Fantasy FanHouse

Never Too Early: Houston Texans Fantasy Football Preview

Matt Snyder — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 15:45:00 EST

Filed under: Texans, AFC South, Fantasy Football

Hear that? It's the pitter-patter of fantasy football season approaching. Fantasy FanHouse is here to get you ready by previewing every team from a fantasy perspective.

Meet The ...
Team that needs to change divisions. How about going 8-8 and finishing last? The Texans are joined in the AFC South by three playoff teams, none of which is significantly worse entering the 2008 campaign. The problem for the Texans is that their offense didn't really improve itself and the rest of the divisional teams have stout defenses. Having Andre Johnson and Matt Schaub healthy for the entire season, though, is a start. Those two have a year under their belt working together and will be the key to this offense. You also know Gary Kubiak likes to run the ball, but it's tough to trust Ahman Green or Chris Brown.

The Breakout
ZZZZZ ... sleeper time. Steve Slaton, the rookie RB from West Virginia was the Texans' third round pick. I just mentioned how Coach K (is that blasphemy to say when it's not "him," by the way?) enjoys running the football. Again, do you trust Ahman Green to stay healthy? Do you trust Chris Brown at all? If you shook your head at both of the above -- I know I did -- enter Slaton. The best part is that he'll be dirt-cheap on draft day. Last round flier time, baby!

The Bust
Kevin Walter had 65 grabs for 800 yards last season. He won't even sniff those numbers on his video game at home in '08. I'd much rather Andre Davis or Jacoby Jones heading into the season.

The Depth Chart
QB1 - Matt Schaub
QB2 - Sage Rosenfels
RB1 - Ahman Green
RB2 - Chris Brown
RB3 - Steve Slaton
WR1 - Andre Johnson
WR2 - Kevin Walter
WR3 - Andre Davis
WR4 - Jacoby Jones
TE1 - Owen Daniels
TE2 - Mark Bruener
K - Kris Brown

The D/ST
DeMeco Ryans and "Super" Mario Williams lead this group, but it's not really exciting after those two. The Texans finished 21st in sacks, despite being aided by Mario's 14. The real problem, though, is that they were dead-last in the NFL in interceptions. They added two DBs (Jacques Reeves and Nick Ferguson), but their impact in fantasyland should be minimal. They do have a solid enough return game with Andre Davis (3 '07 KRTDs) to garner points, but it's a lower-tier unit overall.

The Skinny
Schaub never really got the chance at his potential breakout season last year in Houston, with his big play man going down and then suffering an injury of his own. He'll have that chance this year and is going to be ranked around the likes of David Garrard and Jake Delhomme. Johnson's an absolutely elite wideout. I expect him to stay healthy and stay right with Braylon Edwards on the heels of Reggie Wayne. Daniels had 63 catches for 768 yards and three TDs in '07. Those numbers should remain almost identical this year, making him a top 15 TE. Brown is circling around the top 15 for kickers, which means you don't want him (you don't seriously draft two kickers, do you?), and the D/ST is unownable until more players step up to aid Mario and Ryans.

Now, RB and the WRs behind Johnson are murky. I would avoid Walter altogether, gamble on Davis in the last round of middle sized leagues (12-14 teams) and on Jones in the largest leagues' last round (16+ teams). Green can't be trusted as more than a flex back in any league, and even then I'm weary. Chris Brown sucks. I'd just assume pass on him and get Slaten in the last round to handcuff Green. Seriously, don't sleep on Slaton! Ron Dayne was a quality back in this offense.

Never Too Early: Houston Texans Fantasy Football Preview originally appeared on Fantasy FanHouse on Wed, 02 Jul 2008 15:45:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Andre Johnson Gets Knee Scoped, Texans Fans Panicking in the Streets

Stephanie Stradley — Tue, 20 May 2008 11:30:00 EST

Filed under: Texans, AFC South, Fantasy Football, NFL Injuries, Houston

Texans wide receiver Andre Johnson had his left knee scoped and cleaned up last Thursday, and the Texans say he should be back by the beginning of training camp. (great video above of AJ talking about his surgery and other topics, including coach Alex Gibbs). This news is a little unnerving to Texans fans (and should be something that fantasy players should watch) because:

1. When Andre Johnson was out last year, the offense still functioned, but not as efficiently, especially in the red zone.

