off last week and start Boldin as a WR1. ... The breakout so many expected from Joe Flacco will have to wait due to Baltimore's reliance on the ground attack, but Joe Cool won't have many better matchups. He's still a top-ten play. ... Todd Heap is averaging a scoreless 42 yards per game. Derrick Mason has one TD, but even fewer yards. Sit 'em.

The Pats will unveil their "horizontal," Randy Moss-less offense, and should certainly have enough success to make Tom Brady a worthwhile QB1. But with roles yet to be defined in a date with Baltimore's No. 2 pass defense, it's smart to sit back and watch youngsters Brandon Tate, Julian Edelman, and Rob Gronkowski, as opposed to use them in fantasy. ... New England will stay pass heavy, but the ditching of a long-bomb passing game appears to be geared toward taking pressure off a bad defense. They can't stop offenses like they used to, so a ball-control approach will be Bill Belichick's remedy. BenJarvus Green-Ellis is the feature back. Fred Taylor (toe) is not expected to play and Green-Ellis is averaging 16 carries per game in his last two, with a touchdown in each. Baltimore's run defense has shown leaks, so you could do worse at RB2.

It's widely expected that Wes Welker will assume the double coverage Moss once commanded, though slot receivers are more difficult to consistently double than wideouts. Welker's yards and TDs may be affected, but he'll remain a strong bet for 5-7 catches per game. Don't pull him out of your PPR lineup. ... Deion Branch and Tate appear to be competing for snaps. Consider them threats to cancel each other out in the box score until further notice. We just don't know enough about the offense yet. ... One thing we can say for sure: Aaron Hernandez was a major reason the Pats were so comfortable dealing Moss. A shorter but faster version of Jermichael Finley, the rookie is an every-down player. Already averaging nearly 65 yards per game, Hernandez will be a fantasy starter the rest of the way. Baltimore's linebackers don't cover well enough to contain him.

San Diego @ St. Louis

Vegas projects Bolts-Rams to be Week 6's highest scoring game. (Of course, a strong majority of the points is likely to come from San Diego.) In domed environs against a St. Louis defense that crumbled in Detroit last week, Philip Rivers, Malcom Floyd, and Antonio Gates are all elite plays. ... Gates leads the NFL in touchdowns (7). The Rams served up eight catches and a score to Lions tight ends in Week 5. ... Rivers has passed Peyton Manning as the top fantasy QB, and Kyle Orton as the league's passing yardage leader. You might want to play him. ... Rivers, Gates, and especially the deep threat Floyd all get upgrades from the return of left tackle Marcus McNeill, who makes his 2010 debut Sunday. Coming off a 213-yard breakout -- much of it against Nnamdi Asomugha -- Floyd's ability to go long will be further enhanced by Rivers' improving protection.

Coach Norv Turner vowed early this week to return Ryan Mathews' lead back role if the rookie practiced fully. Mathews, still struggling with an ankle sprain, did not practice Wednesday. In spite of the pledge, Turner would be foolish to not reinsert Mathews as the starter when he's averaging 6.35 yards per touch in his last two efforts, and the Chargers were just upset by Oakland with Mike Tolbert starting and averaging 0.9 yards per carry with a lost fumble. Rotoworld will update San Diego's backfield late Friday, but in order to win Turner needs to play his best players. ... The return of Vincent Jackson, ostensibly in Week 12, is a situation to track closely. Even with stubborn GM A.J. Smith at the helm, the Chargers would be crazy to not immediately reinsert him as a three-down wideout. He could be an impact player by the fantasy playoffs.

If the final three quarters of last week were any indication, the Rams' passing game will struggle mightily without No. 1 receiver Mark Clayton (torn patellar tendon). With Brandon Gibson dropping passes, Laurent Robinson unable to get open, and Danny Amendola lacking playmaking ability, Sam Bradford couldn't even find a late-game rhythm against the Lions' prevent defense. Bradford is barely a QB2 in a date with a Chargers defense that ranks third against the pass and gives up nothing downfield (only nine 20-plus yard completions allowed in five games). ... Amendola was a hot Week 6 waiver add, but he's really only a PPR option. The slot receiver averages 8.3 career yards per catch with one TD on 76 receptions. He offers little to no standard league upside.

If the Rams are to stay in this game, it'll be because of Steven Jackson. Off the Week 6 injury report, Jackson has resumed practicing fully and declared himself 100 percent recovered from his Week 3 groin injury. The Chargers are stout against the run (3.8 YPC allowed, No. 7 overall), but workloads like Jackson's are impossible to find. Outside of his injury-shortened Week 3, S-Jax is averaging 25 touches for 116 yards per game. ... Keep an eye on Michael Hoomanawanui, the rookie tight end who shined this preseason. He caught four passes for 53 yards and two touchdowns from Bradford in St. Louis' third exhibition game -- a win over the Patriots -- while playing mostly against New England first-teamers. Hoomanawanui is returning this week from a high ankle sprain.

[SIZE=+1]4:05PM ET Games[/SIZE]

NY Jets @ Denver

Regardless of Knowshon Moreno's (hamstring) status, it'll be another unproductive rushing day for Denver. Though Adrian Peterson (18-88) knocked the Jets' run defense rank down a few pegs in Week 5, the unit is still fourth in football and allows 3.3 yards per carry, with one rushing score against in five games. Routinely rag-dolled Broncos rookie C J.D. Walton gets one of his tougher tests yet against Jets mammoth NT Sione Pouha. Don't expect holes for Broncos backs, or anything resembling a feature runner if Moreno sits again. Denver's carry allotment, YPC, and touchdown totals since Week 2: Laurence Maroney - 29/1.93/0; Correll Buckhalter - 15/1.87/0.

The Broncos' offense has become easy to defend, at least in theory. Denver ranks 32nd in rushing offense and second with the pass. The blitz-happy Jets still figure to take chances, especially with CB Darrelle Revis (hamstring) not expected to play. Confidently keep Kyle Orton going. The Broncos won't win the game, but in fantasy it's hard to beat 43 pass attempts and 347 yards a week. ... During Week 5, Brandon Lloyd overtook Austin Collie as the No. 1 receiver in fantasy football. Antonio Cromartie is tentatively expected to shadow Lloyd, but there's no guarantee that Rex Ryan pays the journeyman wideout such respect. He's hard to bench at this point. ... With Demaryius Thomas (neck, concussion) all but out of the mix, Lloyd, Eddie Royal, and Jabar Gaffney don't have to sweat losing snaps to the mega-talented rookie. The Broncos will stay in a three-receiver set all game. Start 'em.

Santonio Holmes' three-catch, 41-yard Jets debut was disappointing, but it's not a sign of things to come. While Holmes and Mark Sanchez weren't quite on the same page, Holmes was targeted on a whopping nine passes in 36 snaps, compared to Braylon Edwards' 11 in 64 snaps and Jerricho Cotchery's 10 in 63. A deep threat, Holmes also projects to benefit from the Broncos' inability to generate pass rush. Denver has the second fewest sacks in football, and Jets LT D'Brickashaw Ferguson is playing lights out, not allowing Jared Allen a single QB pressure in Week 5. With Champ Bailey likely to guard Edwards (easily the Jets' most productive receiver thus far), a bust-loose game could be in the offing for Holmes. He's not a WR2 yet, but he's definitely a WR3.

Dustin Keller's down Week 5 should've been salvaged by his sixth touchdown of the year, but the tight end let Sanchez's red-zone pass slip through his usually sure hands. Keller still ranks second at his position in fantasy points. Use him with confidence against a Broncos defense that will be without tight end coverage ace Brian Dawkins (knee), and let the middling TE corps of Tennessee and Baltimore combine for 140 yards over the past two weeks. ... Currently the No. 10 fantasy running back, LaDainian Tomlinson is a sure-fire RB1 against Denver's No. 25 rush defense. The Broncos have served up one rushing touchdown per game and are allowing 4.4 yards per carry. They're defending so poorly that Shonn Greene even looks like a strong flex. Baltimore backs combined for an otherworldly 250 total yards and three TDs against them last week.

Oakland @ San Francisco

As pointed out by Pro Football Focus, Zach Miller has missed one offensive snap all year. The zone-busting tight end is on an unmitigated tear, ranking third at his position in fantasy points and first over the last three weeks. The Niners have allowed a tight end to find the end zone in three of their last four games. ... Jason Campbell draws the start for Bruce Gradkowski (shoulder). After entering in Week 5, Campbell directed six of his passes Miller's way, and four to Louis Murphy. Darrius Heyward-Bey wasn't targeted once, finishing the game without a catch. Campbell also hit Murphy on a 58-yard catch-and-run. Murphy has had back-to-back slow games, but is undoubtedly the best bet for production in Oakland's wideout corps. Miller should still lead the way in receiving.

Darren McFadden (hamstring) is tentatively expected to be active at Candlestick, but coach Tom Cable has made it clear that Michael Bush will continue to serve as Oakland's feature back. Bush ranked second among NFL rushers in workload last week, generating 135 yards and a touchdown on 29 touches. Dating back to camp, the Raiders never had any intention of using a running back committee, and they've followed through by employing a true workhorse in every game this season. Expect another 25-plus touches for Bush against a 49ers run defense springing leaks. There's talk in the Bay Area that NT Aubrayo Franklin's offseason-long holdout has affected his play, and it's showing up in ILB Patrick Willis' statistics as well as Willis' on-field effectiveness.

Oakland is coming off an upset win over San Diego and facing the 0-5 49ers, but the Niners are still 6.5-point favorites. We're pretty sure where the points and production are going to come from. The Raiders' rebuilt defense still has no prayer of stopping the run, ranking 31st in the league and surrendering a league-high 5.0 yards per carry with the second-most rushing touchdowns against. Such a favorable matchup can't help but make Frank Gore's 3.5 YPC average to this point look much better. Wesseling and Rosenthal rank Gore first among all Week 6 running back plays.

Michael Crabtree has enjoyed back-to-back season-best games since the installation of new OC Mike Johnson, playing with consistency and racking up yards after the reception. Johnson is moving Crabtree all around the offensive formation, so last year's No. 10 overall pick doesn't have to worry about Raiders RCB Nnamdi Asomugha sticking to him like glue. Ride Crabtree while he's hot. ... Oakland's previously stingy pass defense was exposed as a lackluster unit by Malcom Floyd and Antonio Gates in Week 5, with Philip Rivers hitting each for a touchdown and throwing for 431 yards. Vernon Davis has at least 73 yards or a score in all but one game this year, and 10-of-12 dating back to 2009. He may come close to equaling last season's career year, after all.

<!--RW-->

[SIZE=+1]4:15PM ET Game[/SIZE]

Dallas @ Minnesota

Felix Jones may not be in on the first snap of the game, but he's assumed lead back duties in Dallas by a clear margin. Jones' 19 touches in Week 5 (compared to "starter" Marion Barber's six) were the most by a Cowboy back in any game this season. He also entered on the second snap of the contest, playing the majority of early downs while Barber concentrated on passing-down work. The arrow is pointing up for Jones. He'll be an excellent buy low if the Vikings' top-nine run defense holds him in check. He has one of the more favorable running back schedules in the league, especially for the fantasy playoffs (@ IND, vs. PHI, vs. WAS, @ ARZ). ... Jason Witten is catching fire with an average of six catches for 64 yards per game in his last three. He'll continue to take on a prominent role with Dez Bryant (ankle) at significantly less than 100 percent.

Bryant has all the talent in the world, but so far he's unable to stay healthy. He also hasn't found the end zone as a receiver. Bench him until he breaks out. ... Roy Williams is benefiting from constant single teams and Bryant's inability to play a full snap count. Williams has three TDs and an average of six catches for 102 yards in his last two games. He definitely won't keep it up, but is at least worth WR3 consideration until Bryant overcomes the injury bug. ... You know a receiver is one of the best in football when he beats double coverage. Coming off a nine-catch, 166-yard, one-score effort in which he played the entire game with a safety over the top, Miles Austin is a top-three NFL wideout. ... The Vikings lost RCB Cedric Griffin for the year last week, and will replace him with Lito Sheppard. Tony Romo has five touchdowns in his last two games.

The media has made the story of Brett Favre (elbow) potentially missing his first career start a much bigger deal than it is. There's a reason the Vikings scaled back his reps this week, and it's not because they're counting on him missing games. He's resting the elbow to play. Favre threw for three touchdowns and 264 yards in his first game with Randy Moss, against the Jets' league-best pass defense and despite an awful first three quarters. He's an every-week starter from here on out. ... Moss, the No. 15 fantasy receiver through five weeks, may actually do more to help Percy Harvin's cause than his own in Minnesota. Harvin was the most dangerous player on the field last Monday night, and gets to play much more often in his natural slot position with Moss out wide.

The Cowboys' defense is good all around, but they're most leaky on the ground. Dallas' 4.5 yards-per-carry average allowed is the seventh highest in football, and observers of Vikings-Jets may have noticed big holes in New York's defense on numerous Adrian Peterson runs. It's the Moss effect. A.P. ripped off 5.7 yards per touch and 4.9 yards per carry against a Jets defense that surrenders 3.07 YPC to everyone else. ... It appears Visanthe Shiancoe will be most adversely affected by the Moss move. A hamstring injury isn't helping, but Shiancoe took a big backseat to Moss and Harvin, catching two passes for 28 yards. Wait for something substantial before using Shiancoe again. ... Bernard Berrian played 12 snaps in Week 5. He wasn't targeted once.

[SIZE=+1]Sunday Night Football[/SIZE]

Indianapolis @ Washington

Coming soon.

[SIZE=+1]Monday Night Football[/SIZE]

Tennessee @ Jacksonville

Maurice Jones-Drew is averaging 3.98 YPC despite having faced just one team that ranks better than 24th in run defense. Last week at Buffalo, MJD (19-84) was even out-produced by debuting rookie Deji Karim (15-70) on a per-carry basis. Making matters worse for Jones-Drew is Jacksonville's inability to create lanes. According to Pro Football Focus, Jags RG Uche Nwaneri ranks 57th out of 72 qualifying guards in run blocking, while LG Justin Smiley is 44th. C Brad Meester has held his own, but to jump-start the running game the Jags might have to increase Karim's role. With 4.37 speed and superior initial burst, Karim is a better bet to reach the perimeter than Jones-Drew at this point. Monday night's matchup is difficult against Tennessee's No. 11 run defense. The Titans have allowed one rushing score in five games and surrender a modest 4.2 yards per carry.

Mike Sims-Walker's problem isn't that he's in the doghouse. He's just not being treated like a No. 1 receiver. Possession wideout Mike Sims-Walker leads the Jags in targets and yards, and Marcedes Lewis in touchdowns. Sims-Walker will continue to be a hit-or-miss option going forward, though Monday's date with Cortland Finnegan is enticing. Finnegan was burned over and over by Miles Austin in Week 5. ... With back-to-back legitimately good games, David Garrard has returned to strong QB2 status. He's currently No. 8 in fantasy points at the position, and Tennessee has plummeted to 27th in the pass defense rankings. The best news for Garrard is his improved protection. Second-year OTs Eugene Monroe and Eben Britton are looking like dead-on hits for GM Gene Smith. ... Lewis is piling up touchdowns while averaging 38.4 yards per game. I prefer tight ends with more upside. The scoring pace definitely won't keep up.

The Jaguars' defense is a long bomb waiting to happen. Jacksonville has served up the most 20-plus yard completions in football, including an incredible eight that have gone for 40 or longer. The Titans are a run-heavy team in nature, but Kenny Britt needs to stay in lineups as a WR3 with upside. Having scored a touchdown in three straight games, Britt now faces off with a Jags team that also leads the NFL in passing scores allowed. It's a big-time mismatch on paper, with Britt as the favorite. ... Nate Washington has clearly been unseated by Britt as the Titans' No. 1 receiver, Washington falls to desperation WR3 play going forward. ... Justin Gage (hamstring) won't play.

Just when it looked like Chris Johnson was really struggling, be broke out for 132 yards and two touchdowns last week against Dallas. Johnson ranks second to only Antonio Gates in TDs accounted for, and Jacksonville gives up the second most rushing scores in the league. CJ2K had 239 yards and two touchdowns in his last date with the Jags. ... Vince Young is running less this season (his year high is 30 rushing yards) while averaging 19.2 pass attempts for 137 yards per game. The matchup is right, but you're counting almost entirely on Young throwing for multiple scores to use him as a fantasy starter. For this reason, he's just barely a top-12 QB play.
 

hacheman@therx.com
Staff member
Joined
Jan 2, 2002
Messages
139,160
Tokens
The Megatron Dilemma
Words fantasy owners do not particularly enjoy hearing: Calvin Johnson (shoulder) is a FBGTD (full-blown game-time decision) for this week. If you're looking for positive news in advance of said decision, Johnson told the Detroit News that his range of motion has improved, but that – much like most of the Lions injury updates – really doesn't tell us a ton.

It's also worth noting that according to beat writer Dave Birkett, Megatron was "heavily favoring" his right shoulder while catching passes in practice. Owners should definitely continue to check back and start Johnson if he's active, but at the moment, his status for this week remains a very significant question mark, and one that undoubtedly requires a valid backup plan.

Raiders offensive coordinator Hue Jackson told NFL.com that his backfield will be a "hot hand" situation once both of top RB's are healthy, but this week it's looking very much like a Michael Bush situation, as Darren McFadden (hamstring) is likely to sit again. I anticipate McFadden rediscovering plenty of value once healthy, but for the moment, Bush is a very strong start in all formats.

ESPN's John Clayton reports that Aaron Rodgers' concussion was a "much less significant injury" than the one sustained by Jay Cutler last week, and all signs continue to point decisively toward Rodgers being active against Miami this week.

Knowshon Moreno (hamstring) returned to practice in a limited fashion on Thursday and appears to be headed for a game-time decision. It's a positive sign that he's making progress, but the matchup with the Jets this week is a warning sign that owners should look elsewhere unless truly desperate.

(Note: For all the other relevant Week 6 injury updates, be sure to check out the "GAMEDAY" section, below.)

Jermichael Finley owners were left with the difficult task of attempting to replace elite TE production via the waiver wire this week. One direction to look if it's not already too late: Owen Daniels, who had three catches and 45 yards against the Giants last week and is, by many accounts, rounding back into pre-injury form. "That's fastest he looked as a player since he's come back," Gary Kubiak told HoustonTexans.com. On a somewhat related note, Packers TE Donald Lee (chest) unexpectedly returned to practice and could be worth a look for owners in deeper leagues who missed out on Daniels.

Though a lot of owners picked up Danny Amendola off waivers (and with good reason after his 12-catch Week 5), Jim Thomas of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch believes that Brandon Gibson is the "best candidate" to replace Mark Clayton's production. We wouldn't overreact based on this report, but Gibson is worth watching closely. Thomas also pegs TE Michael Hoomanawanui as likely to absorb some of Clayton's production, once he "gets his legs back under him."

Marty Mornhinweg told the Wilmington News Journal that DeSean Jackson has been getting the "Jerry Rice treatment" (defenses rolling coverage and roughing him up at the line of scrimmage). Jackson's fantasy owners are advised to remain patient – Kevin Kolb is still likely to take some deep shots in DeSean's direction this week, and happier days are definitely ahead once Michael Vick returns.

NOTABLE: A report in the Chicago Tribune indicates that Jay Cutler's recent concussion was the fifth of his career, which could explain the Bears' caution in holding him out last week… Chad Ochocinco told Bengals.com that he's going to come out of the bye week as the "Chad of old." The only wrinkle there is that he doesn't have the "Carson of old" throwing to him… Matthew Stafford (shoulder) told the Detroit Free Press that his return timetable is "up in the air," but our best guess remains that he'll return following the team's Week 7 bye… Steven Jackson has declared that he's fully recovered from his groin injury… ESPN.com's Bill Williamson expects that Norv Turner "will not hesitate" to incorporate Vincent Jackson into the offense upon his Week 12 return.

<!--RW-->

SCHEMING: Eric Mangini underscored that the Jerome Harrison trade was the result of Peyton Hillis' emergence as Cleveland's offensive focal point. Unfortunately for Hillis, he'll be the focal point of a vicious Steelers run D this week… Add Brandon Flowers (allowing just 81 yards on 31 targets this season, a 2.6 average) to the list of cornerbacks to avoid. The good news: According to Evan Silva's Matchups column, Flowers should be primarily matched up with Kevin Walter, not Andre Johnson… Seahawks offensive coordinator Jeremy Bates has indicated that the opportunity is there for a new No. 1 receiver with Deion Branch gone, but neither Golden Tate nor Deon Butler looks like a must-own right now in 10-team leagues… Brandon Jacobs is expected to continue to be used in short-yardage situations, but Ahmad Bradshaw is still a high-end play against Detroit… Wade Phillips told the Fort Worth Star-Telegram that Marion Barber will continue to open games as the starting running back "because he is the starter," but Felix Jones should continue to see more carries.

GAMEDAY: Sean Payton told CBSSports.com that Pierre Thomas (ankle) is "progressing," but Thomas appears likely to miss another game… Ryan Mathews (ankle) practiced without limitations on Thursday and is in line for more carries in Week 6… Andre Johnson (ankle) was listed as limited in practice, but should be fully ready to go against the Chiefs… Jahvid Best (toe) returned to a limited practice, but should be fully active on Sunday… Kevin Kolb took all the first-team snaps, and though the Eagles have yet to rule out Michael Vick, it's looking like Kolb will get at least one more start… Maurice Jones-Drew (hand/wrist) missed practice, but is expecting to play against Tennessee on Monday… With Bruce Gradkowski (shoulder) a major question mark, Jason Campbell is expected to start against the Niners… Wade Phillips told the Fort Worth Star-Telegram that he's "worried" Dez Bryant (ribs, ankle) will miss Sunday's game… Tampa Mike Williams (foot) missed practice, but is expected to play this week and as always makes for a solid WR3 play… LeSean McCoy (rib) returned to a full practice.

Editor's note: Check out our Season Pass package, featuring IDP rankings, Top 200 rankings, exclusive columns, chats, early rankings and schedule analysis you can only get with Season Pass.

GAMEDAY, PART 2: Joseph Addai (shoulder) missed practice, but is expected to start, while Donald Brown (shoulder) returned to a limited practice, but may end up sitting another week… Though Tarvaris Jackson has received most of the first-team snaps this week, Brett Favre (elbow, ankle) is still expected to start… Austin Collie (foot) and Pierre Garcon (hamstring) both returned to limited practices and are expected to play this week… Darrelle Revis (hamstring) looks unlikely to play, according to ESPN New York… Colt McCoy is slated to start against the Steelers on Sunday, in what is as much of a stay-away matchup as you'll see all season… Jacoby Jones (calf) is expecting to play this week… Legedu Naanee (hamstring) missed practice, but should not be a lineup consideration at this point… Demaryius Thomas (head/neck) missed practice and looks unlikely to play this week… Justin Gage (hamstring) is expected to miss another game, which is excellent news for Kenny Britt on Monday night.
 

hacheman@therx.com
Staff member
Joined
Jan 2, 2002
Messages
139,160
Tokens
Blaze of Glory

It was shaping up to be an electric Sunday for DeSean Jackson. By 1:25 p.m. ET, the dynamic Eagles WR – coming off two consecutive down weeks – had touched the ball three times for 78 yards and two touchdowns (one rushing, one receiving). But it ended soon thereafter.

Going over the middle on a crossing route, Jackson was positively annihilated (or in the words of our news blurb, "almost decapitated") on a hit from Falcons DB Dunta Robinson (who also knocked himself out of the game with a possible concussion on the play). Jackson was down for several minutes before eventually walking off the field with assistance. The Eagles have stated that Jackson suffered a concussion, and according to Jay Glazer of FOX Sports, it's a "severe" one. Jackson reportedly has memory loss, and all indications are that he won't be playing in Week 7.

The good news for D-Jax is that the Eagles have a well-timed Week 8 bye, so it's possible he only misses one game. His absence would mean a ton more targets for Jeremy Maclin (7-159-2) and, to a lesser extent, Jason Avant (five catches, 62 yards).

Here's a look at the rest of Sunday's significant injury fallout:

Antonio Gates, ankle: Yikes. According to beat writer Kevin Acee, fantasy's No. 1 TE had his left ankle in a protective boot, prompting Acee to say of the injury: "It doesn't look good." Gates reportedly couldn't put any weight on the ankle, so the concern would have to be a high ankle sprain, and at this point, fantasy owners need to be prepared for the possibility that the man who has made 85 consecutive starts could miss multiple weeks. Owen Daniels (five catches for 79 yards on Sunday) makes a good waiver wire add if he's somehow still available, and a solid trade target if you need to acquire a TE on the rise.

Malcom Floyd, hamstring: More bad news for Philip Rivers and the San Diego passing attack. No word yet on the severity of Floyd's injury, but even if it's not particularly serious, the easily-aggravated nature of hamstring injuries means he could be out next week. Patrick Crayton (six catches, 119 yards) and Craig Davis (3-39-1) would be the primary beneficiaries should Floyd be forced to sit.

Joseph Addai, shoulder/neck: Addai took a hard hit from London Fletcher that not only caused a fumble, but knocked him out of the game with a possible aggravation of a preexisting injury. He was very slow to get up and clearly in a lot of pain, but the positive news is that the Colts are headed for a Week 7 bye.

Vernon Davis, head/shoulder/neck: Seeing the triple combo of injured areas looks scary, but it doesn't appear that Davis is at any real risk of missing Week 7, even if he does appear on the Niners' injury report this week.

Chris Cooley, concussion: No update on the severity as of Sunday night, but if Cooley is sidelined, Fred Davis becomes an immediate waiver wire add.

Shaun Hill, broken left forearm: What's bad news for Hill in real life (and could put his season in jeopardy) shouldn't cause a huge ripple in fantasy leagues, as Matthew Stafford (shoulder) appears likely to return following the Lions' Week 7 bye.

Chris Ivory, leg: Ivory did a tremendous Pierre Thomas impersonation on Sunday (15 carries, 158 yards), but limped off the field during the Saints' final drive. The injury didn't appear to be serious, but if it's an ankle sprain, it's possible that it could swell up overnight. It's worth monitoring this week's practice reports, but at the moment, it doesn't look like there's significant cause for concern.

Eddie Royal, groin: No word as of late Sunday night on the severity of Royal's groin injury, but his absence would mean increased snaps for Demaryius Thomas.

Mohamed Massaquoi and Joshua Cribbs, concussions: Both Massaquoi and Cribbs lobbied to go back into Sunday's game, and Cribbs' injury is reportedly minor to the extent that he is expected to play in Week 7. Massaquoi's status was still unclear as of Sunday night, but his absence would likely mean more targets for Ben Watson (6-88-1 on Sunday), who's also a potential Antonio Gates replacement in deeper leagues.

Kareem Huggins, knee: According to the St. Petersburg Times, Huggins may have torn knee ligaments on Sunday. If his season is indeed over, Cadillac Williams would continue to get a chance to lumber around ineffectively in a featured role. It should also mean more carries for LeGarrette Blount and Earnest Graham (who aggravated a hamstring injury of his own, but expects to play next week).

Julian Edelman, head: Add Edelman to the list of possibly concussed players from Week 6. He took a big hit from Ray Lewis, which knocked the ball loose at the goal line. Edelman went catchless on the day.

Nate Kaeding, groin: Kaeding's groin continues to be an issue. He slipped on a potential game-tying field goal, and told the San Diego Union-Tribune that "It was a fight throughout the game." It's possible that the Chargers will have to sign another kicker.

Editor's note: Check out our Season Pass package, featuring exclusive columns, rankings, chats and tons of other content you can only get with Season Pass.

Mardy Gilyard: Gilyard was a candidate for a potentially increased role with Mark Clayton (knee) done for the season, but he suffered a hamstring injury in the second half and finished with just one catch for 21 yards. No word yet on the severity, but Gilyard should not be a consideration right now in most leagues.

DeMeco Ryans, torn Achilles: A vital part of Houston's previously standout run D, Ryans is done for the season. I say "previously" because once he left, Thomas Jones (19 carries, 100 yards) and Jamaal Charles (16 carries, 93 yards) were able to run on the Texans at will. Downgrade the Houston run defense a solid notch going forward
 

hacheman@therx.com
Staff member
Joined
Jan 2, 2002
Messages
139,160
Tokens
Back in the Saddle
When Vince Lombardi was holding court with his cronies back in the 1960s, he used to insist that football was the perfect team game except for one major flaw -- the quarterback was too important.

The same can also be true in fantasy football circles, where the return of Ben Roethlisberger finally breathed life into the seasons of Hines Ward, Mike Wallace, and Heath Miller. After shaking off an early rust, Big Ben showed off that unteachable Elway-esque skill to keep his head when the pocket breaks down and defenders are hanging from his limbs. By the end of Sunday's 28-10 victory over the Browns, each of the Steelers' "Big 5" fantasy stars (Roethlisberger, Ward, Wallace, Miller, and Rashard Mendenhall) had touchdowns in a balanced attack.

Ward's performance marked the 183rd consecutive game with a reception, tying Art Monk for the fourth-longest streak in NFL history. Jerry Rice (274), Marvin Harrison (190), and Terrell Owens (185) are the only receivers with longer streaks.

While Roethlisberger's first game had the most notable ripple effect in fantasy circles, other debuts made headlines across the league Sunday:

Deion Branch, Patriots - The first game of the post-Randy Moss era wasn't without its bumps in the road. With safeties creeping up, Tom Brady was just 12-of-22 for 156 yards, two interceptions, and a 39.2 quarterback rating inside the numbers. Branch's homecoming was a successful one, however, teaming up with Brady for a chemistry long-married couples could envy. "Every receiver should have the opportunity to play with [Brady]," Branch explained. "He's amazing."

With nine catches for 98 yards, including two key grabs on the game-winning overtime drive, Branch now has as many catches for the Patriots as Randy Moss this season. The Pats' 2001-04 "death by 1,000 paper cuts" offensive attack is back, and perhaps better than ever.

Marshawn Lynch, Seahawks - It wasn't the most effective game for Lynch at 2.6 yards per on 17 carries, but his physical "beast mode" mentality helped the Seahawks knock off the Bears at Soldier Field, 20-17.

Colt McCoy, Browns - Moxie personified against the league's toughest defense, McCoy went from fantasy punchline to a potential solution for the Browns. McCoy wasn't afraid to attack the Steelers' secondary aggressively, and he showed plenty of poise. It's just one game, but McCoy exceeded expectations -- and then some.

Danario Alexander, Rams - Countless words were expended last week breaking down the Rams receivers to find the successor to Mark Clayton as a potential fantasy steal. Instead of Danny Amendola, Brandon Gibson, Mardy Gilyard, or Laurent Robinson, it was the undrafted rookie out of Mizzou establishing a quick rapport with Sam Bradford. His knee, surgically repaired multiple times, was obviously more ready than the Rams let on. Alexander, if healthy heading into last April's draft, would have been an early-round pick after blowing up for 113 catches, 1,781 yards, and 14 TDs as a senior. The big bodied wideout adds a new look to the Rams' passing attack and should be atop waiver wires this week.

Michael Jenkins, Falcons - Was Jenkins' five-catch, 99-yard season debut a fluke? Though he's started in Atlanta since 2005, Jenkins has zero 100-yard performances in his career. There's his fantasy value in a nutshell.

Julius Jones, Saints - Along with Ladell Betts, Jones (10 touches, 38 yards) played a supporting role behind rookie Chris Ivory in the Saints' 212-yard rushing attack at Tampa.

[SIZE=+1]Deadline Movers?[/SIZE]

Despite the relative flurry of activity early this season, the NFL's trade deadline is typically "as exciting as the supplemental draft." We get all worked up about a possible Vincent Jackson blockbuster only to see Will Witherspoon-for-Brandon Gibson headline the afternoon's proceedings. Which fantasy relevant players could be moved by Tuesday?

1. Willis McGahee, Ravens - McGahee never set foot on the field at New England, perhaps a sign that the Ravens didn't want to risk injury while shopping him this week. McGahee, due $6 million in base salary next year, won't be back in Baltimore, so the Ravens may see if they can pry a draft pick out of the Packers.

2. Marion Barber, Cowboys - As is the case with McGahee, a declining Barber isn't a good bet to return to Dallas next year at $4.25 million. ESPN's Chris Mortensen suggested Sunday that Barber was on the block, though his early-season game tape will be a hard sell.

3. Steve Smith / DeAngelo Williams, Panthers - The Panthers are reportedly staunchly opposed to trading Smith "under any circumstances," and Williams is in the same boat. If that firm denial sounds eerily familiar to the Bills' stance on Marshawn Lynch a couple of weeks ago, it's because it is. Still, the Panthers operate like no other team in the league, and owner Jerry Richardson wants to keep his favorites in Charlotte.

4. Lee Evans, Bills - Vincent Jackson wasn't the only name whispered as a possibility to fill Mark Clayton's shoes in St. Louis. Evans' name also popped up last week, on the heels of the Marshawn Lynch trade. If the Bills are truly rebuilding, might it make sense to blow up the roster to acquire as many draft picks as possible? Evans' game-breaking talent is going to waste in Buffalo.

5. Kevin Kolb, Eagles - It's not going to happen with the Eagles posing as Super Bowl contenders in a weak NFC this year, but it would be interesting to see what they could get after a second straight boffo performance. A first and a second? A first and a third?

<!--RW-->

[SIZE=+1]Buy Low[/SIZE]

It's too late to buy dirt cheap on Greg Jennings and the offenses of the Steelers and Texans, but there are still bargains to be found.

1. Darren McFadden - The Raiders plan to ride the hot hand in the backfield, making McFadden a no-brainer over Michael Bush for the feature-back role. McFadden is averaging a difference-making 5.5 yards per touch and 139 yards per start compared to Bush's pedestrian 4.2 yards per touch and 97 yards per start.

2. Jamaal Charles - Can you feel it? The breakout game is coming. Charles is still flying under the radar with Thomas hitting the century-mark against the Texans, but don't forget it was Charles who finally started the game. Despite the timeshare, Charles is still an amazing eighth in rushing yards per game while leading the NFL in yards per touch.

3. Tony Romo - There are national columnists actually stumping for a Jon Kitna sighting. Who cares if he's thrown five picks the last two weeks? Romo is still fourth in the NFL in QB fantasy points, and no quarterback has more offensive talent at his disposal.

4. Michael Turner - As Adam Levitan pointed out Sunday night, Atlanta's playoff schedule is inviting for those speculating on Turner this week. The Falcons are at the Bucs, at the Panthers, at the Seahawks, home to Saints, and home to the Panthers in Weeks 13-17.

5. Larry Fitzgerald - Fitz isn't going to finish the season with less than 1,000 yards or 85 receptions. It's just not going to happen. In addition to the Derek Anderson effect, don't forget that he was also limited the first month with a knee injury. He's now back to full health with a quarterback looking in his direction.

Others: Randy Moss, Chad Ochocinco, Michael Vick, Brett Favre, Ryan Mathews, Ronnie Brown, Mike Sims-Walker, Marques Colston, Santonio Holmes, Dez Bryant

[SIZE=+1]Sell High[/SIZE]

1. Dwayne Bowe - Average through the first four games: 2.3 receptions, 38 yards, 0.25 TDs. Sunday's results against a historically brutal Texans pass defense: 6 receptions, 108 yards, 2 TDs. This is a run-dominated offense, and Bowe won't face a cupcake secondary every week.

2. Roy Williams - He's not going to keep scoring touchdowns at this rate, nor will he hold off Dez Bryant all season long.

3. Ryan Torain - The Colts (third-worst in YPC, fourth-worst in yards allowed) are to opposing running games as the Texans are to opposing aerial attacks. Torain was able to turn the corner against Indy, but it wasn't due to explosive talent. Not only does he lack special ability, Torain is also perhaps the league's most brittle starting running back. Flip him before he turns into a pumpkin at midnight.

4. Braylon Edwards - On pace for 1,100 yards and 13 TDs. Those numbers will come back down to earth once Santonio Holmes bypasses him as Mark Sanchez's top receiver.

5. Kyle Orton - Two ominous signs from Sunday: 1. Tim Tebow showed that he can be a red-zone weapon, sparking the offense with his first action since the opening game. 2. With Knowshon Moreno finally back in the lineup, the Broncos rushed for a season-high 145 yards on 37 carries. You didn't really think Orton was going to pass 700 times this season, did you? Check out the first-half vs. second-half seasonal splits for his career. The holiday season hasn't been kind to him.

Others: Ahmad Bradshaw, Felix Jones, Terrell Owens, Brandon Lloyd / Jabar Gaffney

[SIZE=+1]Committee Time[/SIZE]

1. Chiefs - Jamaal Charles (20 touches, 117 yards) started over Thomas Jones (20-110, 1TD) for the first time after dominating the workload and production in Week 5. Charles remains the NFL leader at 6.3 yards per carry while averaging 110 combined yards per game. He's a legit RB2 with upside whereas Jones is a hit-or-miss flex option

2. Cowboys - Marion Barber (13-46) has been money in short-yardage situations this year, but he's barren in the playmaking department. Felix Jones (24-93) has wrested control of feature back duties, posting a monster PPR-league performance with 10 catches -- mostly on checkdowns -- at Minnesota.

3. Chargers - Coach Norv Turner made good on his promise to increase Ryan Mathews' (15-76) role, but Mike Tolbert (3-3, 1 TD) was the goal-line option of choice on consecutive carries. Mathews, showing renewed burst, is now cemented as the feature back, but Tolbert isn't going away as a vulture.

4. Raiders - I realize I sound like a broken record, but this is Darren McFadden's backfield once he gets healthy. Michael Bush (22-59) has averaged 3.3 yards per carry in two starts, and the film is even more in McFadden's favor than the numbers are.

5. Saints - Pierre Thomas gut-punched fantasy owners Friday, revealing that his ankle was a 4-6 week injury all along. After a mistake-filled game by Ladell Betts at Arizona last week, the Saints turned to Chris Ivory Sunday for an impressive 175 yards on 16 touches. Ivory may have a one-week window against the Browns before a bruising matchup against the Steelers and a Week 9 bye.

6. Dolphins - Ronnie Brown (20-75) and Ricky Williams (14-63) continue to rotate series, grinding down defenses while limiting their fantasy production to RB2/flex status.

7. Seahawks - It's no surprise that Justin Forsett (11-76, 1 TD) excelled in his new change-of-pace job. He's a wonderful role player, stretched as a feature back. Marshawn Lynch (20-53, 1 TD) was less effective, but he added a much-needed physicality to the Seahawks' backfield. Expect that 2:1 ratio to continue going forward.

8. Packers - Over the past two weeks, Brandon Jackson has 30 touches for 222 yards compared to John Kuhn's 10 touches for 26 yards. Rookie James Starks is eligible to come off the PUP list this week, though Jackson will remain the primary back against the Vikes.

9. Patriots - He may not be in Kevin Faulk's class as a chip-blocker, but Danny Woodhead is already superior as a fantasy option. Dominating the backfield snaps, Woodhead racked up 115 yards on 16 touches, hitting holes quickly and making Ravens defenders miss. BenJarvus Green-Ellis (10-20, 1 TD) is the short-yardage back and clock killer.

10. Buccaneers - Poor Caddying once again! Cadillac Williams racked up 63 yards on seven receptions, but he's now sitting on a per-carry average of 2.5 yards. Kareem Huggins' (knee) season could be in jeopardy, and Earnest Graham left after aggravating a hamstring injury. Though he was a healthy scratch this week, LeGarrette Blount is back on the fantasy radar.

Falling Out: Jets (LaDainian Tomlinson), Panthers / Cardinals / Bills (bye)

Already Graduated: Bears (Matt Forte), Eagles (LeSean McCoy), Giants (Ahmad Bradshaw), Browns (Peyton Hillis), Redskins (Ryan Torain)

<!--RW-->

[SIZE=+1]Injury Ward[/SIZE]

Antonio Gates, Chargers - Ankle
DeSean Jackson, Eagles - Concussion
Chris Cooley, Redskins - Concussion
Joseph Addai, Colts - Shoulder
Malcom Floyd, Chargers - Hamstring
Eddie Royal, Broncos - Groin
Shaun Hill, Lions - Broken Arm
Chris Ivory, Saints - Leg
Kareem Huggins, Buccaneers - Knee
Earnest Graham, Buccaneers - Hamstring
Joshua Cribbs, Browns - Concussion
Mohamed Massaquoi, Browns - Concussion
Mardy Gilyard, Rams - Hamstring
Julian Edelman, Patriots - Head
DeMeco Ryans, Texans - Achilles'
Karlos Dansby, Dolphins - Knee
Nate Keading, Chargers - Groin

Matt Stroup's "Blaze of Glory" column has in-depth analysis on all of this week's high-impact injuries.

[SIZE=+1]Awards Section[/SIZE]

Stat of the Week: Devin Hester's 89-yard punt return touchdown was his 13th combined return touchdown (nine punt-return, four kickoff-return), tied with Brian Mitchell for the most in NFL history.

Runner-Up: Chiefs linebacker Mike Vrabel caught his 12th career pass in Sunday's loss to the Texans. All 12 have gone for touchdowns, tied with DB Woodley Lewis and DE Carl Mulleneax for second-most in NFL history for a defensive player. Wilbur Moore of the 1940s Redskins is first with 17.

Second Runner-Up: Adrian Peterson is up to 5,037 rushing yards in his 51st game, tying Jamal Lewis for the fifth-fastest to 5,000.

Quote of the Week: Stephen Rodrick in the Washington Post, explaining Deadspin's decision to go forward with the Brett Favre "scandal" despite Jenn Sterger's specific instructions not to publish the information: "Deadspin's standard explanation for its creative integrity is that its writers are gossip merchants, not journalists, akin to an alcoholic proudly saying, 'I'm a drunk, can't do nothin' about it,' right before doing donuts in your front yard."

Runner-Up: Steelers OLB James Harrison, after taking Browns receivers Joshua Cribbs and Mohamed Massquoi out of Sunday's game: "I want to hurt somebody. If you hurt somebody, they'll be back the next play. I don't want to see anybody injured. An injury will keep you out. But I'm not opposed to hurting anybody."

Tweet of the Week: CSN New England's @tomecurran, with sarcastic advice for the Patriots in a "Hail Mary" situation with seconds left in regulation time: "Pats should just throw it up to Moss."

Runner-Up: Footballguys.com's @SigmundBloom: "The Colts are making Ryan Torain look like Arian Foster after making Foster look like Terrell Davis on opening weekend."

Second Runner-Up: Profootballtalk's @greggrosenthal, three hours after the Steelers beat the Browns, 28-10: "James Harrison just knocked out another Browns receiver."

Fantasy MVP of Week 6: Kevin Kolb / Jeremy Maclin, Eagles
Fantasy Breakout Player of Week 6: Greg Jennings, Packers
Fantasy Rookie of Week 6: Chris Ivory, Saints
Fantasy Disappointment of Week 6: Hakeem Nicks, Giants / Miles Austin, Cowboys
Fantasy Fraud of Week 6: Danny Amendola, Rams
Fantasy Fluke of Week 6: Michael Jenkins, Falcons

[SIZE=+1]Fine Fifteen Fantasy Offenses[/SIZE]

1. Colts - Addai's first 100-yard game since 2008.
2. Texans - A. Johnson, J. Jones, and O. Daniels over the injury hump.
3. Cowboys - Romo's five picks in last two weeks not stopping fantasy gravy train
4. Eagles - Vick will get job back, but maybe not until Week 9.
5. Steelers - Balance: The Big 5 all scored in Big Ben's return.
6. Vikings - Favre's last six quarters: 4:1 TD-to-INT ratio, 99 passer rating.
7. Chargers - Rivers' seven sacks taken at St. Louis a career high.
8. Patriots - Despite the win, Brady struggled mightily inside the numbers.
9. Packers - Injuries taking a heavy toll.
10. Saints - Rack up 475 total yards, but PT23 owners feeling a little queasy.
11. Broncos - "A toddler's nose runs more powerfully than a Broncos running back."
12. Giants - Bradshaw losing precious goal-line work.
13. Ravens - Flacco impeccable until late in the game.
14. Jets - LT2's 38th career game with 2+ TDs is most in NFL history.
15. Lions - Calvin Johnson: The third-string QB whisperer.

Feeling Frisky: 49ers, Dolphins

[SIZE=+1]Week 7 Byes[/SIZE]

Colts, Texans, Jets, Lions

[SIZE=+1]Early Waiver Look[/SIZE]

1. Danario Alexander, WR, Rams
2. Chris Ivory, RB, Saints
3. Danny Woodhead, RB, Patriots
4. Deion Branch, WR, Patriots
5. Fred Davis, TE, Redskins
6. Big Mike Williams, WR, Seahawks
7. Jason Avant, WR, Eagles
8. Patrick Crayton, WR, Chargers
9. Robert Meachem, WR, Saints
10. LeGarrette Blount, RB, Buccaneers

Others: Deon Butler, Devin Aromashodu, Ben Watson, Randy McMichael
 

hacheman@therx.com
Staff member
Joined
Jan 2, 2002
Messages
139,160
Tokens
Maurice's Misery
After Monday night's frustrating performance, Maurice Jones-Drew has just one 100-yard game all year and zero touchdowns in five of his six outings. It's ugly out there.