2. The Texans have had a history of being overly optimistic in talking about players coming back from knee problems. Andre Johnson was initially described as week to week after suffering his knee injury in Week 2 last year, then it was said he would be out 3 to 5 weeks, and he didn't end up coming back until Week 11.

Running back Ahman Green was also described week to week with his knee bone bruise injury last year, until the Texans decided that he really needed to shut it down. In the 2006 training camp, Domanick Davis/Williams was described as the perfect zone blocking back until he ended up never playing a down that year and then later retiring due to a knee bone bruise.

Mike Florio at PFT.com fans the fire by saying, "Johnson is signed through 2014, and there has yet to be talk of the Texans giving up on him. But it's an issue that the team eventually will need to consider, if Johnson's knee doesn't get any better - or continues to deteroriate (sic)."

Well yeah, if any guy's knee isn't getting any better, of course you have to ask that question. However, even the speculation of giving up on Andre Johnson at this point in his career is silly talk given his production even after he was injured last season.

If you speak to anyone with the Texans, they will tell you that Andre Johnson is the best conditioned athlete on the team. He's played 3 entire 16 game seasons, and missed 3 games in 2005 and 7 games in 2007. The man made the Pro Bowl twice even with David Carr as his quarterback, so he has to be someone pretty special.

In 2005, he missed three games due to an unspecified pain, variously described at the time as pain in the back of his left knee or in his calf near the knee. In 2007, he missed 7 games for receiving what was eventually described as a sprain to his left PCL and MCL.

The type of injury he had usually responds to rehabilitation without surgery, but as I understand it, it is not unusual to have to clean up small particles of floating cartilage that may have broken off related to the 2007 injury. That by scoping the knee, you get the best chances of the player coming back to full speed.

Even so, after coming back in 2007, Andre Johnson had touchdowns 5 out of 7 weeks, including a 73 yard touchdown against the Saints his first week back. Why would any sane person think that the Texans should consider giving up on a player who has been so productive and loves playing in Houston?

He has had only one reported knee surgery/scope since being drafted--the scope that happened last Thursday. So, yeah, issues with Andre Johnson's left knee is a matter of concern to fans, but probably nothing to deserve the minor alarmist-mongering contained in the PFT report.

The only good news coming from this is that second year wide receiver Jacoby Jones will get more reps in Andre Johnson's offseason absence, and reports coming out of OTAs say he is looking good.

Check out this first day OTA report for more news, including discussions of Gary Kubiak being concerned with defensive tackle, Travis Johnson having "inflammation of the pelvic area." Apparently, it has been bothering him for months. I've never heard of a player being hindered with pelvis inflammation, but I got to tell you, I'm a little afraid to google that.

Andre Johnson Gets Knee Scoped, Texans Fans Panicking in the Streets originally appeared on Fantasy FanHouse on Tue, 20 May 2008 11:30:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ahman Green Out for the Season: Is His Career Over?

Stephanie Stradley — Fri, 07 Dec 2007 22:24:00 EST

Filed under: Packers, Texans, AFC South, Fantasy Football, NFL Injuries, Notre Dame Football, Houston

In an unsurprising move, Ahman Green was placed on IR today after it became apparent that the knee injury he suffered in Week 1 couldn't take game day activity. Undrafted Notre Dame running back, Darius Walker will be put on the active roster for the game against the Bucs this Sunday. Ron Dayne is expected to be the starter, though his time may be limited due to a minor ankle injury he suffered last week.