Before we go any further, remember that Jones-Drew has never averaged less than 4.2 yards per carry in a season during his career. He came into this season averaging 13.5 touchdowns a year since being drafted in 2006. MJD is an elite player that will keep being handed a monster workload. He'll remain a weekly must-start in all formats.

That said, this year feels different. David Garrard is regressing. Defenses are bringing a safety into the box on almost every play because the passing game is a non-threat. The offensive line has been surprisingly brutal. Jones-Drew has dealt with an assortment of nagging injuries, starting with that preseason knee scare.

What to do? Well, if you don't own Jones-Drew, only buy really low. If someone wants to give up MJD for something like Kyle Orton and Felix Jones, by all means do it. But I'm not going out of my way to target Jones-Drew like I am someone like Michael Turner. There are too many yellow flags.

Quarterback injuries:
* Vince Young was knocked out of the game in the first quarter when he fumbled a snap and got his leg bent the wrong way. The Titans said he just had a knee sprain and could have come back in to run the offense out of the shotgun if necessary.

That's a huge sigh of relief for the Titans in addition to owners of Chris Johnson and Kenny Britt. Young was cheering on the sidelines instead of getting an MRI, which means he almost certainly suffered no ligament damage. Young keeps the Titans' offense spread and is a threat for deep completions despite his inaccuracy. Kerry Collins would limit the upside of Johnson and Britt.

* David Garrard suffered a concussion in the second quarter and was replaced by Trent Edwards. As uninspiring as Garrard is, Edwards is much, much worse. Owners of Maurice Jones-Drew should be praying that Garrard can be cleared in time for Week 7.

Editor's Note: For early rankings every Tuesday morning, tons of exclusive columns, subscriber-only chats, full projections updated all week and much more, get our award-winning Season Pass.

Titans vs. Jaguars quick slants
The Titans care about Chris Johnson's numbers. They routinely leave him in at the end of games to rack up stats. ... Kenny Britt now has a touchdown in four straight games. He would have had a bigger game tonight if the game was closer. ... Mike Sims-Walker was targeted eight times but came up with just two catches. ... The Jaguars' secondary is painfully bad.

<BIG>HEADLINERS</BIG>
NEWS OF THE DAY #1
The Eagles have a mess on their hands at quarterback. Sound familiar? It should. This time, Kevin Kolb is the one playing so well that coach Andy Reid has a dilemma. He has stated previously that Michael Vick is his starter when healthy, but backed off that Monday.

Look for Kolb to start this week while Vick's ribs continue to heal. Kolb will be a QB1 against the Titans, even without DeSean Jackson (concussion). Upgrade Jeremy Maclin and Brent Celek. Then the Eagles will go into their bye and reevaluate the situation. What Reid comes up with at that point is anyone's guess. For now, keep both Kolb and Vick on your roster and wait.

NEWS OF THE DAY #2
James Starks (hamstring) will be activated off the PUP list and practice with the Packers on Wednesday. For a guy that hasn't played a down of competitive football since January of 2009, he is garnering a ton of fantasy buzz.

Yes, Brandon Jackson and John Kuhn have been brutal since Ryan Grant went down. And Starks did flash significant talent at Buffalo back in 2008. But the Packers haven't even seen Starks in pads yet and the Green Bay Post-Gazette doesn't see him active on game days anytime soon. Consider Starks a deep league stash and nothing more.

Editor's Note: Pick a new fantasy team just for today and win real cash with Snapdraft!

NEWS OF THE DAY #3
The NFL's trade deadline is Tuesday at 4 p.m. ET. We know that Kevin Kolb and Michael Vick are not going anywhere. The Ravens insist that Willis McGahee is not going to be traded despite not playing a single down in Week 6. And speaking of the James Starks note above, the Packers are not expected to trade for a running back before the deadline. We shall see. Make sure you are hovering around your waiver wires tomorrow afternoon.

<!--RW-->

<BIG>MONDAY QUICK SLANTS</BIG>
DEPTH CHART QUICK SLANTS: FIRST DOWN
Coach Gary Kubiak indicated that Derrick Ward will spell Arian Foster more going forward. ... Anthony Armstrong will continue to be the starting split end. ... Colt McCoy may make another start in Week 7. ... Percy Harvin is expected to add punt returner to his duties. He will remain an every-down wide receiver regardless. ... Coach Sean Payton gave Garrett Hartley a vote of confidence, but fantasy owners should seek safer options. ... Deion Branch started and was on the field for 54 of the 76 offensive snaps Sunday.

DEPTH CHART QUICK SLANTS: SECOND DOWN
Matt Moore is back as the starter ahead of Jimmy Clausen. Good news for all the Panthers skill players. ... Danario Alexander was given an unheard of four-year contract when he was signed off the practice squad last week. The Rams think they have something. ... Lawrence Tynes is back for the Giants, so Shayne Graham is gone. Graham could end up in San Diego, where Nate Kaeding (groin) is out. ... Jermichael Finley (knee) was placed on injured reserve, ending his season.

INJURY QUICK SLANTS: FIRST DOWN
DeSean Jackson (concussion) will not play until Week 9 at the earliest. One writer thinks he will be out a lot longer. ... Jason Campbell may have a torn meniscus and Bruce Gradkowski (shoulder) probably will not be ready this week either. It looks like the Kyle Boller show. ... Chris Cooley (concussion) has not been ruled out for Week 7. ... Reggie Bush (leg) is tentatively expected to return in Week 8. ... Malcom Floyd (hamstring) is not expected to play this week. Craig Davis and Patrick Crayton are going to be the starting receivers. ... Donald Driver (quad) is going to miss practice time this week. James Jones is headed for an increased role. ... Kareem Huggins (torn ACL) is done for the year.

INJURY QUICK SLANTS: SECOND DOWN
Vernon Davis had an MRI on his knee Monday and is considered day to day. ... Antonio Gates (toe) remains a question mark for Week 7. ... Steve Breaston (knee) practiced Monday as the Cardinals come out of their bye. ... Dustin Keller had an MRI on his wrist that revealed nothing major. ... Shaun Hill (forearm is out but Matthew Stafford (shoulder) is expected back. ... Sidney Rice (hip) will not come off the PUP list this week. There is still no timetable. ... Darren McFadden will test his hamstring on Wednesday. He will be a RB2 immediately upon his return. ... Ryan Torain was spotted with a big wrap on his knee Monday.

<BIG>WAIVERS</BIG>
DEFENSIVE SPOT STARTS
Adding a different defense each week based on matchups is a fine strategy. Each week in this space, I'll give out three defensive units that are likely available in your league to consider for streaming purposes.

1. CHIEFS vs. Jaguars: The Chiefs are a better real-life defense than fantasy unit, but the Jaguars are a unit to pick on. As seen Monday night, their offensive line and quarterback play is inept.

2. SAINTS vs. Browns: Colt McCoy showed a lot better than anyone thought he would against the Steelers, but I'm not buying it. Now that there is a week of tape on McCoy, the Saints will shut him down with ease.

3. BRONCOS vs. Raiders: This will depend on what happens with the Raiders' quarterbacks. If Kyle Boller or Jason Campbell end up starting, Denver becomes a much stronger play.
 

hacheman@therx.com
Staff member
Joined
Jan 2, 2002
Messages
139,160
Tokens
The Danario Scenario
How were we to know early last week that undrafted rookie Danario Alexander would leapfrog Danny Amendola, Brandon Gibson, Mardy Gilyard, and Laurent Robinson to fill Mark Clayton's cleats as the Rams' top fantasy receiver? He had spent the first five weeks on the practice squad, battling atrophy in the muscles surrounding his surgically repaired knee.

By late last week, however, a few hints emerged as to Alexander's potential. The NCAA's 2009 leader in receiving yards was handed a four-year contract and a $35,000 signing bonus when he was signed off the practice squad on Tuesday. That's unheard of for an undrafted practice squad player.

Alexander ended up seeing a "good amount of work" with the first-team offense in practice last week, and he revealed that he was "in the game plan" for the Chargers. Cornerback Ronald Bartell suggested Saturday that Alexander would even be featured: "He's getting an opportunity. Let's just see how he does."

The results? Alexander blew up for four receptions, 72 yards, and a touchdown by halftime as the Rams jumped out to a surprising lead over the heavily favored Chargers. Sam Bradford spent the second half handing off to Steven Jackson and bleeding the clock.

If the Rams hadn't been playing with a commanding lead, Alexander would have been a lead-pipe lock for 100+ yards as Bradford's new favorite. It's a useful reminder about the game momentum factor in chasing waiver wire wonders, as we pointed out last week with Danny Amendola's fluky Week 5 target numbers. Deion Branch, the top pick on many waiver lists this week, was sitting on two catches before the Pats' fourth-quarter comeback. If not for overtime, his statline would have read 7-63, 1 TD as opposed to 9-98, 1 TD. Not too shabby, but also not nearly as eye catching.

So what makes Alexander so intriguing as the top choice this week? Before recurring knee injuries popped up in 2006-07, he was ahead of Jeremy Maclin on the depth chart at Mizzou. He bounced all the way back with an NCAA best 113/1,781/14 line in 2009, only to be forced under the knife again in February. If not for that most recent surgery, Alexander would have been an early round pick.

Ready for the hyperbole? Alexander checks in at 6'5" and 215 pounds with a vertical leap that has been recorded at anywhere from 41.5" to a preposterous 46.5" for a player of his size. At the Senior Bowl last January, one scout anointed him a "Calvin Johnson clone." Despite going undrafted, Alexander impressed at his July pro-day, posting a 4.46 forty and a short shuttle time of 4.12. For comparison's sake, a much smaller Jahvid Best posted a 4.17 in the short shuttle. Alexander's measurables are remarkable, bordering on freakish, and he has the college production to match.

If he can stay healthy, Alexander is the best bet to stick as Bradford's go-to target in the Rams' suddenly relevant passing game. He's a major injury risk and there will be bouts of inconsistency with the rookie-to-rookie connection, but fantasy leaguers can't pass on his upside the rest of the way.

On to the players. Here is how I rank the top players available at each position as we head into Week 7. Full writeups of each player are below.

***

Editor's Note: Join subscriber only chats, get weekly rankings before anyone else, plus exclusive weekly projections, stat tools, dynasty ranks, columns, and much more including the Rotoworld Oracle in our Season Pass.

Wide Receivers
1. Danario Alexander
2. Patrick Crayton
3. Deion Branch
4. Jacoby Jones - Week 7 Bye
5. Mike Williams (SEA)
6. Robert Meachem
7. Jason Avant
8. Mike Thomas
9. Davone Bess
10. Devin Aromashodu

Running Backs
1. Danny Woodhead
2. Chris Ivory
3. Donald Brown - Week 7 Bye
4. Earnest Graham
5. LeGarrette Blount
6. Deji Karim
7. James Starks
8. Derrick Ward

Quarterbacks
1. Matthew Stafford - Week 7 Bye
2. Matt Cassel
3. Josh Freeman
4. Matt Hasselbeck
5. Colt McCoy
6. Max Hall
7. Kyle Boller

Tight Ends
1. Owen Daniels - Week 7 Bye
2. Ben Watson
3. Fred Davis
4. Todd Heap
5. Jermaine Gresham

Defense/Special Teams
1. Seahawks
2. Redskins
3. Chiefs
4. 49ers

[SIZE=+1]Wide Receivers[/SIZE]

Danario Alexander, Rams - Danny Amendola remains the best bet to lead the Rams in receptions going forward, but Alexander's playmaking ability and red-zone presence give him a considerable edge in standard scoring leagues. Shadow corner Aqib Talib has been far from shutdown quality this season, and the Bucs allow the eighth-most fantasy points to opposing receivers. Expect the Bradford-to-Alexander connection to produce WR3 numbers again this week.

Recommendation: Should be owned in all leagues

Patrick Crayton, Chargers - The Bolts are expected to be without Malcom Floyd (hamstring) this week against the Pats, and Antonio Gates (toe/foot) may be a long-shot as well. That would leave Crayton as Philip Rivers' top target in the passing game. In which case, Crayton would be a must-start WR2/3 and a good bet to repeat his 6-117 line from Week 6.

Recommendation: Should be owned in 12-team leagues

Deion Branch, Patriots - Expect Branch to start opposite Wes Welker going forward, but keep in mind that the Pats are essentially using a committee approach depending on matchup and situation. Branch's Week 6 numbers were boosted by the comeback attempt and overtime. He has just six 100-yard games in his regular-season career, and he's never scored more than five TDs in a season. While Branch is a fine pickup in PPR leagues, he's not going to be worthy of WR3 consideration the rest of the way in standard scoring formats.

Recommendation: Should be owned in 12-team leagues

Jacoby Jones, Texans - Jones would be much higher on this list of the Texans weren't heading into their bye week. The Texans offense is a sleeping giant in the second half now that Jones, Andre Johnson, and Owen Daniels are all healthy. Matt Schaub will have to pass like crazy to make up for a historically bad secondary, and Jones has the potential to breakout if he can stay ahead of Kevin Walter (0 targets in Week 6).

Recommendation: Should be owned in all leagues

Mike Williams, Seahawks - The Deion Branch trade paid off immediately for both teams. Williams was the primary beneficiary for the Seahawks, hauling in 10 of 15 targets for 123 yards against the Bears. It's just his second time over 50 yards this season, though, and he's an unimpressive 61st in receiver fantasy scoring. Williams is worth picking up as the Seahawks' No. 1 receiver, but there are more talented options available this week.

Recommendation: Should be owned in 12-team leagues

Robert Meachem, Saints - His role is growing by the week while Devery Henderson's continues to shrink. Meachem has topped four receptions and 70 yards with a touchdown in each of the past two weeks. The Saints' spread-the-wealth mentality at receiver can be maddening, but Meachem's upside is worth carrying as a WR 4/5.

Recommendation: Should be owned in 12-team leagues

Jason Avant, Eagles - With DeSean Jackson (concussion) already ruled out this week, Avant will start opposite Jeremy Maclin at Tennessee. He's strictly a possession receiver as opposed to playmaker, though, which makes him a much better target in PPR leagues. A half-dozen receptions and 50+ yards is a reasonable expectation for Week 7.

Recommendation: Should be owned in PPR leagues

Mike Thomas, Jaguars - He just keeps outplaying an unreliable Mike Sims-Walker. Eight of Thomas' nine targets came with Trent Edwards under center, so give him a boost if David Garrard (concussion) can't go this week at Kansas City. Thomas has yet to find the end zone this season, but he's 31st in fantasy scoring over the past three weeks.

Recommendation: Should be owned in PPR leagues

Davone Bess, Dolphins - Bess is 19th in total WR fantasy points the past three weeks, which is even more impressive when you consider the Dolphins had their bye in that stretch. He's averaged 6.7 catches and 72 yards over his past three games, good enough to land a contract extension from the Dolphins as the highest-paid slot receiver in the league. As Miami's clear second option in the passing game, he's a rock-solid WR3 in PPR circles.

Recommendation: Should be owned in PPR leagues

Devin Aromashodu, Bears - Look who's earned his way back into the Bears' receiver rotation. With Devin Hester's snaps reduced to concentrate on return duties, Aromashodu came out of the doghouse for five targets against the Seahawks. He has a much higher fantasy upside than Earl Bennett, which makes him the receiver to stash behind Johnny Knox in Chicago.

Recommendation: Worth a look as a roster stash

Long-Term Fliers: Craig Davis, Deon Butler, Nate Burleson, Anthony Armstrong, Jordy Nelson, Riley Cooper, Emmanuel Sanders

Davis is worth a look if hamstring injuries keep Legedu Naannee and Malcom Floyd out this week. ... Butler can't get over the 50-yard mark in Seattle, but he's clearly ahead of Golden Tate for now. ... Burleson has scored in two straight as the Lions enter their bye week. ... Armstrong's role continues to grow. ... Cooper will be the Eagles' third receiver with DeSean Jackson out.

Cut Bait: Devin Hester, Kevin Walter

Hold Off Michael Jenkins, Earl Bennett
<!--RW-->

[SIZE=+1]Quarterbacks[/SIZE]

Matthew Stafford, Lions - Stafford nearly entered the game as the emergency quarterback last week, a sign that he should be good to go when the Lions come out of their bye in Week 8. He'll return to an offense ranked eighth in the NFL in scoring and sixth in passing yards. The bye week comes at the perfect time, enabling Calvin Johnson (shoulder) and Jahvid Best (turf toe) to get back to full strength. Stafford could flirt with QB1 value the rest of the way if he stays healthy.

Recommendation: Worth a look in 12-team leagues

Matt Cassel, Chiefs - Cassel came through with three touchdowns and 22.9 fantasy points against a disastrous Texans secondary last week. It's more of the same this week with an equally porous Jaguars pass defense on the docket. Cassel will be a top-15 fantasy option against a defense allowing the second-most fantasy points to opposing QBs.

Recommendation: Worth a look as a matchup play

Josh Freeman, Buccaneers - Freeman continues to make steady progress, increasing his completion percentage to 60 while cutting down on his turnovers this season. He's consistently between 15-20 fantasy points each week, which leaves him as a solid if unspectacular TE2 option. He takes on the Rams' suddenly frisky pass defense this week.

Recommendation: Worth a look in 12-team leagues

Matt Hasselbeck, Seahawks - Hasselbeck can look like a spry 25-year-old one week and an over-the-hill cripple the next. Fortunately he has a plus home matchup against a Cardinals defense allowing the 11th-most fantasy points to opposing QBs this week. Hasselbeck is a top-20 option for owners of bye week studs Peyton Manning and Matt Schaub.

Recommendation: Worth a look as a bye-week fill-in

Colt McCoy, Browns - Considering his lack of experience and the opposing defense, McCoy was arguably more impressive than Ben Roethlisberger in the Week 6 loss. He showed no fear of the pass rush and was accurate enough to squeeze throws into tight spaces. McCoy is expected to start this week at New Orleans, and he may just keep the job with another inspiring performance.

Recommendation: Worth a look in two-quarterback leagues

Max Hall, Cardinals - Steve Breaston (knee) and Early Doucet (groin) are expected to begin practicing this week, which should give Hall a boost heading into Seattle. The Seahawks allow the sixth-most points to opposing fantasy quarterbacks, but keep in mind that they play much better at home. With his receivers getting healthy and Beanie Wells taking over the feature back role, things are looking up for Hall. For now, he's only a low-end TE2 option.

Recommendation: Worth a stash in 12-team leagues

Kyle Boller, Raiders - Jason Campbell may have a torn meniscus and Bruce Gradkowski (shoulder) is touch-and-go for this week's game against the Broncos. Boller "absolutely" could start this week, according to coach Tom Cable, and he can't do worse than Campbell did in Week 6. He's only a desperation fantasy play for those in two-quarterback leagues.

Recommendation: Worth a look as a desperation play

Fliers Ryan Fitzpatrick, Matt Moore, Kerry Collins, Trent Edwards

Fitzpatrick has been living well off garbage time points, but he can't be counted on against the Ravens this week. ... The best that can be said about Moore is that he's played well in lost seasons before. ... Collins and Edwards would play this week if Vince Young (knee) and David Garrard (concussion) can't go. Neither is an attractive fantasy play.

<!--RW-->

[SIZE=+1]Running Backs[/SIZE]

Danny Woodhead, Patriots - Meet the Pats' new lead back. Woodhead played 51 of 76 snaps against the Ravens compared to 24 for BenJarvus Green-Ellis and two for Sammy Morris. Woodhead is now being used in two-receiver packages, and his touches have gone up by the week. The Pats will continue to mix and match based on opponent and game momentun, but Woodhead is now the best bet for touches and yards in this backfield. He may have RB2/flex value the rest of the way in PPR leagues.

Recommendation: Should be owned in 12-team leagues

Chris Ivory, Saints - Sporting an impressive power/speed combination, Ivory took advantage of Pierre Thomas' absence and an awful Bucs run defense to rack up 175 yards in Week 6. Those numbers are gone, however, as we head into Week 7. Thomas (ankle) has a chance to return this week, and Reggie Bush (leg) will return the following week, putting a serious dent in Ivory's fantasy potential. Ivory is worth carrying in all leagues, but fantasy owners would be foolish to expect a repeat of last week's "perfect storm" performance against the Browns.

Recommendation: Should be owned in 12-team leagues

Donald Brown, Colts - Due to a lingering hamstring injury, Brown is unowned in half of all CBSSports.com leagues as the Colts head into their bye week. Joseph Addai is expected to undergo more testing on his injured shoulder, and the Colts may have to scale down his role in Week 8. Brown should be back to full health just in time to take on a greater share of the workload.

Recommendation: Should be owned in all leagues

James Starks, Packers - As Adam Levitan pointed out Tuesday morning, the fantasy buzz for Starks is out of control considering he hasn't played football in two years. The Packers still haven't seen him in pads, and he's not expected to be active on game days this week or next. He's talented enough to be worthy of a stash in deeper leagues, but don't expect a fantasy impact before Thanksgiving.

Recommendation: Worth a stash in deeper leagues

Earnest Graham, Buccaneers - Cadillac Williams is sitting on a completely useless 2.5 yards per carry average, and Kareem Huggins (ACL tear) is done for the season. Graham is not expected to miss any game action with his own hamstring injury, and he's averaging a stellar 7.8 yards per touch. He could be next in line to eat into Caddy's workload.

Recommendation: Worth a look in deeper leagues

LeGarrette Blount, Buccaneers - The Bucs kept talking up Blount as a candidate to take on a larger role, but he was deactivated in Week 6. It turns out they simply don't trust him to play in pass-blocking situations. He'll suit up this week, but his role is negligible in the short term.

Recommendation: Worth a stash in 12-team leagues

Deji Karim, Jaguars - Karim managed just three yards on three carries Monday night, but he played ahead of Rashad Jennings as Maurice Jones-Drew's primary backup. Owners of a disappointing MJD will want to carry Karim over Jennings as the "handcuff."

Recommendation: Worth a look in deeper leagues

Derrick Ward, Texans - What happened in Tampa? It could be that Ward simply fell out of shape after signing the big contract. He's back in shape now and flashing his old Giants form with TDs in three consecutive games. Ward isn't a threat to Arian Foster's production, but he's a fine handcuff.

Recommendation: Worth a look in deeper leagues

Long-Term Fliers: Jerome Harrison, Keiland Williams, Kevin Smith, LeRon McClain, Mike Hart

Harrison is basically a poor man's LeSean McCoy. He'd fill the same role if McCoy goes down. ... Williams is one Torain injury away from feature back duty. ... Jahvid Best reportedly has turf toe issues in both of his feet. ... McClain is only worthy of a roster spot if Willis McGahee is traded Tuesday.

<!--RW-->

[SIZE=+1]Tight Ends[/SIZE]

Owen Daniels, Texans - If your biggest need is a bye-week or injury fill-in, skip Daniels as the Texans are on bye. If you're looking for a long-haul solution, though, Daniels is easily the best bet. After he and coach Gary Kubiak both deemed him back to pre-injury form last week, he posted his best performance (5-79) of the season. Even more telling, Matt Schaub looked for him in crunch time. Daniels is still owned in less than 50 percent of CBSSports.com leagues. Pick him up as a TE1 the rest of the way.

Recommendation: Should be owned in all leagues

Ben Watson, Browns - I've been advising a wait-and-see approach with Watson due to the Browns' QB woes, but it's time to add him in a down week for tight end options. With Joshua Cribbs and Mohamed Massaquoi both concussed, the Browns tight ends will be counted on to pick up the slack at New Orleans. Watson's 6-88, 1 TD line with Colt McCoy was the top fantasy tight end performance in the league in Week 6. Pick him and plug him right into your starting lineup.

Recommendation: Should be owned as a matchup play

Fred Davis, Redskins - Chris Cooley performed well on his baseline tests Monday, but his three college concussions suggest the Redskins will treat him extra cautiously this week. If he ends up sitting out, Davis is an immediate TE1 in a week without Jermichael Finley, Dallas Clark, Dustin Keller, Owen Daniels, the Detroit tight ends, and possibly Antonio Gates.

Recommendation: Worth a look as an injury fill-in

Todd Heap, Ravens - Heap was lit up by Pats safety Brandon Meriweather on a vicious helmet-to-helmet hit, so make sure he's on track to play this week before adding him to your roster. If he does play, the matchup couldn't be better against a Bills defense allowing the most fantasy points to opposing tight ends.

Recommendation: Worth a look as a matchup play

Jermaine Gresham, Bengals - Gresham is 17th in fantasy points per week, and the Falcons are 19th in fantasy points surrendered to opposing tight ends. In other words, you know exactly what you're getting with Gresham: a textbook TE2 play.

Recommendation: Worth a look in 12-team leagues

Hold Off: Evan Moore

[SIZE=+1]Defense/Special Teams[/SIZE]

Seahawks - After six sacks against Jay Cutler last week, the Seahawks defense is now No. 1 in fantasy points per game and a surprising sixth in the league in sacks. Perhaps no team has a more drastic home/road split, and Seattle welcomes new Cardinals QB Max Hall and a shaky offensive line to town this week.

Recommendation: Should be owned in all leagues

Redskins - This defense has been a major disappointment this year, but they've also played against a murderer's row of QBs in Peyton Manning, Aaron Rodgers, Matt Schaub, and Tony Romo. They travel to Chicago this week for a matchup against Jay Cutler, who has been sacked 15 times(!) in his last two games.

Recommendation: Worth a look as a matchup play

Chiefs - The upcoming schedule is a breeze with the Chiefs playing host to the Jaguars and Bills before traveling to Oakland in Week 9. With Javier Arenas and Dexter McCluster also threatening to break a return each week, the Chiefs are a nice pickup for the next month.

Recommendation: Worth a look in 12-team leagues

49ers - A matchup with Jimmy Clausen would have been ideal, but Matt Moore will suffice. The Panthers offense has been a nightmare this year.

Recommendation: Worth a look as a matchup play
 

hacheman@therx.com
Staff member
Joined
Jan 2, 2002
Messages
139,160
Tokens
Maurice's Misery
After Monday night's frustrating performance, Maurice Jones-Drew has just one 100-yard game all year and zero touchdowns in five of his six outings. It's ugly out there.

Before we go any further, remember that Jones-Drew has never averaged less than 4.2 yards per carry in a season during his career. He came into this season averaging 13.5 touchdowns a year since being drafted in 2006. MJD is an elite player that will keep being handed a monster workload. He'll remain a weekly must-start in all formats.

That said, this year feels different. David Garrard is regressing. Defenses are bringing a safety into the box on almost every play because the passing game is a non-threat. The offensive line has been surprisingly brutal. Jones-Drew has dealt with an assortment of nagging injuries, starting with that preseason knee scare.

What to do? Well, if you don't own Jones-Drew, only buy really low. If someone wants to give up MJD for something like Kyle Orton and Felix Jones, by all means do it. But I'm not going out of my way to target Jones-Drew like I am someone like Michael Turner. There are too many yellow flags.

Quarterback injuries:
* Vince Young was knocked out of the game in the first quarter when he fumbled a snap and got his leg bent the wrong way. The Titans said he just had a knee sprain and could have come back in to run the offense out of the shotgun if necessary.

That's a huge sigh of relief for the Titans in addition to owners of Chris Johnson and Kenny Britt. Young was cheering on the sidelines instead of getting an MRI, which means he almost certainly suffered no ligament damage. Young keeps the Titans' offense spread and is a threat for deep completions despite his inaccuracy. Kerry Collins would limit the upside of Johnson and Britt.

* David Garrard suffered a concussion in the second quarter and was replaced by Trent Edwards. As uninspiring as Garrard is, Edwards is much, much worse. Owners of Maurice Jones-Drew should be praying that Garrard can be cleared in time for Week 7.

Editor's Note: For early rankings every Tuesday morning, tons of exclusive columns, subscriber-only chats, full projections updated all week and much more, get our award-winning Season Pass.

Titans vs. Jaguars quick slants
The Titans care about Chris Johnson's numbers. They routinely leave him in at the end of games to rack up stats. ... Kenny Britt now has a touchdown in four straight games. He would have had a bigger game tonight if the game was closer. ... Mike Sims-Walker was targeted eight times but came up with just two catches. ... The Jaguars' secondary is painfully bad.

<BIG>HEADLINERS</BIG>
NEWS OF THE DAY #1
The Eagles have a mess on their hands at quarterback. Sound familiar? It should. This time, Kevin Kolb is the one playing so well that coach Andy Reid has a dilemma. He has stated previously that Michael Vick is his starter when healthy, but backed off that Monday.

Look for Kolb to start this week while Vick's ribs continue to heal. Kolb will be a QB1 against the Titans, even without DeSean Jackson (concussion). Upgrade Jeremy Maclin and Brent Celek. Then the Eagles will go into their bye and reevaluate the situation. What Reid comes up with at that point is anyone's guess. For now, keep both Kolb and Vick on your roster and wait.

NEWS OF THE DAY #2
James Starks (hamstring) will be activated off the PUP list and practice with the Packers on Wednesday. For a guy that hasn't played a down of competitive football since January of 2009, he is garnering a ton of fantasy buzz.

Yes, Brandon Jackson and John Kuhn have been brutal since Ryan Grant went down. And Starks did flash significant talent at Buffalo back in 2008. But the Packers haven't even seen Starks in pads yet and the Green Bay Post-Gazette doesn't see him active on game days anytime soon. Consider Starks a deep league stash and nothing more.

Editor's Note: Pick a new fantasy team just for today and win real cash with Snapdraft!

NEWS OF THE DAY #3
The NFL's trade deadline is Tuesday at 4 p.m. ET. We know that Kevin Kolb and Michael Vick are not going anywhere. The Ravens insist that Willis McGahee is not going to be traded despite not playing a single down in Week 6. And speaking of the James Starks note above, the Packers are not expected to trade for a running back before the deadline. We shall see. Make sure you are hovering around your waiver wires tomorrow afternoon.

<!--RW-->

<BIG>MONDAY QUICK SLANTS</BIG>
DEPTH CHART QUICK SLANTS: FIRST DOWN
Coach Gary Kubiak indicated that Derrick Ward will spell Arian Foster more going forward. ... Anthony Armstrong will continue to be the starting split end. ... Colt McCoy may make another start in Week 7. ... Percy Harvin is expected to add punt returner to his duties. He will remain an every-down wide receiver regardless. ... Coach Sean Payton gave Garrett Hartley a vote of confidence, but fantasy owners should seek safer options. ... Deion Branch started and was on the field for 54 of the 76 offensive snaps Sunday.

DEPTH CHART QUICK SLANTS: SECOND DOWN
Matt Moore is back as the starter ahead of Jimmy Clausen. Good news for all the Panthers skill players. ... Danario Alexander was given an unheard of four-year contract when he was signed off the practice squad last week. The Rams think they have something. ... Lawrence Tynes is back for the Giants, so Shayne Graham is gone. Graham could end up in San Diego, where Nate Kaeding (groin) is out. ... Jermichael Finley (knee) was placed on injured reserve, ending his season.

INJURY QUICK SLANTS: FIRST DOWN
DeSean Jackson (concussion) will not play until Week 9 at the earliest. One writer thinks he will be out a lot longer. ... Jason Campbell may have a torn meniscus and Bruce Gradkowski (shoulder) probably will not be ready this week either. It looks like the Kyle Boller show. ... Chris Cooley (concussion) has not been ruled out for Week 7. ... Reggie Bush (leg) is tentatively expected to return in Week 8. ... Malcom Floyd (hamstring) is not expected to play this week. Craig Davis and Patrick Crayton are going to be the starting receivers. ... Donald Driver (quad) is going to miss practice time this week. James Jones is headed for an increased role. ... Kareem Huggins (torn ACL) is done for the year.

INJURY QUICK SLANTS: SECOND DOWN
Vernon Davis had an MRI on his knee Monday and is considered day to day. ... Antonio Gates (toe) remains a question mark for Week 7. ... Steve Breaston (knee) practiced Monday as the Cardinals come out of their bye. ... Dustin Keller had an MRI on his wrist that revealed nothing major. ... Shaun Hill (forearm is out but Matthew Stafford (shoulder) is expected back. ... Sidney Rice (hip) will not come off the PUP list this week. There is still no timetable. ... Darren McFadden will test his hamstring on Wednesday. He will be a RB2 immediately upon his return. ... Ryan Torain was spotted with a big wrap on his knee Monday.

<BIG>WAIVERS</BIG>
DEFENSIVE SPOT STARTS
Adding a different defense each week based on matchups is a fine strategy. Each week in this space, I'll give out three defensive units that are likely available in your league to consider for streaming purposes.

1. CHIEFS vs. Jaguars: The Chiefs are a better real-life defense than fantasy unit, but the Jaguars are a unit to pick on. As seen Monday night, their offensive line and quarterback play is inept.

2. SAINTS vs. Browns: Colt McCoy showed a lot better than anyone thought he would against the Steelers, but I'm not buying it. Now that there is a week of tape on McCoy, the Saints will shut him down with ease.

3. BRONCOS vs. Raiders: This will depend on what happens with the Raiders' quarterbacks. If Kyle Boller or Jason Campbell end up starting, Denver becomes a much stronger play.
 

hacheman@therx.com
Staff member
Joined
Jan 2, 2002
Messages
139,160
Tokens
The Danario Scenario
How were we to know early last week that undrafted rookie Danario Alexander would leapfrog Danny Amendola, Brandon Gibson, Mardy Gilyard, and Laurent Robinson to fill Mark Clayton's cleats as the Rams' top fantasy receiver? He had spent the first five weeks on the practice squad, battling atrophy in the muscles surrounding his surgically repaired knee.

By late last week, however, a few hints emerged as to Alexander's potential. The NCAA's 2009 leader in receiving yards was handed a four-year contract and a $35,000 signing bonus when he was signed off the practice squad on Tuesday. That's unheard of for an undrafted practice squad player.

Alexander ended up seeing a "good amount of work" with the first-team offense in practice last week, and he revealed that he was "in the game plan" for the Chargers. Cornerback Ronald Bartell suggested Saturday that Alexander would even be featured: "He's getting an opportunity. Let's just see how he does."

The results? Alexander blew up for four receptions, 72 yards, and a touchdown by halftime as the Rams jumped out to a surprising lead over the heavily favored Chargers. Sam Bradford spent the second half handing off to Steven Jackson and bleeding the clock.

If the Rams hadn't been playing with a commanding lead, Alexander would have been a lead-pipe lock for 100+ yards as Bradford's new favorite. It's a useful reminder about the game momentum factor in chasing waiver wire wonders, as we pointed out last week with Danny Amendola's fluky Week 5 target numbers. Deion Branch, the top pick on many waiver lists this week, was sitting on two catches before the Pats' fourth-quarter comeback. If not for overtime, his statline would have read 7-63, 1 TD as opposed to 9-98, 1 TD. Not too shabby, but also not nearly as eye catching.

So what makes Alexander so intriguing as the top choice this week? Before recurring knee injuries popped up in 2006-07, he was ahead of Jeremy Maclin on the depth chart at Mizzou. He bounced all the way back with an NCAA best 113/1,781/14 line in 2009, only to be forced under the knife again in February. If not for that most recent surgery, Alexander would have been an early round pick.

Ready for the hyperbole? Alexander checks in at 6'5" and 215 pounds with a vertical leap that has been recorded at anywhere from 41.5" to a preposterous 46.5" for a player of his size. At the Senior Bowl last January, one scout anointed him a "Calvin Johnson clone." Despite going undrafted, Alexander impressed at his July pro-day, posting a 4.46 forty and a short shuttle time of 4.12. For comparison's sake, a much smaller Jahvid Best posted a 4.17 in the short shuttle. Alexander's measurables are remarkable, bordering on freakish, and he has the college production to match.

If he can stay healthy, Alexander is the best bet to stick as Bradford's go-to target in the Rams' suddenly relevant passing game. He's a major injury risk and there will be bouts of inconsistency with the rookie-to-rookie connection, but fantasy leaguers can't pass on his upside the rest of the way.

On to the players. Here is how I rank the top players available at each position as we head into Week 7. Full writeups of each player are below.

***

Editor's Note: Join subscriber only chats, get weekly rankings before anyone else, plus exclusive weekly projections, stat tools, dynasty ranks, columns, and much more including the Rotoworld Oracle in our Season Pass.

Wide Receivers
1. Danario Alexander
2. Patrick Crayton
3. Deion Branch
4. Jacoby Jones - Week 7 Bye
5. Mike Williams (SEA)
6. Robert Meachem
7. Jason Avant
8. Mike Thomas
9. Davone Bess
10. Devin Aromashodu

Running Backs
1. Danny Woodhead
2. Chris Ivory
3. Donald Brown - Week 7 Bye
4. Earnest Graham
5. LeGarrette Blount
6. Deji Karim
7. James Starks
8. Derrick Ward

Quarterbacks
1. Matthew Stafford - Week 7 Bye
2. Matt Cassel
3. Josh Freeman
4. Matt Hasselbeck
5. Colt McCoy
6. Max Hall
7. Kyle Boller

Tight Ends
1. Owen Daniels - Week 7 Bye
2. Ben Watson
3. Fred Davis
4. Todd Heap
5. Jermaine Gresham

Defense/Special Teams
1. Seahawks
2. Redskins
3. Chiefs
4. 49ers

[SIZE=+1]Wide Receivers[/SIZE]

Danario Alexander, Rams - Danny Amendola remains the best bet to lead the Rams in receptions going forward, but Alexander's playmaking ability and red-zone presence give him a considerable edge in standard scoring leagues. Shadow corner Aqib Talib has been far from shutdown quality this season, and the Bucs allow the eighth-most fantasy points to opposing receivers. Expect the Bradford-to-Alexander connection to produce WR3 numbers again this week.

Recommendation: Should be owned in all leagues

Patrick Crayton, Chargers - The Bolts are expected to be without Malcom Floyd (hamstring) this week against the Pats, and Antonio Gates (toe/foot) may be a long-shot as well. That would leave Crayton as Philip Rivers' top target in the passing game. In which case, Crayton would be a must-start WR2/3 and a good bet to repeat his 6-117 line from Week 6.

Recommendation: Should be owned in 12-team leagues

Deion Branch, Patriots - Expect Branch to start opposite Wes Welker going forward, but keep in mind that the Pats are essentially using a committee approach depending on matchup and situation. Branch's Week 6 numbers were boosted by the comeback attempt and overtime. He has just six 100-yard games in his regular-season career, and he's never scored more than five TDs in a season. While Branch is a fine pickup in PPR leagues, he's not going to be worthy of WR3 consideration the rest of the way in standard scoring formats.

Recommendation: Should be owned in 12-team leagues

Jacoby Jones, Texans - Jones would be much higher on this list of the Texans weren't heading into their bye week. The Texans offense is a sleeping giant in the second half now that Jones, Andre Johnson, and Owen Daniels are all healthy. Matt Schaub will have to pass like crazy to make up for a historically bad secondary, and Jones has the potential to breakout if he can stay ahead of Kevin Walter (0 targets in Week 6).

Recommendation: Should be owned in all leagues

Mike Williams, Seahawks - The Deion Branch trade paid off immediately for both teams. Williams was the primary beneficiary for the Seahawks, hauling in 10 of 15 targets for 123 yards against the Bears. It's just his second time over 50 yards this season, though, and he's an unimpressive 61st in receiver fantasy scoring. Williams is worth picking up as the Seahawks' No. 1 receiver, but there are more talented options available this week.

Recommendation: Should be owned in 12-team leagues

Robert Meachem, Saints - His role is growing by the week while Devery Henderson's continues to shrink. Meachem has topped four receptions and 70 yards with a touchdown in each of the past two weeks. The Saints' spread-the-wealth mentality at receiver can be maddening, but Meachem's upside is worth carrying as a WR 4/5.

Recommendation: Should be owned in 12-team leagues

Jason Avant, Eagles - With DeSean Jackson (concussion) already ruled out this week, Avant will start opposite Jeremy Maclin at Tennessee. He's strictly a possession receiver as opposed to playmaker, though, which makes him a much better target in PPR leagues. A half-dozen receptions and 50+ yards is a reasonable expectation for Week 7.

Recommendation: Should be owned in PPR leagues

Mike Thomas, Jaguars - He just keeps outplaying an unreliable Mike Sims-Walker. Eight of Thomas' nine targets came with Trent Edwards under center, so give him a boost if David Garrard (concussion) can't go this week at Kansas City. Thomas has yet to find the end zone this season, but he's 31st in fantasy scoring over the past three weeks.

Recommendation: Should be owned in PPR leagues

Davone Bess, Dolphins - Bess is 19th in total WR fantasy points the past three weeks, which is even more impressive when you consider the Dolphins had their bye in that stretch. He's averaged 6.7 catches and 72 yards over his past three games, good enough to land a contract extension from the Dolphins as the highest-paid slot receiver in the league. As Miami's clear second option in the passing game, he's a rock-solid WR3 in PPR circles.

Recommendation: Should be owned in PPR leagues

Devin Aromashodu, Bears - Look who's earned his way back into the Bears' receiver rotation. With Devin Hester's snaps reduced to concentrate on return duties, Aromashodu came out of the doghouse for five targets against the Seahawks. He has a much higher fantasy upside than Earl Bennett, which makes him the receiver to stash behind Johnny Knox in Chicago.

Recommendation: Worth a look as a roster stash

Long-Term Fliers: Craig Davis, Deon Butler, Nate Burleson, Anthony Armstrong, Jordy Nelson, Riley Cooper, Emmanuel Sanders

Davis is worth a look if hamstring injuries keep Legedu Naannee and Malcom Floyd out this week. ... Butler can't get over the 50-yard mark in Seattle, but he's clearly ahead of Golden Tate for now. ... Burleson has scored in two straight as the Lions enter their bye week. ... Armstrong's role continues to grow. ... Cooper will be the Eagles' third receiver with DeSean Jackson out.

Cut Bait: Devin Hester, Kevin Walter

Hold Off Michael Jenkins, Earl Bennett
<!--RW-->

[SIZE=+1]Quarterbacks[/SIZE]

Matthew Stafford, Lions - Stafford nearly entered the game as the emergency quarterback last week, a sign that he should be good to go when the Lions come out of their bye in Week 8. He'll return to an offense ranked eighth in the NFL in scoring and sixth in passing yards. The bye week comes at the perfect time, enabling Calvin Johnson (shoulder) and Jahvid Best (turf toe) to get back to full strength. Stafford could flirt with QB1 value the rest of the way if he stays healthy.

Recommendation: Worth a look in 12-team leagues

Matt Cassel, Chiefs - Cassel came through with three touchdowns and 22.9 fantasy points against a disastrous Texans secondary last week. It's more of the same this week with an equally porous Jaguars pass defense on the docket. Cassel will be a top-15 fantasy option against a defense allowing the second-most fantasy points to opposing QBs.

Recommendation: Worth a look as a matchup play

Josh Freeman, Buccaneers - Freeman continues to make steady progress, increasing his completion percentage to 60 while cutting down on his turnovers this season. He's consistently between 15-20 fantasy points each week, which leaves him as a solid if unspectacular TE2 option. He takes on the Rams' suddenly frisky pass defense this week.

Recommendation: Worth a look in 12-team leagues

Matt Hasselbeck, Seahawks - Hasselbeck can look like a spry 25-year-old one week and an over-the-hill cripple the next. Fortunately he has a plus home matchup against a Cardinals defense allowing the 11th-most fantasy points to opposing QBs this week. Hasselbeck is a top-20 option for owners of bye week studs Peyton Manning and Matt Schaub.

Recommendation: Worth a look as a bye-week fill-in

Colt McCoy, Browns - Considering his lack of experience and the opposing defense, McCoy was arguably more impressive than Ben Roethlisberger in the Week 6 loss. He showed no fear of the pass rush and was accurate enough to squeeze throws into tight spaces. McCoy is expected to start this week at New Orleans, and he may just keep the job with another inspiring performance.

Recommendation: Worth a look in two-quarterback leagues

Max Hall, Cardinals - Steve Breaston (knee) and Early Doucet (groin) are expected to begin practicing this week, which should give Hall a boost heading into Seattle. The Seahawks allow the sixth-most points to opposing fantasy quarterbacks, but keep in mind that they play much better at home. With his receivers getting healthy and Beanie Wells taking over the feature back role, things are looking up for Hall. For now, he's only a low-end TE2 option.

Recommendation: Worth a stash in 12-team leagues

Kyle Boller, Raiders - Jason Campbell may have a torn meniscus and Bruce Gradkowski (shoulder) is touch-and-go for this week's game against the Broncos. Boller "absolutely" could start this week, according to coach Tom Cable, and he can't do worse than Campbell did in Week 6. He's only a desperation fantasy play for those in two-quarterback leagues.

Recommendation: Worth a look as a desperation play

Fliers Ryan Fitzpatrick, Matt Moore, Kerry Collins, Trent Edwards

Fitzpatrick has been living well off garbage time points, but he can't be counted on against the Ravens this week. ... The best that can be said about Moore is that he's played well in lost seasons before. ... Collins and Edwards would play this week if Vince Young (knee) and David Garrard (concussion) can't go. Neither is an attractive fantasy play.