Green suffered what was called a "knee bone bruise" in the game against Kansas City. He tried to come back from that injury, but had to leave games due to swelling and pain. As I discussed last September, a diagnosis of a bruised knee bone gave Texans fans no comfort because the description of the injury sounded very similar to the same thing that ended Texans running back Domanick (Davis) Williams' career.

You hear fans talk about a bruised knee bone like it is no big deal, as if it is bumping it into a coffee table. However, as I understand it, the knee bone is a place with not a lot of blood flow, and can be hard to heal. If you have more of a medical interest in in knee bone bruises, check out this link. If you would like a first hand account of how knee bone bruises might slow down a sports blogfather, check out what Jamie Mottram has to say about it, including an x-ray of knee badness.

Domanick, Ahman, and Jamie: such promising sporting lives interrupted by what is a wussy sounding diagnosis, but actually is hard for doctors to treat, estimate healing time and determine its effect on future use.

Many people will suggest that Green on IR means that it was a huge mistake to sign an aging running back. Given his knowledge of the system the Texans were running you can understand why they acquired him, though the amount was a little brow raising. If the information that has been revealed about his injury is accurate, (a big if), any running back of any age could have been put on the IR with the same injury.

The Texans have buzzards luck with the injured reserve list, leading the lead with now 17 players on IR.

For those who are interested, you can check out Ahman Green's career to date stats here. Given his problems this season, they might be his final ones. He has come back from a worse injury, and in today's practice quotes he believes he will be back, and back with the Texans.

As for the Texans running game, one of Gary Kubiak's biggest regrets of last season wasn't getting rookie running back Chris Taylor more carries. Taylor went out during camp this year, but I am guessing Kubiak may have his regret about Taylor in mind some in wanting to see Darius Walker down the stretch.

In very limited time in the preseason, Walker had some promising moments with quick decision making and burst. Running against Tampa Bay can prove difficult in the best of circumstances, but will be a particular challenge given the new starter at the right guard position, Mike Brisiel.

If you are interested in getting more of a sense of who Darius Walker is, please check out his Wednesdays With Walker Texans TV segments. The Texans have him on camera showing how things are behind the scenes at Reliant Stadium.

Ahman Green Out for the Season: Is His Career Over? originally appeared on Fantasy FanHouse on Fri, 07 Dec 2007 22:24:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Texans Lead the League....In Players on IR: Who's Playing Quarterback and Running Back?

Stephanie Stradley — Thu, 06 Dec 2007 18:07:00 EST

Filed under: Texans, AFC South, Fantasy Football, NFL Injuries, Houston

The Texans lead the league with players on IR with 16. By the end of the year last year, they led the league too.

This weekend against the Bucs, Texans starting quarterback Matt Schaub isn't expected to play due to a dislocated non-throwing arm, and will be replaced by backup Sage Rosenfels. There's a good video of Rosenfels talking about the start here. His backup is Shane Boyd, a midseason pickup who has never played a game with the Texans.

Rosenfels is a smart quarterback his teammates like and trust, and can sling the ball. He also tends to throw interceptions at inopportune times. Some fantasy players might be tempted to pick him up for the end of the season because the Texans have been able to pass the ball with Rosenfels, but the Texans are facing some tough pass defenses in the weeks ahead.

Running back Ahman Green suffered a bruised knee in week 1 of the season against Kansas City, and has struggled to come back from it. He practiced on Wednesday for the first time in a while and Gary Kubiak says he's optimistic.

Optimistic in Kubiak-speak means "Hey I am an upbeat guy by nature. Of course, this tells you nothing about whether he will play." If Green can't go, at some point he is going to go on IR to make room for someone who can get on the field.

Kubiak says that running back Ron Dayne suffered a twisted ankle last week but should be expected to play. Ideally, with only one healthy experienced QB, the Texans would like to run the ball a lot down the stretch like they did last year, but I am not sure physically they will be able to do it.

So basically, the Texans have four running backs to choose from. One has been injured for most the season, one is nicked up and two are very inexperienced. They will be running behind a line that will play the backup to the backup at the right guard position, and they haven't figured out who that guy is going to be. If Rosenfels goes out due to injury, a practice squad guy who wasn't with the team in camp is going to fill in. Oh. Joy.