<!--RW-->

[SIZE=+1]Running Backs[/SIZE]

Danny Woodhead, Patriots - Meet the Pats' new lead back. Woodhead played 51 of 76 snaps against the Ravens compared to 24 for BenJarvus Green-Ellis and two for Sammy Morris. Woodhead is now being used in two-receiver packages, and his touches have gone up by the week. The Pats will continue to mix and match based on opponent and game momentun, but Woodhead is now the best bet for touches and yards in this backfield. He may have RB2/flex value the rest of the way in PPR leagues.

Recommendation: Should be owned in 12-team leagues

Chris Ivory, Saints - Sporting an impressive power/speed combination, Ivory took advantage of Pierre Thomas' absence and an awful Bucs run defense to rack up 175 yards in Week 6. Those numbers are gone, however, as we head into Week 7. Thomas (ankle) has a chance to return this week, and Reggie Bush (leg) will return the following week, putting a serious dent in Ivory's fantasy potential. Ivory is worth carrying in all leagues, but fantasy owners would be foolish to expect a repeat of last week's "perfect storm" performance against the Browns.

Recommendation: Should be owned in 12-team leagues

Donald Brown, Colts - Due to a lingering hamstring injury, Brown is unowned in half of all CBSSports.com leagues as the Colts head into their bye week. Joseph Addai is expected to undergo more testing on his injured shoulder, and the Colts may have to scale down his role in Week 8. Brown should be back to full health just in time to take on a greater share of the workload.

Recommendation: Should be owned in all leagues

James Starks, Packers - As Adam Levitan pointed out Tuesday morning, the fantasy buzz for Starks is out of control considering he hasn't played football in two years. The Packers still haven't seen him in pads, and he's not expected to be active on game days this week or next. He's talented enough to be worthy of a stash in deeper leagues, but don't expect a fantasy impact before Thanksgiving.

Recommendation: Worth a stash in deeper leagues

Earnest Graham, Buccaneers - Cadillac Williams is sitting on a completely useless 2.5 yards per carry average, and Kareem Huggins (ACL tear) is done for the season. Graham is not expected to miss any game action with his own hamstring injury, and he's averaging a stellar 7.8 yards per touch. He could be next in line to eat into Caddy's workload.

Recommendation: Worth a look in deeper leagues

LeGarrette Blount, Buccaneers - The Bucs kept talking up Blount as a candidate to take on a larger role, but he was deactivated in Week 6. It turns out they simply don't trust him to play in pass-blocking situations. He'll suit up this week, but his role is negligible in the short term.

Recommendation: Worth a stash in 12-team leagues

Deji Karim, Jaguars - Karim managed just three yards on three carries Monday night, but he played ahead of Rashad Jennings as Maurice Jones-Drew's primary backup. Owners of a disappointing MJD will want to carry Karim over Jennings as the "handcuff."

Recommendation: Worth a look in deeper leagues

Derrick Ward, Texans - What happened in Tampa? It could be that Ward simply fell out of shape after signing the big contract. He's back in shape now and flashing his old Giants form with TDs in three consecutive games. Ward isn't a threat to Arian Foster's production, but he's a fine handcuff.

Recommendation: Worth a look in deeper leagues

Long-Term Fliers: Jerome Harrison, Keiland Williams, Kevin Smith, LeRon McClain, Mike Hart

Harrison is basically a poor man's LeSean McCoy. He'd fill the same role if McCoy goes down. ... Williams is one Torain injury away from feature back duty. ... Jahvid Best reportedly has turf toe issues in both of his feet. ... McClain is only worthy of a roster spot if Willis McGahee is traded Tuesday.

<!--RW-->

[SIZE=+1]Tight Ends[/SIZE]

Owen Daniels, Texans - If your biggest need is a bye-week or injury fill-in, skip Daniels as the Texans are on bye. If you're looking for a long-haul solution, though, Daniels is easily the best bet. After he and coach Gary Kubiak both deemed him back to pre-injury form last week, he posted his best performance (5-79) of the season. Even more telling, Matt Schaub looked for him in crunch time. Daniels is still owned in less than 50 percent of CBSSports.com leagues. Pick him up as a TE1 the rest of the way.

Recommendation: Should be owned in all leagues

Ben Watson, Browns - I've been advising a wait-and-see approach with Watson due to the Browns' QB woes, but it's time to add him in a down week for tight end options. With Joshua Cribbs and Mohamed Massaquoi both concussed, the Browns tight ends will be counted on to pick up the slack at New Orleans. Watson's 6-88, 1 TD line with Colt McCoy was the top fantasy tight end performance in the league in Week 6. Pick him and plug him right into your starting lineup.

Recommendation: Should be owned as a matchup play

Fred Davis, Redskins - Chris Cooley performed well on his baseline tests Monday, but his three college concussions suggest the Redskins will treat him extra cautiously this week. If he ends up sitting out, Davis is an immediate TE1 in a week without Jermichael Finley, Dallas Clark, Dustin Keller, Owen Daniels, the Detroit tight ends, and possibly Antonio Gates.

Recommendation: Worth a look as an injury fill-in

Todd Heap, Ravens - Heap was lit up by Pats safety Brandon Meriweather on a vicious helmet-to-helmet hit, so make sure he's on track to play this week before adding him to your roster. If he does play, the matchup couldn't be better against a Bills defense allowing the most fantasy points to opposing tight ends.

Recommendation: Worth a look as a matchup play

Jermaine Gresham, Bengals - Gresham is 17th in fantasy points per week, and the Falcons are 19th in fantasy points surrendered to opposing tight ends. In other words, you know exactly what you're getting with Gresham: a textbook TE2 play.

Recommendation: Worth a look in 12-team leagues

Hold Off: Evan Moore

[SIZE=+1]Defense/Special Teams[/SIZE]

Seahawks - After six sacks against Jay Cutler last week, the Seahawks defense is now No. 1 in fantasy points per game and a surprising sixth in the league in sacks. Perhaps no team has a more drastic home/road split, and Seattle welcomes new Cardinals QB Max Hall and a shaky offensive line to town this week.

Recommendation: Should be owned in all leagues

Redskins - This defense has been a major disappointment this year, but they've also played against a murderer's row of QBs in Peyton Manning, Aaron Rodgers, Matt Schaub, and Tony Romo. They travel to Chicago this week for a matchup against Jay Cutler, who has been sacked 15 times(!) in his last two games.

Recommendation: Worth a look as a matchup play

Chiefs - The upcoming schedule is a breeze with the Chiefs playing host to the Jaguars and Bills before traveling to Oakland in Week 9. With Javier Arenas and Dexter McCluster also threatening to break a return each week, the Chiefs are a nice pickup for the next month.

Recommendation: Worth a look in 12-team leagues

49ers - A matchup with Jimmy Clausen would have been ideal, but Matt Moore will suffice. The Panthers offense has been a nightmare this year.

Recommendation: Worth a look as a matchup play
 

hacheman@therx.com
Staff member
Joined
Jan 2, 2002
Messages
139,160
Tokens
A New Era
The hit that Dunta Robinson put on DeSean Jackson last Sunday could very well change the way the game is played. It was such a jaw-dropping, devastating blow that the rules are going to have to be adjusted. Yes, he led with his shoulder and hit Jackson in the sternum cleanly. But the NFL can't have its stars getting bludgeoned like that. So at this time next week, players will likely be suspended for vicious hits. Unfortunately for Jackson, it's too late.

Jackson's second concussion in as many years -- and this one apparently quite severe -- is serious business. To get an idea of what Jackson is dealing with, we chatted with Dr. Brian Eckenrode, a board-certified orthopedic clinical specialist and the sports team leader for GSPP Penn Therapy and Fitness at the Penn Sports Medicine Center in Philadelphia.

Editor's Note: For early rankings every Tuesday morning, tons of exclusive columns, subscriber-only chats, full projections updated all week and much more, get our award-winning Season Pass.

<BIG>DESEAN JACKSON</BIG>
Injury: Severe concussion
Timetable: Out indefinitely

Concussions are at the forefront of the NFL headlines this week. What are your thoughts on the potential rule changes? We're learning more about concussions. I think that researchers, scientists and doctors don't know a lot about them. I think they're recognizing the severity and what effects even a mild concussion can have on the long-term health of these athletes. The NFL is right to start leveling more severe penalties for these hits.

Is there such a thing as a mild concussion? There is. There are a couple different grading scales, but usually it's mild, moderate or severe. With mild, there usually is not a loss of consciousness versus something severe there is usually quite a bit of period of time unconscious. But anytime you're dealing with any type of head injury, where the brain is bouncing around inside the head, even something mild is still technically a brain injury.

How crucial is it that Jackson missed a game last year due to a concussion? Anytime you're dealing with someone that has multiple concussions - you see this in hockey, boxing, soccer - they just take longer to recover. The first incident sets them up to be more sensitive. They are just more sensitive to little jolts once they've had a pretty major one to begin with.

He only missed one game last year, so certainly that bodes well. If had missed a month last year, I would have said he would definitely miss a really good chunk of time this year.

Why are some players with multiple concussions able to return quicker than others? Everyone is a little different. It obviously depends on the severity of the hit. Everyone has a different way of responding. It could be something in their history, something in their genetics. It's just one of those things we don't know enough about it. We do know that if you've had a concussion, you're more prone to having longer period of symptoms.

So how long could Jackson conceivably be sidelined? Well, we've seen with other guys in other sports where it costs guys their season. I know (Flyers winger) Simon Gagne missed 50 or 60 games. He had multiple concussions and one bad one. You can be talking months. We don't know how long Jackson was unconscious for and we don't know where his tests fall at so it's just going to be day to day. But I know he's not playing this week and I think he'd be in danger of missing at least that game after the bye as well.


ROTOWORLD OPINION: Anyone who saw this hit knows it is a very serious problem. Dr. Eckenrode doubts Jackson will be able to play in Week 9 and there's a good chance he could even more time than that. If you can dump Jackson on someone that thinks he'll only miss a week, do it. There's also a concern that Jackson will be hesitant to go over the middle when he gets back. Owners need to be aware that they may have to make long-term adjustments.

Editor's Note: Pick a new fantasy team just for today and win real cash with Snapdraft!

<BIG>BRETT FAVRE</BIG>
Injury: Right (throwing) elbow tendinitis
Timetable: Will play

What is going on in Favre's elbow? I believe he has lateral epicondylitis, which affects the muscles on the outside part of his elbow. It's also known as tennis elbow. It's usually an overuse condition, but you can get it from a trauma. Usually it gets fired up when you're gripping or squeezing in repetitive motions.

Favre took a cortisone injection before last week's game and said he felt great. Will that last? The injection is more to block the pain. Every time he is gripping a football his muscles are contracting and if he's got pain and irritation he's not going to have quite the same grip in the ball.

Usually they wont do more than three injections per year in a particular joint. Probably back in the day they were giving these guys cortisone shots weekly. But now, you hope that the shot will have an affect going forward, that it's going to grab for several weeks. That's typically what ends up happening. He should have some relief still from that prior injection.

How can this hinder his performance? I think you saw couple key passes against the Jets where guys were wide open and he just missed them. He's got that pain in his elbow and he can't quite grip the ball the way he usually does so he's going to be off. Every time he's squeezing that ball, he is using those muscles that have inflammation and irritation in them. It's like having an open cut that just keeps opening up. He may even lose a little velocity on the ball.

Is there anything he can do to get back to 100 percent? Just rest and light stretching is all he can do. There is surgery, but typically it's not considered the best treatment for it. The big thing is resting from the aggravation.

ROTOWORLD OPINION: Favre is a drama queen, but he is not faking this injury as some have suggested. The Vikings will balance his practice reps and he'll probably have more injections than he should over the next couple of months. It's a mild concern going forward.

<BIG>ANTONIO GATES</BIG>
Injury: Left toe
Timetable: Tentatively expected to play this week

Gates couldn't put any pressure on his left foot and was in a walking boot Sunday. Any guesses as to what is going on? We don't know even which toe it is. I'm going to guess it's the big toe because that's the most important one for pushing off. It's likely either hyperextended or hyperflexed which is sort of like turf toe. Or he could have jut tweaked it funny or twisted it wrong and stretched out the joint capsule and stretched out the ligaments that help support it. And then anytime he's moving the toe or pushing off to run he is having pain with it.

Gates had surgery on his toe in 2008. Could this be related? I wouldn't be surprised if they sent him for an MRI to make sure that the surgery is in place, that it hasn't gotten worse. But without more information, we can't really speculate on what is going on.

Gates says he'll play this week. Will he be limited? They'll probably treat it the same way as turf toe where they protect the motion in the joint. If it's inside the joint, they could give it a little injection in the area. But for the most part they'll probably try and do things like protect it with tape or insert something into his shoe so he can play with minimal pain.

ROTOWORLD OPINION: For now, this is not a long-term concern. Gates may very well be at less than 100 percent, but you can't bench a player of his caliber as long as he is active.

The Upenn rehab specialists interviewed in this story have not examined the athletes discussed. Their statements are general guidelines regarding their experience with injured athletes, and should not be taken as medical opinions.

For more information on Brian Eckenrode, PT, DPT, OCS and GSPP Penn Therapy and Fitness, visit phillyrehab.com.

<!--RW-->

<BIG>TUESDAY HEADLINES</BIG>
NEWS OF THE DAY #1
The trade deadlines in the NBA and MLB are among the most exciting days on the calendar. The NFL trade deadline came and went with one trade: The Chiefs sent DE Alex McGee to the Bucs for draft conditions. Yawn.

* The Cowboys reportedly didn't even receiver or make any trade offers concerning Marion Barber. He will continue to serve as the third-down/short-yardage back while Tashard Choice languishes on the bench.

* The Packers stood pat just as they have insisted they would. Brandon Jackson, John Kuhn and James Starks are the men going forward.

* The Ravens may have been trying to find a home for Willis McGahee, but there were no takers. He remains the handcuff to Ray Rice.

* The Chargers reportedly didn't get phone calls regarding Vincent Jackson over the last two days. It's not a surprise. GM A.J. Smith's demands of a second- and third-round pick plus Jackson's lofty contract demands make it an unworkable situation. He is eligible to play for the Chargers in Week 12 and is a stash for the fantasy playoffs.

NEWS OF THE DAY #2
An interesting note from ESPN's Calvin Watkins Monday: Felix Jones needed an IV and was puking at halftime against the Vikings Sunday. Jones wasn't sick -- he was apparently just overworked after 15 touches in the first half. Oh boy.

This has been the knock on Felix. Despite worlds of talent, he can't shoulder a full workload. Maybe there is some validity to that. The Cowboys will likely have to keep his touches under 20 going forward so he can maintain the same level of effectiveness at the end of games. Still, 15-18 touches is more than enough for Felix to maintain RB2 status. He's surely more effective at 80 percent than Marion Barber is at 100 percent.

INJURY QUICK SLANTS
Vince Young (knee, ankle) is day-to-day and may be headed for a game-time decision. ... Vernon Davis (knee) just has a contusion. He will be fine. ... Sidney Rice (hip) may be about three weeks away from returning. ... Matthew Stafford (shoulder) is fully expected to start in Week 8. ... Chris Cooley's (concussion) status remains unclear. Fred Davis would be a TE1 play if Cooley sits. ... Legedu Naanee (hamstring) could get back for Week 7. The Chargers are desperate for receiving help, but Naanee would only be a desperation fantasy play. ... Early Doucet (sports hernia) is expected to practice Wednesday. ... The extent of Eddie Royal's groin injury is still unknown. ... David Garrard (concussion) is tentatively expected to miss this week. Trent Edwards will start. ... Carolina's Steve Smith (ankle) will likely be out again this week.

DEPTH CHART QUICK SLANTS
Santonio Holmes played about 44 percent of the snaps last week. Look for that to rise when the Jets come out of their bye. ... Robert Meachem played more snaps than Devery Henderson and Lance Moore last week. ... Anthony Armstrong is officially the No. 2 receiver. ... Coach Mike Tomlin expressed some concern over Rashard Mendenhall's workload, but he will get more catches with Big Ben back anyway. His shoulder contusion is not a real concern.
 

hacheman@therx.com
Staff member
Joined
Jan 2, 2002
Messages
139,160
Tokens
Old faces in new places
The Randy Moss trade made national headlines two weeks ago, but you know the Moss story. If you want him, warm up your time machine, travel back to late August, and draft him.

Several lower-profile veterans resurfaced with new teams recently, some after trades, some after trips to the free agent market (a nice way of saying "unemployment.") Unlike Moss, these guys may be sitting on the waiver wire, and a few of them could help your fantasy team. Here's a breakdown of some of the old faces now appearing in new places:

[SIZE=+1]Deion Branch[/SIZE]
The Lowdown: Tom Brady's go-to guy from 2002 through 2005 and one of the greatest Super Bowl performers ever (21 catches, 276 yards, one touchdown in two games) is back in New England after four disappointing seasons with the Seahawks. After a 9-98-1 performance against the Ravens, Branch is the early favorite to replace Randy Moss as the big play threat in the Patriots offense.

A Deeper Look: Big play threat? Branch averaged 9.7 yards per catch in 2009 and was averaging 8.6 yards per catch before the trade. Even in his heyday, Branch was more of a possession receiver than a burner, averaging just 12.8 yards per catch and scoring only five touchdowns in 2008, his best season (78-998). Branch has never had a multi-touchdown game and has only had seven 100-plus yard regular-season receiving performances in his career. Seven of Branch's nine catches on Sunday came in the fourth quarter or overtime, suggesting that his performance had more to do with the situation than with some plan to replace Moss.

Editor's Note: For early rankings every Tuesday morning, tons of exclusive columns, subscriber-only chats, full projections updated all week and much more, get our award-winning Season Pass.

The Final Word: Branch is definitely worth a pickup for receiver depth if no one snatched him last week. Just know what you are getting: a guy who was part of a committee approach in his best seasons and will fill the same role this year. When it comes time for your playoff fantasy pool, though, grab Branch with both hands.

[SIZE=+1]Marshawn Lynch[/SIZE]
The Lowdown: Lynch was trapped in a numbers game in Buffalo: the Bills had three good running backs but no opportunities to run the ball because they are always playing from behind. The Seahawks acquired Lynch for two late-round draft picks, and Lynch carried 14 times for 47 yards and a touchdown on Sunday against the Bears.

A Deeper Look: Not counting his one-yard touchdown, nine of Lynch' 14 carries netted no yards, one yard, or a loss. Justin Forsett also had a touchdown against the Bears and had another red-zone carry, so while Lynch earned the start, he wasn't the designated goalline back. This is a crowded, confusing backfield committee, with Michael Robinson in the mix as a Wildcat and Leon Washington as a third-down back. Lynch is a tough runner who was playing well in Buffalo (64 and 79 yard games), but it's not clear how much use he'll get in Seattle.

The Final Word: Obviously, you need to take a long look at Lynch if you are having a running back crisis. He's officially a starter right now, which gives him a head up on the other guys in this article.<!--RW-->

[SIZE=+1]Derrick Ward[/SIZE]
The Lowdown: The Buccaneers released Ward at the end of the preseason, with Raheem Morris criticizing Ward's conditioning. The Texans signed him at the start of the season, and Ward has scored three touchdowns in three weeks as Arian Foster's backup.

A Deeper Look: Ward had runs of 38, 16, and four yards against the Chiefs on Sunday. If he could surround those carries with another 10-12 rushes, he could do some fantasy damage, but that's not going to happen as long as Foster is healthy and motivated. On the other hand, Foster has already had some minor injuries and a brief suspension for missing a team meeting, so the "healthy and motivated" thing carries no guarantees. Ward rushed for just 50 yards on 21 carries in the preseason, so it's not clear where this suddenly spry big-play machine came from.

The Final Word: Ward is only valuable as Foster insurance or a Foster handcuff, but that still gives him some value. Gary Kubiak has a quick hook with running backs: remember that Steve Slaton used to put up Foster-like numbers but is now relegated to kick returns. If Ward is still on waivers, consider signing him to "flip" him to the guy with Foster. If you are the guy with Foster, protect yourself.

[SIZE=+1]Ladell Betts and Julius Jones[/SIZE]
The Lowdown: Since Pierre Thomas and Reggie Bush got hurt, the Saints have become a halfway house for running backs on their way out of the league. The team signed Betts in August, released him late in camp, then brought him back after Bush got injured. Jones started the season with the Seahawks, carrying 12 times for 30 yards before getting released at the start of October. But the Saints aren't picky.

A Deeper Look: Jones' longest carry of the year before Sunday's win against the Buccaneers was six yards. He had a 16-yard run in the second quarter against the Buccaneers, but most of his production – and there wasn't much of it – came when the Saints were coasting. Betts may look more appealing than Jones after carrying 23 times in two games and scoring against the Buccaneers, but he has been little more than a plodder. In one mind-boggling sequence against the Bucs, Chris Ivory limped off the field with the Saints in the red zone, and Betts and Jones needed five carries and a penalty to travel 11 yards. If you really want to be part of this mess, knock yourself out.

The Final Word: The player you want is Ivory, who rushed for 146 yards in the preseason and has the size to earn some goal-line opportunities when Thomas returns. Betts is toast. Jones could maybe, possibly, sort-of have some PPR value, but you have to live with receiving stat lines like the gem he produced in Week 12 last year: five catches, minus-three yards.

[SIZE=+1]Trent Edwards[/SIZE]
The Lowdown: David Garrard suffered a concussion on Monday Night for the Jaguars, leaving the Bills' Opening Day starter to come off the bench and throw for 140 yards and two interceptions.

Editor's Note: For early rankings every Tuesday morning, tons of exclusive columns, subscriber-only chats, full projections updated all week and much more, get our award-winning Season Pass.

A Deeper Look: You aren't really thinking of signing a guy who was cut by the Bills and just threw two interceptions during the garbage time of a 30-3 loss, are you?

The Final Word: If you are really scraping the dregs for quarterbacks, consider Ryan Fitzpatrick, who replaced Edwards in Buffalo. Fitzpatrick can run, has a creative coach, knows how to get the ball to up-and-comer Steve Johnson, and has made a career out of padding his stats in ugly games.
 

hacheman@therx.com
Staff member
Joined
Jan 2, 2002
Messages
139,160
Tokens
Trainwreck at Tight End

Rotoworld nearly entered the spotlight in the news breaking business Wednesday afternoon. Before any of the big hitters had the story, our own Evan Silva tweeted news from an email tip that Dallas Clark was done for the year with torn ligaments in his wrist. An hour later, ESPN's Adam Schefter confirmed that Clark was out "indefinitely" with a hand/wrist injury.

Rotoworld's email source hit the jackpot a second time, revealing before any national outlet that Joseph Addai would be out "several weeks" with a shoulder injury. More on the Colts' injury fallout later.

Tight End Trauma

Clark is seeking "second and third opinions" on his injured wrist, which indicates surgery is a possibility. The Colts reportedly "are not optimistic." In addition to Schefter's report, ESPN's Chris Mortensen warned a Clark fantasy owner: "You better brace yourself." Clark shouldn't be dropped until it's confirmed that the injury is season-ending in nature, but be sure to make alternate plans at the position above and beyond his bye-week fill-in.

The news isn't all worst-case scenario at tight end. Antonio Gates (toe) missed practice Wednesday, as expected, but he's considered day to day. "I hope he can get some work tomorrow," said coach Norv Turner. "That would help a great deal in clearing up where he's at. ... Right now, I'm just hopeful that he'll be able to play." Gates owners must also have a Plan B, though this situation isn't nearly as dire as it seemed three days ago.

Editor's Note: Get your Antonio Gates jersey at the Rotoworld NFL Shop!

Chris Cooley (concussion) was able to take part in "light drills" at practice Wednesday, and coach Mike Shanahan expects him to practice without limitations on Thursday. Barring a setback, the Redskins will have him available and likely starting at Chicago on Sunday.

With Jermichael Finley out for the year, Clark out indefinitely, Gates touch-and-go, and Dustin Keller on bye, Vernon Davis (knee) may be the No. 1 option at tight end for Week 7. Davis practiced without limitation on Wednesday, and he's not expected to miss a snap at Carolina Sunday.

So what are Finley, Clark, and potentially Gates owners to do for a fallback option the rest of the way? Here are a few suggestions, starting with the one I would most heartily recommend:

1. Target Owen Daniels in a trade. I've been recommending him as a waiver pick up the past two weeks as it's become apparent that he's finally rounding into pre-injury form nearly 12 months after a third ACL surgery. Daniels is coming off his best game of the season (5-79), but the Texans are on bye this week. The offense is set to take off with Daniels, Andre Johnson, and Jacoby Jones all getting over the injury hurdle. Fantasy leaguers haven't been able to rely on Daniels as a starter this season, which means there's a good chance the owner in your league already has a superior option. I've managed to get Daniels thrown in on larger deals in two leagues recently. It may not be too late to try the same in your league.

2. Pick up Ben Watson as a one-week stopgap. With Joshua Cribbs and Mohamed Massaquoi obliterated by Steelers OLB James Harrison, Watson stepped up as the highest scoring fantasy tight end with a 6-88-1 line in Week 7. Colt McCoy targeted Watson nine times, and the rookie is expected to start again at New Orleans this week. Watson, the No. 9 fantasy tight end, has posted at least four receptions and 45 yards in each of the past five games.

3. Jason Witten is just 14th in fantasy points at tight end. Aaron Hernandez is 17th, Kellen Winslow is 25th, and Heath Miller is 28th. All four make terrific trade targets. Hernandez owners may not be so quick to part with the promising rookie and Miller owners know that a production spike is coming, but Witten and Winslow owners may be feeling the frustration of early-season disappointment.

4. Deep leaguers may have to bite the bullet and grab Clark's backup, Jacob Tamme. Rookie Brody Eldridge has seen more passes thus far (just five targets on 152 snaps), but that's because he plays in two-tight end sets as essentially an extra lineman. He was an All-Big 12 guard at Oklahoma. Tamme would move into Clark's "move tight end" role that sees more work in the passing game.

5. If you have the extra roster space, pick up Redskins TE Fred Davis. If Cooley does end up encountering a setback later this week, Davis is an immediate TE1 option at Chicago on Sunday.

Editor's Note: Pick a new fantasy team just for today and win real cash with Snapdraft!

<!--RW-->

More from the Colts Injury Ward

As mentioned above, Joseph Addai is in danger of missing the Week 8 game against the Texans. Addai acknowledged Wednesday that he might not regain strength in his injured left shoulder for another "four or five weeks." According to NFL Network's Jason LaCanfora, Addai could end up missing "several weeks" with the injury. "It's just dead and needs to wake up," Addai explained.

Backup Donald Brown (hamstring) is finally expected to be healthy coming out of the Week 7 bye, and he'd be the favorite to start over Mike Hart if Addai does miss game action. Brown should be owned in all leagues, though his own injury track record is spotty at best. It's not a bad idea to have Hart stashed as well in case Brown can't handle the workload.

Raiders Backfield

Coach Tom Cable indicated that Darren McFadden (hamstring) will likely return to game action this week if he can make it through Thursday's practice without a setback. McFadden was able to "cut it loose ... a couple times" in Wednesday's limited practice. Though McFadden felt good after he alternated first-team reps with Michael Bush, the workout was "not even half-speed." The true test won't come until Thursday afternoon. If McFadden ends up being listed as "probable" on Friday, he's a solid RB2 at Denver.

The Steve Smith Surprise

The Rock Hill Herald suggested Monday that the Panthers would "probably be without" Steve Smith again this week. Smith is the "Black Rambo," though, so he beat the 4-6 week timetable for his high ankle sprain and returned to a full practice Wednesday. "I feel like I'm healthy," Smith said. "I'm out of the boot and I don't have much pain so I'm able to move around. I feel good." He's fully expected to play Sunday against a 49ers defense that has surrendered nine passing TDs through six games. Smith and Matt Moore connected for two TDs in the Panthers' first three games before the flaming dirigible known as Jimmy Clausen took the offense down with him.

Editor's Note: Check out our Season Pass package, featuring IDP rankings, Top 200 rankings, Evan Silva's running back report, Ryan Boyer's Wide Receiver Report, Chris Wesseling's Dynasty advice, advance workload and target data, exclusive chats, and schedule analysis you can only get with Season Pass.

Around the League: Steelers OLB James Harrison insisted Wednesday that he's contemplating retirement due to the league's crackdown on vicious hits. He was excused from practice so he could "start fresh" on Thursday. ... Kevin Kolb has been named the Eagles' starter for Week 7, though Michael Vick (rib) will continue to practice on a limited basis. ... Coach Eric Maningi confirmed that Colt McCoy is expected to start for the Browns again this week at New Orleans. ... With Bruce Gradkowski (shoulder) still sidelined, coach Tom Cable confirmed that Jason Campbell (knee) will start in Week 7 if he's healthy enough to do so. ... Journeyman Todd Bouman is tentatively expected to start at Kansas City with David Garrard (concussion) and Trent Edwards (thumb) banged up. ... Chargers signed former Texans K Kris Brown to handle field-goal duties with Nate Kaeding (groin) out this week. ... Colts suspended P Pat McAfee one game for making a fool out of himself while being drunk in public. ... The Packers aren't ready yet to activate rookie RB James Starks (hamstring) from the PUP list. ... The NFL is reportedly still in a "fact-finding mode" regarding the investigation into Brett Favre's dealings with former Jets sideline reporter Jenn Sterger.

Injury Report: Vince Young (knee) and Kerry Collins (finger) were both held out of Wednesday's practice. Young has a "pretty good" chance to play against the Eagles this week. ... Matthew Stafford (separated shoulder) has been unleashing deep passes without issue in practice. ... Coach Brad Childress revealed that Brett Favre's sore elbow has "settled down" of late. ... Chris Johnson (thigh) and Peyton Hillis (thigh) were limited in practice as their teams scale back the mid-week workload. ... Ryan Matthews (ankle) and LeSean McCoy (rib) were held out of practice, but they're not in danger of missing Sunday's game. ... Pierre Thomas (ankle) and Reggie Bush (fibula) both missed Wednesday's practice. ... Dez Bryant (ankle, ribs) has resumed practicing this week. ... Rams WR Danario Alexander (knee soreness) did "quite a bit" in Wednesday's practice. ... Cardinals WRs Steve Breaston (knee) and Early Doucet (groin) both returned to a limited practice on Wednesday. ... Justin Gage (hamstring) returned to full practice, but the Titans will not rush him back to game action until he's 100 percent healthy. ... DeSean Jackson (concussion), Donald Driver (quadricep), Eddie Royal (groin), Josh Cribbs (concussion), Mohamed Massaquoi (concussion), Julian Edelman (concussion), and Legedu Naanee (hamstring) missed practice. ... Dolphins first-round DE Jared Odrick is in danger of missing the rest of the season with a hairline fracture in his right fibula. ... Cardinals ILB Gerald Hayes (back surgery, PUP) has been cleared to resume practicing.
 

hacheman@therx.com
Staff member
Joined
Jan 2, 2002
Messages
139,160
Tokens
Week 7 Rankings

Running backs are supposed to be shaky bets at the top of fantasy drafts, while wide receivers are generally safer. That, in addition to the proliferation of PPR leagues, is why wide receivers have climbed higher and higher in drafts the last few years.

This year, however, the running backs are mostly playing to form. I couldn't help but notice that this week's mid-October Week 7 top ten looks awfully similar to the group I originally worked on with Evan Silva and Chris Wesseling back in May.

Would there be changes if we had to re-rank the top ten today? Of course. But our top guys in the preseason (Johnson, Peterson, Jones-Drew, Gore, Rice, Turner, Jackson, Mendenhall, Charles) are all essentially in good shape.

MJD owners can't be happy with their guy, but we have to look to the RB2 picks like Shonn Greene, Ryan Mathews, and Jonathan Stewart to find truly disappointing picks thus far.

The wide receiver position, on the other hand, has been shaken up by upstarts like Brandon Lloyd, Austin Collie, and even Jeremy Maclin. Still, it's hard to find true "bust" potential players in the preseason WR1s. (Although Larry Fitzgerald owners should be praying Max Hall stays better than Derek Anderson.)

Everyone falls in love with top-20 discussion in the preseason, but this regular season hasn't been about your first pick or even your first few picks. Most top guys have played close enough to form to keep you alive. 2010 has been about finding the right guys in the middle of your draft and on the waiver wire.

There's something comforting about that.

[SIZE=+1]Week 7 Quarterbacks[/SIZE]

<TABLE width="100%"><TBODY><TR class=TableTopRed><TD>Rank</TD><TD>Player Name</TD><TD>Opponent</TD><TD>Notes</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>1</TD><TD>Drew Brees</TD><TD>vs. CLE</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>2</TD><TD>Philip Rivers</TD><TD>vs. NE</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>3</TD><TD>Tom Brady</TD><TD>at SD</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>4</TD><TD>Aaron Rodgers</TD><TD>vs. MIN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>5</TD><TD>Tony Romo</TD><TD>vs. NYG</TD><TD></TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>6</TD><TD>Kyle Orton</TD><TD>vs. OAK</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>7</TD><TD>Joe Flacco</TD><TD>vs. BUF</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>8</TD><TD>Ben Roethlisberger</TD><TD>at MIA</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>9</TD><TD>Jay Cutler</TD><TD>vs. WAS</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>10</TD><TD>Eli Manning</TD><TD>at DAL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>11</TD><TD>Kevin Kolb</TD><TD>at TEN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>12</TD><TD>Matt Cassel</TD><TD>vs. JAC</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>13</TD><TD>Donovan McNabb</TD><TD>at CHI</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>14</TD><TD>Matt Ryan</TD><TD>vs. CIN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>15</TD><TD>Brett Favre</TD><TD>at GB</TD><TD>Probable(elbow)</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>16</TD><TD>Carson Palmer</TD><TD>at ATL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>17</TD><TD>Sam Bradford</TD><TD>at TB</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>18</TD><TD>Matt Hasselbeck</TD><TD>vs. ARZ</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>19</TD><TD>Josh Freeman</TD><TD>vs. STL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>20</TD><TD>Vince Young</TD><TD>vs. PHI</TD><TD>Questionable(knee)</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>21</TD><TD>Chad Henne</TD><TD>vs. PIT</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>22</TD><TD>Alex Smith</TD><TD>at CAR</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>23</TD><TD>Max Hall</TD><TD>at SEA</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>24</TD><TD>Matt Moore</TD><TD>vs. SF</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>25</TD><TD>Ryan Fitzpatrick</TD><TD>at BAL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>26</TD><TD>Colt McCoy</TD><TD>at NO</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>27</TD><TD>Jason Campbell</TD><TD>at DEN</TD><TD>Questionable(knee)</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>28</TD><TD>Todd Bouman</TD><TD>at KC</TD><TD>Most likely starter </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

Editor's Note: For exclusive projections of all ranked players and tons of extra stats tools and columns, check out Season Pass.

<!--RW-->
[SIZE=+1]Week 7 Running Backs[/SIZE]

<TABLE width="100%"><TBODY><TR class=TableTopRed><TD>Rank</TD><TD>Player Name</TD><TD>Opponent</TD><TD>Notes</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>1</TD><TD>Adrian Peterson</TD><TD>at GB</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>2</TD><TD>Ray Rice</TD><TD>vs. BUF</TD><TD>Probable(ankle)</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>3</TD><TD>Chris Johnson</TD><TD>vs. PHI</TD><TD>Probable(thigh)</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>4</TD><TD>Steven Jackson</TD><TD>at TB</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>5</TD><TD>Frank Gore</TD><TD>at CAR</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>6</TD><TD>Michael Turner</TD><TD>vs. CIN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>7</TD><TD>Rashard Mendenhall</TD><TD>at MIA</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>8</TD><TD>LeSean McCoy</TD><TD>at TEN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>9</TD><TD>Jamaal Charles</TD><TD>vs. JAC</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>10</TD><TD>Maurice Jones-Drew</TD><TD>at KC</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>11</TD><TD>Peyton Hillis</TD><TD>at NO</TD><TD>Questionable(thigh)</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>12</TD><TD>Matt Forte</TD><TD>vs. WAS</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>13</TD><TD>Ahmad Bradshaw</TD><TD>at DAL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>14</TD><TD>DeAngelo Williams</TD><TD>vs. SF</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>15</TD><TD>Cedric Benson</TD><TD>at ATL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>16</TD><TD>Chris Ivory</TD><TD>vs. CLE</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>17</TD><TD>Ryan Torain</TD><TD>at CHI</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>18</TD><TD>Knowshon Moreno</TD><TD>vs. OAK</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>19</TD><TD>Ryan Mathews</TD><TD>vs. NE</TD><TD>Probable(ankle)</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>20</TD><TD>Felix Jones</TD><TD>vs. NYG</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>21</TD><TD>Beanie Wells</TD><TD>at SEA</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>22</TD><TD>Pierre Thomas</TD><TD>vs. CLE</TD><TD>Sidelined(ankle)</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>23</TD><TD>Darren McFadden</TD><TD>at DEN</TD><TD>Questionable(hamstring)</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>24</TD><TD>Marshawn Lynch</TD><TD>vs. ARZ</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>25</TD><TD>Michael Bush</TD><TD>at DEN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>26</TD><TD>Thomas Jones</TD><TD>vs. JAC</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>27</TD><TD>Brandon Jackson</TD><TD>vs. MIN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>28</TD><TD>Jonathan Stewart</TD><TD>vs. SF</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>29</TD><TD>Ronnie Brown</TD><TD>vs. PIT</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>30</TD><TD>Danny Woodhead</TD><TD>at SD</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>31</TD><TD>Fred Jackson</TD><TD>at BAL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>32</TD><TD>BenJarvus Green-Ellis</TD><TD>at SD</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>33</TD><TD>Justin Forsett</TD><TD>vs. ARZ</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>34</TD><TD>Ricky Williams</TD><TD>vs. PIT</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>35</TD><TD>Marion Barber</TD><TD>vs. NYG</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>36</TD><TD>Mike Tolbert</TD><TD>vs. NE</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>37</TD><TD>C.J. Spiller</TD><TD>at BAL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>38</TD><TD>Cadillac Williams</TD><TD>vs. STL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>39</TD><TD>Tim Hightower</TD><TD>at SEA</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>40</TD><TD>Brandon Jacobs</TD><TD>at DAL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>41</TD><TD>Willis McGahee</TD><TD>vs. BUF</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>42</TD><TD>Chester Taylor</TD><TD>vs. WAS</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>43</TD><TD>Darren Sproles</TD><TD>vs. NE</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>44</TD><TD>Earnest Graham</TD><TD>vs. STL</TD><TD>Questionable(hamstring)</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>45</TD><TD>Ladell Betts</TD><TD>vs. CLE</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>46</TD><TD>Jason Snelling</TD><TD>vs. CIN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>47</TD><TD>John Kuhn</TD><TD>vs. MIN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>48</TD><TD>LeGarrette Blount</TD><TD>vs. STL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>49</TD><TD>Deji Karim</TD><TD>at KC</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>50</TD><TD>Javon Ringer</TD><TD>vs. PHI</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>51</TD><TD>Leon Washington</TD><TD>vs. ARZ</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>52</TD><TD>Bernard Scott</TD><TD>at ATL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>53</TD><TD>Keiland Williams</TD><TD>at CHI</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>54</TD><TD>Tashard Choice</TD><TD>vs. NYG</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>55</TD><TD>Mike Bell</TD><TD>at NO</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>56</TD><TD>Correll Buckhalter</TD><TD>vs. OAK</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>57</TD><TD>Julius Jones</TD><TD>vs. CLE</TD><TD>Questionable(shoulder)</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>58</TD><TD>Jerome Harrison</TD><TD>at TEN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

[SIZE=+1]Week 7 Wide Receivers[/SIZE]

<TABLE width="100%"><TBODY><TR class=TableTopRed><TD>Rank</TD><TD>Player Name</TD><TD>Opponent</TD><TD>Notes</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>1</TD><TD>Roddy White</TD><TD>vs. CIN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>2</TD><TD>Miles Austin</TD><TD>vs. NYG</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>3</TD><TD>Brandon Marshall</TD><TD>vs. PIT</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>4</TD><TD>Larry Fitzgerald</TD><TD>at SEA</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>5</TD><TD>Marques Colston</TD><TD>vs. CLE</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>6</TD><TD>Anquan Boldin</TD><TD>vs. BUF</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>7</TD><TD>Hakeem Nicks</TD><TD>at DAL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>8</TD><TD>Greg Jennings</TD><TD>vs. MIN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>9</TD><TD>Randy Moss</TD><TD>at GB</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>10</TD><TD>Santana Moss</TD><TD>at CHI</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>11</TD><TD>Percy Harvin</TD><TD>at GB</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>12</TD><TD>Jeremy Maclin</TD><TD>at TEN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>13</TD><TD>Brandon Lloyd</TD><TD>vs. OAK</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>14</TD><TD>Mike Wallace</TD><TD>at MIA</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>15</TD><TD>Michael Crabtree</TD><TD>at CAR</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>16</TD><TD>Steve Smith</TD><TD>at DAL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>17</TD><TD>Hines Ward</TD><TD>at MIA</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>18</TD><TD>Dwayne Bowe</TD><TD>vs. JAC</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>19</TD><TD>Chad Ochocinco</TD><TD>at ATL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>20</TD><TD>Terrell Owens</TD><TD>at ATL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>21</TD><TD>Wes Welker</TD><TD>at SD</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>22</TD><TD>Kenny Britt</TD><TD>vs. PHI</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>23</TD><TD>Steve Smith</TD><TD>vs. SF</TD><TD>Questionable(ankle)</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>24</TD><TD>Mike Williams</TD><TD>vs. STL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>25</TD><TD>Johnny Knox</TD><TD>vs. WAS</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>26</TD><TD>Roy Williams</TD><TD>vs. NYG</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>27</TD><TD>Patrick Crayton</TD><TD>vs. NE</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>28</TD><TD>Donald Driver</TD><TD>vs. MIN</TD><TD>Questionable(quadriceps)</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>29</TD><TD>Danario Alexander</TD><TD>at TB</TD><TD>Probable(knee)</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>30</TD><TD>Davone Bess</TD><TD>vs. PIT</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>31</TD><TD>Mike Williams</TD><TD>vs. ARZ</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>32</TD><TD>Steve Breaston</TD><TD>at SEA</TD><TD>Questionable(knee surgery)</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>33</TD><TD>Deion Branch</TD><TD>at SD</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>34</TD><TD>Dez Bryant</TD><TD>vs. NYG</TD><TD>Probable(ankle)</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>35</TD><TD>Jason Avant</TD><TD>at TEN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>36</TD><TD>Lance Moore</TD><TD>vs. CLE</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>37</TD><TD>Jabar Gaffney</TD><TD>vs. OAK</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>38</TD><TD>Legedu Naanee</TD><TD>vs. NE</TD><TD>Questionable(hamstring)</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>39</TD><TD>Lee Evans</TD><TD>at BAL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>40</TD><TD>Robert Meachem</TD><TD>vs. CLE</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>41</TD><TD>Derrick Mason</TD><TD>vs. BUF</TD><TD>Probable(ankle)</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>42</TD><TD>Louis Murphy</TD><TD>at DEN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>43</TD><TD>Danny Amendola</TD><TD>at TB</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>44</TD><TD>Mario Manningham</TD><TD>at DAL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>45</TD><TD>Deon Butler</TD><TD>vs. ARZ</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>46</TD><TD>Mike Sims-Walker</TD><TD>at KC</TD><TD>Probable(shoulder)</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>47</TD><TD>James Jones</TD><TD>vs. MIN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>48</TD><TD>Devery Henderson</TD><TD>vs. CLE</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>49</TD><TD>Michael Jenkins</TD><TD>vs. CIN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>50</TD><TD>Brandon Tate</TD><TD>at SD</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>51</TD><TD>Nate Washington</TD><TD>vs. PHI</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>52</TD><TD>Mike Thomas</TD><TD>at KC</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>53</TD><TD>Anthony Armstrong</TD><TD>at CHI</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>54</TD><TD>Steve Johnson</TD><TD>at BAL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>55</TD><TD>Earl Bennett</TD><TD>vs. WAS</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>56</TD><TD>Eddie Royal</TD><TD>vs. OAK</TD><TD>Questionable(groin)</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>57</TD><TD>Josh Morgan</TD><TD>at CAR</TD><TD>Probable(thigh)</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>58</TD><TD>Devin Aromashodu</TD><TD>vs. WAS</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>59</TD><TD>Devin Hester</TD><TD>vs. WAS</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>60</TD><TD>Brian Hartline</TD><TD>vs. PIT</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>61</TD><TD>Brandon Gibson</TD><TD>at TB</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>62</TD><TD>Golden Tate</TD><TD>vs. ARZ</TD><TD>- </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

For more matchup fun, check out the Fantasy Fix:
<OBJECT id=msnbc76d724 codeBase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=10,0,0,0" classid=clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000 width=420 height=245>
























<embed name="msnbc76d724" src="http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/33399740" flashvars="launch=39777792&width=420&height=245" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" wmode="opaque" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" pluginspage="http://www.adobe.com/shockwave/download/download.cgi?P1_Prod_Version=ShockwaveFlash" width="420" height="245"></OBJECT>​