The rest of this season isn't as much about wins and losses but rather learning and survival. They need this time to get their young players experience and hope no more of them get fluky horrible injuries that will harm them in future years.

Any more thoughts on this?

Texans Lead the League....In Players on IR: Who's Playing Quarterback and Running Back? originally appeared on Fantasy FanHouse on Thu, 06 Dec 2007 18:07:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Do You Think Vince Young Will Play Against the Texans?

Stephanie Stradley — Thu, 18 Oct 2007 22:40:00 EST

Filed under: Texans, Titans, AFC South, Fantasy Football, NFL Injuries

Titans quarterback Vince Young is sick of talking about his quadriceps injury, but fantasy players, betting folk, and others interested in the Texans-Titans game want to know more about it. So here's my ~~talking out of my rear~~ semi-educated guess on the subject matter:

Factors for Him Starting:
Past History. Titans coach Jeff Fisher tends to keep injury information very wishy-washy, and often former-Titan QB Steve McNair would not practice, or minimally practice, and still play the game. It is likely we find out the starter on game day. Young has been receiving treatment for his injury, and reports today said he threw the ball.

Vince Young and Houston. Though Young doesn't want to talk about the game against Houston as being special, you know he wants to stick it to the Texans every time he is in his hometown.

Factors For Him Sitting.
Nature of His Injury. Often, you can't get straight information from teams about injuries, so you have to look em up for yourself. From the appearance and description of his injury, and in my role playing fake doctor, it sounds like he had a second degree quadriceps strain. From what I've read about these, Young will be able to do normal activities, but may exacerbate his problem if he runs in a full sprint.

As Mario Williams knows, it is hard to own a Lamborghini and not drive it fast. Similarly, it would be difficult to put Vince Young in a AFC South battle in his home town, and expect for him to play it like a pocket passer.

Fisher's Statements. Jeff Fisher said that Vince Young is going to trust what the doctors tell him.

Given Young's annoyance in talking about his injury, I am guessing it is not likely he is going to play because he sounds like a guy who is grumpy about not playing. Don't take my word for it, this doctor guy says that re-injury to the quad is a real possibility. Also the less time the injury has to heal, the more likely that re-injury could occur, or perhaps a worse injury. Even a basic look-see on the internet has tons of stories of these sorts of quad injuries gone bad. Like this one:

Resting may be the common sense approach, but it is one that is often ignored by competitive athletes. This is unwise, since it does not take much to turn a grade one Thigh strain into a grade two, or a grade two Thigh strain into a grade three.

Why? Because athletes feel like they can function with this sort of quad strain unless they try to do something like kicking or sprinting. I'm guessing a double-threat quarterback with a chronically bad wheel would not be something that Fisher would want to cause by starting Young. A grade three thigh strain is one that requires surgery.

I could, however, be completely wrong about this, and have an open mind. What do you think the Titans will do? Start or sit Young?

Do You Think Vince Young Will Play Against the Texans? originally appeared on Fantasy FanHouse on Thu, 18 Oct 2007 22:40:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Texans Andre Johnson Likely Out for Another Month

Stephanie Stradley — Sat, 13 Oct 2007 16:52:00 EST

Filed under: Texans, AFC South, Fantasy Football, NFL Injuries, Houston

When Texans #1 receiver Andre Johnson strained his knee in Week 2 against the Panthers, estimates on his return were as long as five weeks. The Houston Chronicle is reporting today that it is likely that Johnson won't be back until the November 18th home game against New Orleans.

Uh-oh.

The Texans have a history of providing overly positive assessments to fans of when players will come back. See e.g. Tony Boselli, Domanick Davis/Williams, Charles Spencer. Hopefully, Johnson's situation is not in that league of unhappy results. For an additional information about Johnson's injury, please check out my September discussion.