<!--RW-->
[SIZE=+1]Week 7 Tight Ends[/SIZE]

<TABLE width="100%"><TBODY><TR class=TableTopRed><TD>Rank</TD><TD>Player Name</TD><TD>Opponent</TD><TD>Notes</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>1</TD><TD>Vernon Davis</TD><TD>at CAR</TD><TD>Probable(knee)</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>2</TD><TD>Zach Miller</TD><TD>at DEN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>3</TD><TD>Jason Witten</TD><TD>vs. NYG</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>4</TD><TD>Antonio Gates</TD><TD>vs. NE</TD><TD>Questionable(toe)</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>5</TD><TD>Aaron Hernandez</TD><TD>at SD</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>6</TD><TD>Chris Cooley</TD><TD>at CHI</TD><TD>Questionable(concussion)</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>7</TD><TD>Tony Gonzalez</TD><TD>vs. CIN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>8</TD><TD>Kellen Winslow</TD><TD>vs. STL</TD><TD>Probable(knee)</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>9</TD><TD>Brent Celek</TD><TD>at TEN</TD><TD>Probable(wrist)</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>10</TD><TD>Heath Miller</TD><TD>at MIA</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>11</TD><TD>Tony Moeaki</TD><TD>vs. JAC</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>12</TD><TD>Visanthe Shiancoe</TD><TD>at GB</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>13</TD><TD>Ben Watson</TD><TD>at NO</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>14</TD><TD>Marcedes Lewis</TD><TD>at KC</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>15</TD><TD>John Carlson</TD><TD>vs. ARZ</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>16</TD><TD>Jermaine Gresham</TD><TD>at ATL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>17</TD><TD>Jeremy Shockey</TD><TD>vs. CLE</TD><TD>Probable(flu)</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>18</TD><TD>Todd Heap</TD><TD>vs. BUF</TD><TD>Questionable(shoulder)</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>19</TD><TD>Bo Scaife</TD><TD>vs. PHI</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>20</TD><TD>Greg Olsen</TD><TD>vs. WAS</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>21</TD><TD>Andrew Quarless</TD><TD>vs. MIN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>22</TD><TD>Anthony Fasano</TD><TD>vs. PIT</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>23</TD><TD>Fred Davis</TD><TD>at CHI</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>24</TD><TD>Kevin Boss</TD><TD>at DAL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

[SIZE=+1]Week 7 Team Defense[/SIZE]

<TABLE width="100%"><TBODY><TR class=TableTopRed><TD>Rank</TD><TD>Player Name</TD><TD>Opponent</TD><TD>Notes</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>1</TD><TD>Ravens Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>vs. BUF</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>2</TD><TD>Steelers Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>at MIA</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>3</TD><TD>Chiefs Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>vs. JAC</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>4</TD><TD>Saints Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>vs. CLE</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>5</TD><TD>Giants Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>at DAL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>6</TD><TD>Titans Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>vs. PHI</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>7</TD><TD>Vikings Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>at GB</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>8</TD><TD>Fortyniners Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>at CAR</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>9</TD><TD>Seahawks Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>vs. ARZ</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>10</TD><TD>Broncos Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>vs. OAK</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>11</TD><TD>Eagles Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>at TEN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>12</TD><TD>Redskins Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>at CHI</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>13</TD><TD>Cowboys Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>vs. NYG</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>14</TD><TD>Packers Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>vs. MIN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>15</TD><TD>Panthers Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>vs. SF</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>16</TD><TD>Rams Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>at TB</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>17</TD><TD>Bears Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>vs. WAS</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>18</TD><TD>Falcons Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>vs. CIN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>19</TD><TD>Patriots Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>at SD</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>20</TD><TD>Bengals Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>at ATL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>21</TD><TD>Buccaneers Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>vs. STL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>22</TD><TD>Dolphins Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>vs. PIT</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>23</TD><TD>Cardinals Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>at SEA</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>24</TD><TD>Chargers Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>vs. NE</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>25</TD><TD>Raiders Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>at DEN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>26</TD><TD>Jaguars Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>at KC</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>27</TD><TD>Bills Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>at BAL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>28</TD><TD>Browns Def/Spec Team</TD><TD>at NO</TD><TD>- </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

[SIZE=+1]Week 7 Kickers[/SIZE]

<TABLE width="100%"><TBODY><TR class=TableTopRed><TD>Rank</TD><TD>Player Name</TD><TD>Opponent</TD><TD>Notes</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>1</TD><TD>Rob Bironas</TD><TD>vs. PHI</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>2</TD><TD>Ryan Longwell</TD><TD>at GB</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>3</TD><TD>Matt Bryant</TD><TD>vs. CIN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>4</TD><TD>Jeff Reed</TD><TD>at MIA</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>5</TD><TD>Matt Prater</TD><TD>vs. OAK</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>6</TD><TD>Stephen Gostkowski</TD><TD>at SD</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>7</TD><TD>Mike Nugent</TD><TD>at ATL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>8</TD><TD>Garrett Hartley</TD><TD>vs. CLE</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>9</TD><TD>Robbie Gould</TD><TD>vs. WAS</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>10</TD><TD>Kris Brown</TD><TD>vs. NE</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>11</TD><TD>Mason Crosby</TD><TD>vs. MIN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>12</TD><TD>Sebastian Janikowski</TD><TD>at DEN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>13</TD><TD>Josh Scobee</TD><TD>at KC</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>14</TD><TD>David Akers</TD><TD>at TEN</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>15</TD><TD>Josh Brown</TD><TD>at TB</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>16</TD><TD>Ryan Succop</TD><TD>vs. JAC</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>17</TD><TD>Dan Carpenter</TD><TD>vs. PIT</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>18</TD><TD>Olindo Mare</TD><TD>vs. ARZ</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>19</TD><TD>Billy Cundiff</TD><TD>vs. BUF</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>20</TD><TD>Lawrence Tynes</TD><TD>at DAL</TD><TD>Questionable(ankle)</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>21</TD><TD>Phil Dawson</TD><TD>at NO</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>22</TD><TD>Graham Gano</TD><TD>at CHI</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>23</TD><TD>David Buehler</TD><TD>vs. NYG</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>24</TD><TD>Jay Feely</TD><TD>at SEA</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>25</TD><TD>Connor Barth</TD><TD>vs. STL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>26</TD><TD>Joe Nedney</TD><TD>at CAR</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>27</TD><TD>John Kasay</TD><TD>vs. SF</TD><TD>- </TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>28</TD><TD>Rian Lindell</TD><TD>at BAL</TD><TD>- </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
 

hacheman@therx.com
Staff member
Joined
Jan 2, 2002
Messages
139,160
Tokens
Trouble for Collie

File under "Yet another devastating piece of Colts-related injury news" (or if you prefer a more economical labeling system, "Oof"): After Rotoworld's Evan Silva first dropped the word via Twitter on Wednesday, it has concretely come to light that Austin Collie will miss "at least the next several games, and likely more" after undergoing hand surgery, according to the Indianapolis Star.

Given that reports of his absence have centered around the 2-6 week range, dropping fantasy's No.1 WR is not advised in any situation. In the meantime, Anthony Gonzalez is advised as a waiver wire add when the Colts return from their bye against the porous Houston secondary in Week 8.

Speaking of bad news for preferred targets of Peyton Manning, ESPN's Adam Schefter confirms that Dallas Clark (wrist) appears to be headed for surgery. The timetable is currently unclear, but fantasy owners missing out on the first tier of TE replacements (see paragraph below) should target Jacob Tamme, who is reportedly able to line up in the slot and at wide receiver, just like Clark.

Antonio Gates (toe) missed practice again on Thursday, and it's getting to be time for Gates' fantasy owners to consider a potential contingency plan if they haven't already (the most highly recommended of those contingency plans can be found right here, in Thursday's Daily Dose). Playing in Gates' favor is the fact that he hasn't missed a game since 2005, but it looks like he's headed for a textbook game-time decision on Sunday.

According to Profootballtalk.com, Vincent Jackson will indeed sign his tender and report to the Chargers next Friday. Meanwhile, A.J. Smith told the San Diego Union-Tribune that he expects Jackson to be a "major contributor," and the oft-discussed WR should be long gone off waiver wires in anticipation of his return to eligibility in Week 12.

Darren McFadden practiced in a limited fashion on Thursday, and in the estimation of beat writer Vittorio Tafur, Run DMC "does seem close" to a return to action. Stand by for Friday's practice update, but it's looking like there's reason to believe that the brittle but undoubtedly productive RB is ready to suit up this week.

Some positive news and not as good news on the DeSean Jackson front. Andy Reid told the Philadelphia Inquirer & Daily News that Jackson is "sharp mentally. … But he's very sore right now." In the same breath, Reid wouldn't commit to Jackson returning for the Nov. 7 game against the Colts, so despite the indication that he's making progress in his recovery from a concussion, it looks like he's still multiple weeks away.

NOTABLE: Kent Somers of the Arizona Republic expects Beanie Wells to be "the guy" in the Cardinals' backfield coming out of the bye week, and he's a solid RB2 play against Seattle on Sunday… Donte Stallworth (foot) returned to practice and could be ready for game action on Nov. 7, but still belongs on waivers in most leagues… James Harrison issued a statement that he will not retire from the NFL after being hit with a $75,000 fine for his helmet-to-helmet hits last week, which comes as a tremendous relief to the very small handful of people who actually took his retirement threats seriously.

Editor's note: For exclusive rankings, columns, workload info, chats and more, check out Rotoworld's NFL Season Pass.

GAMEDAY: Michael Vick (ribs) was upgraded to full participation in Thursday's practice, but Kevin Kolb is still slated to start… Steve Smith (ankle) practiced fully for a second straight day and is on course to return… Pierre Thomas (ankle) doesn't look likely to play… Chris Cooley (concussion) is expected to start… Donald Driver (quad) is planning to play, but is reportedly at risk of aggravating his injury and could see limited snaps… Percy Harvin was added to the injury report Thursday with a hamstring issue, but he "looked healthy" (according to the St. Paul Pioneer-Press) and there's absolutely no cause for concern about his status this week… Trent Edwards (thumb) looks like he could give way to Todd Bouman, which represents another layer of validation for uncorking the Chiefs D… Vince Young (knee) missed practice, but could still play… Mohamed Massaquoi and Joshua Cribbs (concussions) look unlikely to play on Sunday.

GAMEDAY, PART 2: Malcom Floyd (hamstring) isn't practicing and should be considered "week-to-week" rather than "day-to-day." Meanwhile, Legedu Naanee (hamstring) didn't practice and is looking doubtful, which is good news for Patrick Crayton (and to a lesser extent, Craig Davis)… Steve Breaston (knee) was limited on Thursday, but is expected to play… Early Doucet (groin) is set to return, but should only be on the radar in deeper leagues… Though the Raiders appear to be holding out hope that Bruce Gradkowski can return, Kyle Boller and Jason Campbell alternated first-team reps on Thursday, and both are awful fantasy options regardless of who starts… Fred Taylor (toe) is likely to sit again… Julian Edelman (concussion) could return, but is likely a ways down Tom Brady's target list at the moment… Eddie Royal (groin) appears to be very much in doubt for this week… Justin Gage (hamstring) looks likely to return, but Kenny Britt is slated to hang onto his starting role (and start-worthy fantasy value) for now.
 

hacheman@therx.com
Staff member
Joined
Jan 2, 2002
Messages
139,160
Tokens
Matchups: MJD's Warning Signs
Just the No. 17 overall fantasy back through six games, Maurice Jones-Drew's struggles date back to midway through the 2009 season. MJD's decline began when he racked up carry totals of 33, 29, 24, and 25 between Weeks 6 and 11. He appeared on the injury report with a knee ailment throughout this period, often missing or being "limited" in practices. Jones-Drew went on to average 3.71 yards per carry in the final seven games after averaging 5.09 in the first nine.

During the 2010 preseason, the Jags vehemently denied a report that Jones-Drew had undergone arthroscopic knee surgery. Perhaps word leaked out because the medical staff recommended the scope, but coaches opted to let Jones-Drew play through the injury rather than miss games. (The Giants and Bears did similar things with Brandon Jacobs and Matt Forte last season.)

Jones-Drew might've benefited from the repair. He's looked thoroughly lethargic this season, rarely breaking into the open field and averaging 3.89 yards per carry despite one of the softest rushing schedules in football: Just 2-of-6 Jags opponents have ranked better than 22nd against the run. On his last 262 carries, Jones-Drew is averaging 3.79 yards per carry. On some teams, this could get a veteran running back benched in favor of a promising youngster like Deji Karim.

MJD now squares off with a Chiefs defense that ranks fifth against the run and allows the sixth fewest yards per carry in the league (3.7). You can't bench him in a standard, 12-team league. Just don't be surprised as Karim (20 touches since Week 4) continues to eat into his workload.

[SIZE=+1]1:00PM ET Games[/SIZE]

Cleveland @ New Orleans

Robert Meachem started the season slow after missing almost all of camp due to toe surgery, but things are looking up. The 2007 first-round pick's snap count has risen in five straight weeks, and his production has followed suit. He's racked up eight catches for 128 yards and two scores in his last two, and in Week 6 Meachem saw more playing time than both Devery Henderson and Lance Moore for the first time this year. Meachem's breakout is coming, and a date with beleaguered Browns LCB Eric Wright could provide it. Wright has surrendered five TD passes in his last four games, as well as an average of 98 yards per contest. Meachem normally lines up as the Saints' RWR, so he should square off with Wright for most of Sunday. The best thing about Meachem is that he doesn't waste chances: he has one drop in his last 24 games. Start him as a high-upside WR3. ... Henderson (catch-less Week 6) and hit-or-miss slot man Moore are far less appetizing.

Drew Brees is catching fire with five touchdowns in his last two games and nine in his last four. The 21st-ranked Browns pass defense has served up 8.0 yards per throw (third most in football) and 11 passing TDs (fourth most). ... Even with Pierre Thomas out, Ladell Betts' game-blowing lost fumble and interception-causing drop in Week 5 earned him a place behind both Chris Ivory and Julius Jones last Sunday. Betts isn't worth a roster spot. ... Behind Thomas, Ivory is easily the group's most natural runner, and showed his tackle-breaking explosiveness with 175 yards on 16 Week 6 touches while also drawing the start. Flukily defending the run well early this year, the Browns have tanked since losing DE Robaire Smith (back) for the season. Steelers and Falcons backs have gashed them for 293 total yards and a touchdown in the last two weeks. Assuming Thomas is out again, Ivory should have no trouble knifing through another defense.

Just as he did at Texas, Colt McCoy made heavy use of inside/underneath targets in last week's debut. Highly impressive in his ability to withstand pressure and fit passes into small windows, McCoy completed 14 passes for 218 yards and a touchdown to slot men and tight ends. According to Pro Football Focus, McCoy intended 21-of-33 attempts within 10 yards of the line of scrimmage. With Mohamed Massaquoi and Joshua Cribbs (concussions) both likely out for Week 7, Ben Watson will continue to be McCoy's go-to guy. Watson led Cleveland in targets, catches, and yards in McCoy's first start, also scoring the team's lone touchdown. He would've topped 100 yards had a perfectly-placed McCoy pass not slipped through Watson's hands in traffic during the first quarter. Tight end-desperate owners should start Watson this week while working on a trade for Owen Daniels, who should come cheaply on his bye after a sluggish start.

UPDATE: Cribbs returned to practice Friday and has been medically cleared to play in Week 7.

Peyton Hillis went predictably scoreless for the first time this season in an impossible Week 6 matchup with Pittsburgh's NFL-best run defense. There was still silver lining. He didn't aggravate his quadricep injury, still managed 90 total yards, and watched as newly acquired Mike Bell hurt his own cause with two plodding carries for three yards. New Orleans' run defense rank got a huge lift from Tampa's inept backfield last Sunday, but it's simply not built to stop rushing attacks. Expect another Hillis-heavy game plan. The power runner saw increased practice reps this week -- indicating improving health -- and won't come off the field if the Browns fall behind. Bell is a huge liability as a receiver and pass blocker, so Hillis will remain the feature back if New Orleans kills Cleveland with the pass and the Browns resort to a two-minute offense earlier than planned.

Pittsburgh @ Miami

This game might normally project as Week 7's most physical, but thanks to the NFL's enhanced illegal hit enforcement, Steelers and Fins defenders may be on their heels a bit more than usual. Take some of the fight out of Steelers OLBs James Harrison and LaMarr Woodley, and Chad Henne should be able to complete passes to Brandon Marshall at will against a poor Pittsburgh secondary that relies on up-front pressure just to look passable. Marshall ranks fourth in the NFL in targets and is averaging 94 yards a game. ... As hinted at in the above matchup breakdown, Pittsburgh has had recent trouble covering the middle of the field, which is where Dolphins slot man Davone Bess does his damage. Bess' inability to make plays downfield is a major deterrent to his start-ability in non-PPR leagues, but in PPR you could do a lot worse than a guy averaging seven catches for 73 yards per game with two touchdowns in his last three outings.

On the other hand, Miami's running game is best left avoided. The Steelers continue to stonewall opposing rushers, permitting a league-low 2.7 yards per carry and 63.6 rushing yards per week. If the Dolphins move the ball consistently, the statistics say it will be because of their passing game. ... Plenty of deep league owners will be desperate enough to start a Fins running back, of course, and Ronnie Brown is their best bet. Brown handled the football 20 times compared to Ricky Williams' 14 in Week 6. For the season, Ronnie is averaging 15.4 touches per game to Ricky's 12.2. Either way, neither Dolphins ball carrier is likely to best 4.0 yards per tote this week.

The outlook for Pittsburgh's offense as a whole is soaring with Ben Roethlisberger returning from a three-touchdown, 257-yard 2010 debut. After attempting just 11 passes in the first half of last week's drubbing of Cleveland, the Steelers opened the playbook and let Big Ben explode for two touchdowns and 177 yards in the final two quarters. Roethlisberger was literally un-sackable. An every-week starter again, Big Ben now squares off with a Miami defense that was pummeled for 313 passing yards by Green Bay in Week 6, with Aaron Rodgers accounting for two touchdowns and averaging 17.4 yards per completion. ... Rashard Mendenhall, who racked up 30 touches in Roethlisberger's first game of the season, will benefit as teams put fewer defenders in the box and Pittsburgh moves the ball more consistently. The Dolphins rank 16th against the run.

Hines Ward had five catches for 54 yards and a TD against Cleveland, pacing Pittsburgh with nine targets. Unfortunately, he's likely to draw Dolphins shutdown LCB Vontae Davis for much of this one. He's only a WR3. ... Mike Wallace has a significantly better matchup with struggling RCB Jason Allen. "60 minutes" showed Fitzgerald-esque body control on his 29-yard Week 6 score and offers second-half explosion potential. ... Heath Miller's 50 yards against the Browns were his most this season, and his 14-yard touchdown grab marked the first time he's scored. His arrow is pointing up, but not quite to the extent of Wallace. Miller saw just four targets in Big Ben's debut, and is used most extensively as a blocker to help Pittsburgh's struggling line in pass protection. The Dolphins also haven't allowed a tight end to top 33 yards in their last two games.

Washington @ Chicago

Chris Wesseling has called Ryan Torain a recommended sell-high. Forward-planning owners may want to wait for a Week 8 date with Detroit before executing the move, but it's good advice. Torain's 100-rushing yard, two-touchdown effort last Sunday was a fantasy-week winner, but the performance included a sack surrendered in blitz pickup, plenty of yardage left on the field with Torain trying to bounce runs outside, and occurred against Indy's No. 27 run defense. Combine the first two factors with Torain's injury history and Mike Shanahan's notorious knack for yanking running backs without notice, and it's not a healthy fantasy situation. Nor would be starting Torain against a Chicago defense that ranks third against the run. With WLB Lance Briggs (ankle) also due back, the Bears are likely to shut down Washington's running game on Sunday.

It's getting cold in Chicago, but the Skins are likely to lean on the pass. The Bears rank second to last in sacks among teams that have played six games, and their pass defense (particularly RCB Charles Tillman) fell apart in Week 6, serving up Big Mike Williams' career day (10/120) and Matt Hasselbeck's season-best fantasy effort. Santana Moss has a good matchup no matter which Bears corner he faces, and No. 7 fantasy TE Chris Cooley is a starter if he plays. If Cooley (concussion) doesn't, athletic backup Fred Davis would be just as usable. With Cooley out in 2009, Davis was the No. 6 overall fantasy tight end over the season's final six weeks. ... Anthony Armstrong has supplanted Joey Galloway as Moss' starting bookend, but it's too bold to start him. The Bears' zone defense is built to limit big plays, and Armstrong is a rotating deep threat.

UPDATE: Cooley is expected to start and play a full complement of snaps Sunday.

Currently the No. 18 fantasy QB, Jay Cutler has cut down his interceptions (6:3 TD-to-INT ratio), but it hasn't made enough of a difference. His 23 sacks taken lead the NFL -- despite a missed game -- and Cutler has just one touchdown pass since Week 2. We'd love to call a matchup with Washington's NFC-worst pass defense a remedy for Cutler's production, but Chicago's line play is so bad that we couldn't do it with any confidence. Use him at your own risk. ... Johnny Knox remains an every-week WR3. Over the last three games in which Cutler has played four quarters, Knox is averaging five catches for 100 yards per game and an otherworldly 23.07 yards per reception. Simply put, Knox is a playmaker. He'll square off with Redskins RCB Carlos Rogers in this one. The Colts tagged Rogers for eight catches, 65 yards, and a touchdown in Week 6.

Greg Olsen is catch-less in back-to-back games. He's waiver material. ... Devin Hester belongs there too, having topped 26 yards once in six weeks. ... Fantasy leaguers who've owned Mike Martz backs in the past know what Matt Forte owners are experiencing. Forte had 24 touches in Week 5, then 11 in Week 6. You can't bench Forte against a Redskins club that gives up the sixth-highest yards-per-carry average in football (4.7), but the inconsistent workloads will continue. It's at least good news that Forte is getting all of the carries deep in the red zone in spite of his short-yardage struggles. He scored from six yards out on Chicago's opening drive last weekend.

<!--RW-->

Cincinnati @ Atlanta

The Falcons return from an embarrassing Week 6 loss to Philadelphia in which they abandoned the run after falling behind 14-0 seven minutes in. Michael Turner saw five carries on Atlanta's first three drives, and 10 the rest of the game. The Falcons, undoubtedly, will be out to avoid a repeat against an underachieving Cincinnati run defense that permits 4.4 yards per carry and ranks 18th overall. With just one touchdown so far, Turner is one of the better buy lows going. ... Tony Gonzalez's 9.8 yards-per-catch average won't diminish speculation that he's lost a step, but he scored two touchdowns against the Eagles and now faces a Bengals defense that let up seven catches for 86 yards to Bucs tight ends prior to a Week 6 bye, and seven catches for 84 yards and a touchdown to Browns tight ends the week before that. Keep rolling Gonzalez out there.