The Texans have been able to throw the ball in Johnson's absence even without a functioning running game, but his presence is particularly missed in the red zone. If they can't figure out how to improve red zone scoring in Johnson's absence, field goal kicker Kris Brown is going to have a lot more opportunities like he did against the Dolphins.

Texans Andre Johnson Likely Out for Another Month originally appeared on Fantasy FanHouse on Sat, 13 Oct 2007 16:52:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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How Many Games Will Andre Johnson Miss?

Stephanie Stradley — Thu, 20 Sep 2007 12:15:00 EST

Filed under: Texans, AFC South, Fantasy Football, NFL Injuries

You know, females get the reputation for being the biggest gossips, but it seems to me that the success of ProFootballTalk.com illustrates that guys like gossip too. Texans receiver Andre Johnson's knee is the focus of today's PFT gossip, as he reports that the "current scuttlebutt is he'll miss five weeks." He acknowledges that this gossip could be dog turd, but that's just what the gossip is. I appreciating knowing that.

Texans long snapper and Deadspin/Fark internet sensation, Bryan Pittman in today's Houston Press provides his own AJ scuttlebutt as someone who is actually in the locker room:

"Well, I haven't talked to him personally, but from what I gather, it shouldn't be a lengthy injury. Three weeks at the most, I think. But you never know. Everyone reacts differently when it comes to healing time."

(His interview is a good read for Texan fans, unless they are also Cowboy fans as he is not terribly impressed with the 2007 Cowboys team. He's a straightfoward talker, and you find the archives of the Pittman interviews here.)

Colts cornerback, Marlin Jackson isn't buying any of this injury talk:

"They say he's not playing but we'll see on Sunday."

The Texans are going to re-examine Johnson's knee on Friday and he has already said he doesn't anticipate playing against the Colts. Given the medical stuff linked to previously, I really do think that nobody knows how long Johnson will be out. Texans fans are accustomed to taking injury reports with a big dose of skepticism. That's what happens to people who bought a Tony Boselli jersey as their first one.

Previously at FanHouse:
Texan Andre Johnson 'Doubtful' Against Colts.

How Many Games Will Andre Johnson Miss? originally appeared on Fantasy FanHouse on Thu, 20 Sep 2007 12:15:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Texan Andre Johnson 'Doubtful' Against Colts

Stephanie Stradley — Mon, 17 Sep 2007 22:52:00 EST

Filed under: Colts, Texans, Fantasy Football, NFL Injuries

Texans receiver Andre Johnson left the Carolina game in the 4th quarter after a big hit, and limped to the sidelines. The initial diagnosis was that he had a posterior cruciate ligament strain, and today after his MRI, it was announced that he is doubtful to play this weekend's game against the Colts. According to Gary Kubiak in today's press conference:

I would say that Andre's doubtful for that football game. But I think we're going to know more here in a couple days. There was no swelling, that's the good thing. But there is definitely a (knee) sprain there. And you know, we'll see, but we're concerned with Andre right now, and we can't answer all the questions right now to be honest with you.

He says that the knee sprain is both the good and the bad news:

We feel very fortunate, Andre's going to be fine. Is he going to be fine in a week, or is he going to be fine in four weeks? We're still in an evaluation process right now. But he's definitely got a sprain and we'll know more here in a couple days... But we expect him back, no doubt, and just hopefully sooner than later.

Given that Johnson is one of the league leading receivers and all the rest of the Texans receivers are young and/or unproven, everyone is interested in how the Texans to deal with this other than saying "oh @#$%." (feel free to insert favorite profanity for nonsense symbols). Kubiak's response:

The question I think that we'd have to answer is if Andre is unable to go, how are we going to go about it? Are we going to start Kevin (Walter) and Jacoby (Jones)? Are we going to leave both of those guys at the Z position and move Jerome (Mathis) or Andre (Davis) up to the X? So that's something we'll address, but as a staff, as we talked about it before I came down here, all four of those kids are going to play. They're all young players and we're going to have to- you know one of the things we said during training camp, and it's funny how things work out, a lot of people wanted to know who our number two receiver is going to be. And my answer to you guys all the time was that I'm concerned about the group being good, not who's going to be number two. So we're fixing to find out if the group can pick up the slack if Andre's going to miss some time.

So basically, it sounds like we'll have more information later this week. If you are eager to more now now now about his diagnosis, check out this link on PCL strains. The sum up for those of you not clicky inclined:

1. No swelling is a good thing
2. Typically, torn PCL's swell.
3. Technically, you can have a sprain that includes a tear, if it is a grade III sprain.
4. PCL sprains are not a preventable injury.
5. Recovery time is individual.

If any actual doctor-type people out there want to add some opining and various speculation, I'd love to hear it. Non-docs can comment too about the prospects of a no-AJ Texans team facing the Colts this weekend.

Texan Andre Johnson 'Doubtful' Against Colts originally appeared on Fantasy FanHouse on Mon, 17 Sep 2007 22:52:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Status Check: Houston Texans Didja Knows and Fantasy Info

Stephanie Stradley — Thu, 06 Sep 2007 13:15:00 EST

Filed under: Texans, AFC South, Fantasy Football, Houston

Status Check is FanHouse's conversation with fans from the rest of the blogosphere. Today, we talk with Alan "AJ" Burge (Fanblogger for the official Houston Texans website), Keith Weiland (columnist and editor Houston ProFootball.com), Tim (co-blogger at BattleRedBlog), Matt Campbell (blogger at Da Good, Da Bad, and DeMeco and co-blogger at TexansTalk), and Thomas Hilton (moderator of FanBlog: Texans for the Houston Chronicle).

One of the reasons why I started blogging about the Texans was that it was difficult to find information about the team, so I figured as long as I was looking for it, I'd share. What is some information that the average NFL fan might not know about the Texans?

Keith from HoustonProFootball: The Texans are so under the radar to the average fan (and even many of the ardent ones), that there is probably quite a bit they don't know since Houston is rarely selected for a national broadcast, even on Sunday afternoons. The average fan still thinks of this as the expansion team or even the 2-win team from 2005, but the reality in the NFL is that even the bad teams can turn around pretty quickly if they have the right mix of coaching and talent.

I think the Bengals are an okay example of that, where they endured much suckitude for a lengthy period of time, but even the Bengals, with the right coach and a new group of players, showed improvement rather quickly. Fans shouldn't let the Texans sneak up on them if they think this team is a lock for another top-10 draft pick

AJ from HoustonTexans.com: This preseason, the Texans were #1 in the NFL in scoring (26.0 ppg) and #11 in rushing (121.2 ypg).

The Texans are 6-4 all time against Jacksonville, and 2-0 all time against the Dolphins and Raiders.

Texans Quarterbacks coach Kyle Shanahan, is the son of Denver Broncos Head Coach Mike Shanahan.

Nearly two decades ago while scouting the west coast for the Houston Oilers, Texans Senior Defensive Assistant Frank Bush, noticed a defensive tackle from Fresno State. Bush saw that Franklin had potential, so with the 298th selection in the 1988 draft, the Oilers selected Franklin. The two were reunited this year as coaches for the Texans.

Matt from DGDB&D: Despite having the worst record in football over the course of our existence, the team is 6-4 all time against the Jags, including sweeps in two of the last three seasons.

Thomas from FanBlog: Texans: That Houston actually has an NFL team NOT named the Oilers. Since I live in Philly during the school semesters, most people in the northeast still think the Oilers are still in Houston. Talk about living under a rock.

Tim from BattleRedBlog: Hmmmm...that Charley Casserly was actually collecting a paycheck from Bud Adams when he was Houston's GM? It's really the only explanation.

Any relevant fantasy football information about the Texans?

Thomas: Maybe Jacoby Jones can be a sleeper pick. The fantasy world has Ahman Green listed a a fairly productive back for this year. Andre Johnson's numbers should still be solid and Matt Schaub may be a decent pickup if someone's top QB is in a bye-week.