Roddy White has a tough matchup against Cincinnati's fabulous corner duo, but it's worth noting that Johnathan Joseph missed practice this week with an ankle injury. Fantasy's No. 6 overall receiver would run circles around Joseph at less than 100 percent. ... The Bengals cover well, but generate little pass rush (six sacks in five games). While Matt Ryan's Week 7 outlook is adversely impacted by a likely run-first game plan, he should at least have time to throw deep to White. ... Michael Jenkins' splendid, if fluky, five-catch and 99-yard 2010 debut was the closest he's come to 100 yards in his career (he hasn't topped the century mark in seven years). Jenkins isn't a fantasy option, but he'll open things up for Turner, White, and Gonzo if he continues to play well.

Cedric Benson saved his best game so far for just before Cincinnati's Week 6 bye, rolling through the Buccaneers for 163 total yards and a 6.3 YPC average. The Falcons have not been nearly as kind, ranking ninth against the run and holding LeSean McCoy, Peyton Hillis, Frank Gore, and Pierre Thomas all out of the end zone on the ground in four straight weeks. You didn't draft Benson in the third round to bench him, but this isn't a great matchup. ... The Bengals get back a healthy Jordan Shipley (concussion) to pair with Jermaine Gresham as options for Carson Palmer over the middle. The rookies essentially cancel each other out from a fantasy perspective.

Palmer's erratic play will remain a season-long concern for Cincinnati's receivers, but one of them is likely to have a big game with Falcons top CB Dunta Robinson (concussion) not expected to play Sunday. The Bengals' wideouts move around enough that we can't say for sure whether Chad Ochocinco or Terrell Owens is more likely to capitalize on Robinson's absence. What we do know is that T.O. is severely out-producing Ochocinco, ranking 13th among fantasy receivers compared to Ocho's No. 42. Until proven otherwise, Owens is the better weekly start.

Philadelphia @ Tennessee

In Week 6, Kevin Kolb targeted his top three receivers 13 times. He completed all 13 for 255 yards and three touchdowns. Kolb is minus one of the top wideouts (DeSean Jackson) in Week 7, but Jeremy Maclin and Jason Avant are ready for even more prominent roles. Maclin, in particular, will be Kolb's go-to vertical target. With Jackson injured early in Week 6, Maclin took over as Kolb's featured receiver to rack up seven catches for 159 yards and two scores. Five of the grabs, 110 of the yards, and both TDs occurred after Jackson's concussion. Maclin is a legit WR1 against Tennessee's No. 23 pass defense. ... Averaging just 10.0 yards per catch, Avant is strictly a possession receiver. Avant has only three drops in his last 24 games, however, and is worth a long look in PPR leagues. He'll be the Eagles' starting flanker in Jackson's absence.

As pointed out by FOX Sports' Adam Caplan, the typically pass-happy Eagles are running the ball 10 percent more than last season due to the rapid development of 2009 second-round pick LeSean McCoy. McCoy is averaging 5.52 yards per touch and 4.8 yards per carry as Andy Reid's new offensive centerpiece. In Kolb's two complete games this year, Reid has called 65 run plays compared to 60 passes. The Titans rank eighth against the run, but McCoy is a matchup-proof starter as the No. 3 fantasy back through six games. In PPR, McCoy will overtake Arian Foster (bye) to be No. 1 this week. ... A lingering wrist injury has caused Brent Celek some problems (three drops), but he's still caught two touchdowns from Kolb over the past three weeks and tied Maclin for the team lead in targets in Week 6. Celek is difficult to bench whenever Kolb starts.

Vince Young (knee) is slated to play at less than 100 percent, creating a poor fantasy situation. The Eagles rank fifth in the league in sacks, fourth in interceptions, and allow an NFC-low 54.9 completion rate to opposing passers. V.Y. is barely a two-QB league option. ... Kerry Collins targeted Kenny Britt just twice after Young's exit last Monday night, but that's not a good enough reason to sit Britt, who's been a top-ten fantasy wideout over the last month. The Titans' LWR, Britt will spend the majority of Sunday's game against RCB Ellis Hobbs, who's easily the weakest of Philly's starting corners. Keep Britt rolling while he's hot. ... The same cannot be said for Nate Washington, who has two receptions for 33 yards in his last two outings and will square off with LCB Asante Samuel. Washington is a WR5 again.

UPDATE: Multiple reports suggest Kerry Collins will start Sunday's game in place of Young. Of even bigger concern, Britt got into a fight at a nightclub early Friday. The incident threatens to cost him playing time with Justin Gage (hamstring) due back.
Bo Scaife's 4/53/1 line in Week 6 looks fluky considering he hadn't topped 37 yards since Week 15 of 2009 and found the end zone once all last season. This year, Scaife is averaging 3.33 targets per game. ... The Eagles kept Michael Turner in check last week only because they jumped out to a 14-0 lead halfway through the first quarter, and Atlanta gave up on the run. The Titans surely won't do the same. Philadelphia is surrendering 116 rushing yards per game to rank 22nd against the run, and the Titans call run plays for Chris Johnson even when trailing. This should be a close game, and we can safely expect CJ2K to be leaned on heavily with V.Y. ailing.

San Francisco @ Carolina

The 49ers' installation of playcaller Mike Johnson continues to do wonders for Michael Crabtree, as last year's No. 10 overall pick has enjoyed his best three games of the season since OC Jimmy Raye was fired. It has to do with in-game adjustments -- an area in which Raye sorely lacked. In Week 6, the Raiders tried to slow Crabtree by shadowing him with Nnamdi Asomugha. Johnson answered with bunch formations that prevented Asomugha from playing man-up, as the Niners ran picks to get Crabtree open. He now has 13 catches for 162 yards and two touchdowns in his last two games, and Crabtree's 20 targets lead the team over that span. ... Vernon Davis is next on the team with 14 targets. Throw out a start against Todd Collins in Week 5 and in their last three games opposing tight end corps average seven catches for 81 yards against Carolina.

The Panthers' defense was one of the NFL's best against the run during the first month. It all fell apart against the Bears before Carolina's Week 6 bye. Matt Forte and Chester Taylor combined for an otherworldly 242 total yards and two touchdowns, averaging 5.3 yards per carry against a Panthers team that knew the run was coming with Collins under center. Frank Gore doesn't have to share touches with a viable No. 2 back like Taylor, and is coming off his best game of the year (25-149 in Week 6). Gore is on pace for roughly 2,400 all-purpose yards. Trot him out at Carolina.

It's hard to call Matt Moore's reinsertion a difference-maker for Panthers skill players considering Moore's early-season play, but he certainly can't hurt. Jimmy Clausen was averaging 5.0 yards per pass attempt to rank 33rd in the NFL, allowing defenses to load the box with 9-10 defenders. The return of Steve Smith -- practicing without limitations this week -- from a high ankle sprain remains the biggest plus for Carolina. The Panthers now have a legitimate vertical threat to pry focus off DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart. David Gettis (23.8 yards per game) and Brandon LaFell (3 drops on 20 targets), obviously, didn't get it done. ... Smith should be immediately placed back into lineups with Moore under center. Smith has five touchdowns and is averaging five grabs for 88.2 yards over the last five games in which Moore has started and played four quarters.

NFL teams routinely make "tweaks" after byes. By replacing Mackenzy Bernadeau with mauling Geoff Schwartz at right guard and installing powerful if squatty Garry Williams at right tackle, the Panthers have indicated a new reemphasis on the run. It also sets the stage for RT Jeff Otah's (knee) eventual return. Instead of moving Schwartz inside at a later date and making two position switches on the line, Otah's insertion will involve just one change. Expect a decidedly run-heavy offense that takes shots in the passing game essentially only to Smith the rest of the way. ... That said, Williams and Stewart don't have an especially friendly matchup with a San Francisco run defense that allows under four yards per carry and has given up three rushing touchdowns in six games. Williams is a mid-level RB2. Stewart is only a desperate flex play.

St. Louis @ Tampa Bay

Tampa's selections of first- and second-round DTs Gerald McCoy and Brian Price were supposed to fix a run defense that ranked dead last in 2009. The difference between last and this year has been negligible. Only the Bills have more rushing yards against per game, and no team gives up more yards per carry than the Bucs. Steven Jackson continues to be fed massive workloads, racking up 30 more touches in Week 6. Defenses can't consistently stack the box with Sam Bradford emerging as a legit top-15 passer, so Jackson will remain an elite RB1 going forward assuming good health. He'll also benefit from the absence of Price, who's out with a pelvis injury.

Despite giving up a long TD in each of his games this season, the Bucs continue to use Aqib Talib to "shadow" No. 1 receivers. All four of his scores allowed have come from at least 37 yards out, and Talib could arguably be charged with two more touchdowns when receivers ran by him in zone coverage. The Rams' best bet for a touchdown bomb, of course, is Week 6 marvel Danario Alexander. Alexander is a risk after coming off the bench for just 22 snaps in his debut, but he offers plenty of upside. ... Bradford also makes for an intriguing desperation QB1 play. The Bucs have given up 10 passing scores in five games while generating an NFL-low four sacks. With tremendous accuracy, Bradford can pick apart a defense with time to throw.

Josh Freeman took a step back in Week 6 -- troubling since he was coming off a bye and facing a Saints team that generated almost zero pressure while also missing CBs Tracy Porter (knee) and Randall Gay (concussion). Freeman is too talented to struggle in favorable matchups, but this isn't one of them. The stingy Rams have given up just seven passing TDs in six games and are tied for sixth in the league in sacks. Freeman is a great QB2, but hasn't earned low-end QB1 status just yet. ... Like fellow rookie Alexander, Mike Williams is a bit of a hit-or-miss fantasy start. Williams' big edge is that he's already an every-down player and will be a much better bet for week-to-week targets. Unlike Alexander, Williams plays on a team without a running game.

Kellen Winslow has yet to find the end zone in 2010, though his averages of five catches and 52 yards per game are solid. While he's settled in as a low-upside tight end, Winlsow is a viable alternative for owners still reeling from Jermichael Finley's loss or experiencing bye-week blues. He won't stay scoreless all year. ... Cadillac Williams had a fluky seven catches for 63 yards in Week 6, but was stonewalled in the rushing game with 18 yards on 10 totes. The Bucs will activate LeGarrette Blount this week with Kareem Huggins on injured reserve. Blount is the new favorite for goal-line carries, but you should be able to do much better even in a TD-heavy league. The matchup is favorable (St. Louis allows 4.4 yards per carry). The backfield itself is unattractive.

<!--RW-->

Buffalo @ Baltimore

Could there be a bigger mismatch than Bills at Ravens? Baltimore ranks third in total defense; Buffalo 30th in offense. The Ravens are second in rushing attempts; the Bills dead last in run defense. Jim Harbaugh's team should dominate time of possession, with Ray Rice as the featured player. Across the NFL, no back has touched the ball more since Week 4. ... If you're looking for a serious sleeper, consider Willis McGahee. McGahee has played just 14 snaps in the past two weeks, but the Ravens' coaching staff wants to keep him happy and will likely feed McGahee if they jump out to an early lead. They should. McGahee may not resume vulturing early-game goal-line touchdowns, but he could easily see 10-14 late-game touches as a clock-killer.

Joe Flacco shouldn't need more than 25 pass attempts to whip the Bills, but worse QBs have produced big lines against Buffalo on limited throws. Over their past four games, the Bills have been victimized for a whopping 11:0 TD-to-INT ratio. This included matchups with the Jags and Jets, with even Wildcat QB Brad Smith chipping in a score. Perhaps Flacco won't top 200 passing yards, but 2-3 passing touchdowns is more than doable. Flacco will have a clean pocket, as the Bills' defense brings no heat. ... The Ravens' best bet to be on the receiving end, of course, is Anquan Boldin. Boldin would normally match up with Bills LCB Terrence McGee, but McGee won't play due to knee surgery. His burnable replacement is journeyman Drayton Florence.

If this game plays out as the talent on both sides and statistics say it will, the Bills won't have the ball much. The Ravens are a vicious team at home, and will only be more impassioned by the return of FS Ed Reed (hip) from PUP. Get Baltimore's fantasy defense going. ... Prior to Buffalo's Week 6 bye, new feature back Fred Jackson had a chance for the first truly big game by a Bills rusher this season. Facing a middling Jacksonville run defense, Jackson managed 80 scoreless yards. Buffalo's coaching staff, head-scratchingly, does not use Jackson to his strength as a receiver out of the backfield: F-Jax is on pace for 10 receptions after hauling in 83 over the past two seasons. The Ravens have been uncharacteristically mediocre against the run this season (No. 13 overall, 4.3 YPC allowed), but it doesn't really matter. Jackson is a low-end flex play.

Rookie C.J. Spiller had six touches in the Bills' last game with Marshawn Lynch gone. Spiller is bench material until proven otherwise, regardless of matchups. ... Sit every member of Buffalo's passing game. The Ravens are a top-three defense against the pass, have served up just four scores in the air through six games, and get Reed back. Ryan Fitzpatrick, Lee Evans, and Roscoe Parrish are all hands-off. ... I've received quite a few Twitter and email questions about Steve Johnson as a potential bye-week filler. Johnson has scored a handful of red-zone touchdowns, but can't even start for the Bills. Would you really consider starting him on your fantasy team? It wouldn't be a surprise if Johnson didn't find the end zone again this season.

Jacksonville @ Kansas City

Tony Moeaki had the best Week 6 matchup of any tight end (against the Texans), but delivered a clunker (3-21), with linebacker/goal-line TE Mike Vrabel vulturing a TD. The good news for K.C. is that Moeaki was beastly as a run blocker and caught all of his targets. So, the question becomes whether Moeaki will continue to focus on run blocking, and your guess is as good as mine. Fairly relevant stat: Jacksonville has given up an average of five catches for 47 yards to tight ends per week, with four scores in six games. ... Dwayne Bowe broke out of his slumber in Week 6, posting a 6/108/2 line at Houston. The only pass defense worse than the Texans' is the Jags', so you may as well ride Bowe when he's hot and has favorable matchups. It is worth noting, however, that Bowe is playing on the right side of the Chiefs' offense this year. He'll likely go against Jags top CB Rashean Mathis, as opposed to the rotating RCB disaster of Derek Cox and David Jones.

The Jags' defense laid the foundation for Week 7 last Monday, dropping eight into the box and holding Chris Johnson to 76 yards on 25 carries. (Until his last carry, which went for a 35-yard score). The Chiefs lead the league in rushing and are 27th with the pass. Aside from Matt Cassel-to-Moeaki or Bowe connections, K.C.'s best way to defeat eight-man fronts involves an elusive back with speed to turn the corner. Thomas Jones and Jamaal Charles each received 20 touches last week, but Charles is likely to resume leading the backfield on Sunday. Charles also appears to have taken over as the Chiefs' starter, getting the nod over Jones in Week 6. ... Cassel is only worth two-QB league consideration. Kansas City is unlikely to rack up pass attempts, instead testing a middling Jacksonville run defense that's allowed the NFL's most rushing scores.

If quarterback musical chairs and inconsistent receiving production weren't enough for you to bench the Jaguars' wideouts, Chiefs shutdown LCB Brandon Flowers is. Flowers doesn't move from the left side of the defensive formation, but the 37 passes thrown his way this season have yielded just 137 yards (3.7 YPA) and zero touchdowns. Flanker Mike Thomas will likely go against Flowers' side for most of Sunday's game. Thomas, who hasn't found the end zone yet this year, will have to get his catches and yards on slot routes. ... Mike Sims-Walker should spend most of Week 6 covered by the more burnable RCB Brandon Carr. MSW has the best matchup in Jacksonville's receiver corps, but his incredibly intermittent production can't be counted on.

As explained in this column's introduction, Maurice Jones-Drew isn't playing well. Nor is his line or the Jaguars' offense as a whole. MJD spoke this week of wanting more two-tight end sets and passes to tailbacks in the flat as part of a "run-oriented" offense. The idea makes sense with Todd Bouman expected to start at quarterback, but Jacksonville will be incredibly simple for Chiefs defensive coordinator Romeo Crennel to game plan against on Sunday. If you're curious about what to expect from Bouman (zero pass attempts since 2005), refer to Todd Collins' Week 5 game against the Panthers. And Crennel runs a much better all-around defense than Carolina.

[SIZE=+1]4:05PM ET Game[/SIZE]

Arizona @ Seattle

Week 7 may not provide Beanie Wells' breakout game with the Seahawks' NFC-best run defense on tap, but he's taken over as Arizona's feature back. Wells received 21 touches compared to Tim Hightower's four prior to the Cardinals' Week 6 bye, and was even in the game for goal-line situations ahead of the "starter" Hightower. Both of the Cards' top beat writers -- Darren Urban of AZCardinals.com and Kent Somers of the Arizona Republic -- went on record this week to predict Beanie would be "the guy" moving forward. The matchup makes Wells a low-end RB2 option, but a Week 8 game against Tampa could be monstrous if Beanie maintains the role through Sunday.

We've only seen Max Hall make one NFL start, but in it he got the ball to Larry Fitzgerald seven times for 93 yards. The two have more first-team practice time together after the off week, so Fitz should not struggle to continue producing at an elite level, if not improve on his Week 5 game. As for Fitzgerald's Week 7 matchup, keep in mind that Bears split end Johnny Knox ripped the Seahawks for 120 yards on five catches last week. Fitzgerald is the Cardinals' split end, and will benefit from the likely absence of Seahawks RCB Kelly Jennings (hamstring). ... Early Doucet (sports hernia) and Steve Breaston (knee) both return from injury. Neither played in Hall's debut, so we don't have a good idea of what to expect. They were inconsistent before getting hurt anyway.

Having topped 35 yards once, Big Mike Williams was one of the worst starting receivers in the league entering Week 6. An egg-laying by Bears RCB Charles Tillman made Williams look like one of the best. Having put 120 yards on 10 catches into the box score actually threatens to be a bad thing for Williams, however. Defenses will key coverage his way, and Williams isn't explosive enough down the field or off the line to beat defensive backs if he's not singled up. Let's see him repeat the numbers against Cardinals RCB Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie before considering Big Mike a fantasy starter. ... Williams played 49 snaps in Week 6, but Deon Butler led the team with 52. Rookie Golden Tate only saw 14. If it's up to me, I'm starting Butler over Williams, for sure.

John Carlson led Seattle in targets during the first month, but he's taking a backseat now. He has seven in his last two games and isn't a fantasy option. ... Box-score fantasy leaguers may notice Justin Forsett's 76 total yards and a touchdown from Week 6 and think he could be a good bye-week filler for Week 7. Not the case. The game was Marshawn Lynch's Seahawks debut, and Forsett ran strictly out of three-receiver sets. Lynch also received 20 touches compared to Forsett's 11. The "carry split" will gravitate toward Lynch as the games play out. Lynch is a significantly better fantasy option than Forsett against the Cardinals' 29th-ranked rush defense.

[SIZE=+1]4:15PM ET Games[/SIZE]

Oakland @ Denver

Knowshon Moreno's second NFL season has been thwarted by dual hamstring injuries and poor production (3.12 YPC). A lost fumble got him benched for much of last week's first half. But there's no better fix for a struggling back than a matchup with Oakland. The Raiders rank 30th in run defense and surrender the highest yards-per-carry average (5.0) in the AFC, also letting up a rushing touchdown per game. And a few arrows are pointing up for Denver's' 2009 first-round pick. The Broncos finally showed the ability to open holes on the ground in Week 6, paving the way for 145 rushing yards and a score against the Jets' No. 4 run defense. Moreno is also off the injury report and practicing fully for the first time all year. If a healthy Moreno can't capitalize on the finest slump-busting run defense in football, his problems go deeper than injury and line play.

With Moreno finally close to 100 percent, the Broncos figure to use this game to jump-start his season. It could cut into Kyle Orton's pass attempts, but Orton remains a worthwhile if low-end QB1 as the No. 4 fantasy quarterback so far. ... NFL receiving yards leader Brandon Lloyd's four-catch, 74-yard Week 6 was slow by his standards, but only great receivers generate 70-plus yards in down weeks with unfavorable matchups. Lloyd's came with shutdown Jets CB Antonio Cromartie in shadow coverage for most of the day. Opposing QBs have completed just 43 percent of their passes against Cromartie this season. ... If Eddie Royal (groin) is inactive -- and his status is totally up in the air -- Demaryius Thomas will become a fixture in Denver's base offense, which incorporates three receivers on nearly every snap. Thomas entered the lineup after Royal's Week 6 injury and beat Darrelle Revis for a touchdown. ... RWR Jabar Gaffney is least likely of the above to see time against RCB Nnamdi Asomugha. Gaffney lacks great upside, but is the safest play in Denver's receiver corps.

Run-first game plans are nothing new for Oakland (No. 6 in rushing attempts), and the Raiders' QB situation requires it this week. Kyle Boller, owner of a career 56.8 completion rate and 5.9 yards-per-attempt average, is an awfully poor bet to move the ball through the air. The Raiders will lean heavily on Michael Bush and a returning Darren McFadden (hamstring), which makes plenty of sense because the Broncos rank 25th against the run, give up 4.4 yards per carry, and have allowed the most rushing touchdowns in the league. Also extremely banged up across the defense, Denver provides an especially favorable setting for Bush to rebound from his Week 6 clunker (59 total yards on 22 touches, one drop). ... McFadden is a more risky bet. The Raiders aren't going to feature him if he's not 100 percent, though it'll be his starting job again before long.

Louis Murphy is, by far, the Raiders' best big-play receiver, but he's not an attractive Week 7 play. Murphy has just four catches for 70 yards combined over his last three games, and a date with Champ Bailey awaits. ... Darrius Heyward-Bey has been even worse, averaging 2.3 catches for 23.3 yards per game. If he couldn't catch Bruce Gradkowski and Jason Campbell's passes, DHB definitely won't catch Boller's. ... Boller's 2010 debut makes Zach Miller a less desirable start, although not to the extent of Murphy and Heyward-Bey. Boller loved throwing to Todd Heap in Baltimore, and Miller is a spitting image of his fellow former Arizona State Sun Devil.
 

Forum statistics

Threads
1,106,898
Messages
13,439,271
Members
99,339
Latest member
billcunninghamhomeloans
The RX is the sports betting industry's leading information portal for bonuses, picks, and sportsbook reviews. Find the best deals offered by a sportsbook in your state and browse our free picks section.FacebookTwitterInstagramContact Usforum@therx.com