Keith: Owen Daniels might wind up as the de facto #2 wide receiver in this offense, and Schaub has not hesitated to look for him in the middle of the field and in the endzone during camp workouts. Ahman Green is probably a little undervalued as well.

While the offense this year will be a blend of Bronco and Packer philosophies, they are both conducive to producing value between the 20s for backs. The biggest fantasy question will just boil down to the playcalling in the redzone and whether Schaub hands off or play fakes more often.

Matt: Owen Daniels, baby. No one will be looking at him (assuming you are playing with people who live outside the Space City), so you can probably snag him very late. And he just happened to have the same number of TDs as Tony Gonzalez and Heath Miller.

Schaub has shown affection for Daniels, and Owen has responded by making some great catches in traffic and over the middle. That, my friends, is a recipe for 6-8 TDs. He even more golden if you are in a PPR league. [ed note: OD's biggest game last year was against the Titans, a game where David Carr was benched at the half. For what it's worth]

AJ: I'm an avid fantasy player but my mantra has always been to never seek or give advice on fantasy football. That way, you have only one person to blame when you crash and burn.

Thanks again to the various bloggers who contributed to the Texans Status Check and those of you who have cared to add to the conversation. So are you ready for some football?

Previously at FanHouse:
Status Check: Houston Texans Predictions, Expectations and Surprises
Status Check: Houston Texans Offense and Defense

(Photos: First two photos Andy Martin, TexansBullPen.com; me)

Status Check: Houston Texans Didja Knows and Fantasy Info originally appeared on Fantasy FanHouse on Thu, 06 Sep 2007 13:15:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sharpen Your Pencils for the 2007 Houston Texans Test

Stephanie Stradley — Sat, 21 Jul 2007 15:11:00 EST

Filed under: Texans, AFC South, Fantasy Football

When I am scanning the internets to find you the latest on Texans stuff, I got to say that there is a lot of misinformation out there. It makes me wonder about the quality of information out there on all teams, if I see so much wrong info about a team that I follow closely.

So, I've assembled a 2007 Texans True/False test to help out. It's just a 50/50 proposition, so it can't be too hard. Let's begin:

1. The Texans are running an offense that is basically cribbed from the Bronco playbook. T or F?

2. The Texans run a zone blocking scheme. T or F?

3. Steve McKinney looked like the best center on the team last year, so he is considered the front runner for the center position this year. T or F?

4. The Texans will be playing three first round draft picks in their starting defensive line. T or F?

5. The Texans have never really had an effective #2 receiver. T or F?

Answers after the jump...

1. False. Gary Kubiak intended to install a version of the Denver offense in Houston last year, but as the season evolved, it looked less and less like Denver's offense. Mike Sherman is the new offensive coordinator for the Texans, and reports are that Sherman and Kubiak are going to run a blended offense between their styles. I expect it to be a run first offense, but nobody really knows how their hybrid offense is going to look.

2. False. There's various of reports out there that the Texans are running a Denver zone blocking scheme in 2007 and that is not true. They ran a mixture of zone and power blocking last year, and Steve McKinney in a local radio interview suggest that there will be less zone blocking in 2007. If you are interested in the 2007 Texans offensive line discussion, check out the comments between Lance Zierlein and me in his Z Report Blog. (you have to scroll down through the comments).

3. False. Even though Steve McKinney appeared to be the most effective of the three centers that played for the Texans in 2006, early reports suggest that Mike Flanagan has the edge for that position. (Also from LZ and my comment discussion).

4. Probably false. Early reports from HoustonTexans.com suggest that Anthony Maddox may be the starter at defensive tackle over Travis Johnson. Maddox was a practice squad player last year, and Johnson was a first round draft pick in 2005. (I can't imagine Travis Johnson likes reading that sort of stuff on the official Texans website).

5. True with a caveat. The Texans have never really featured a #2 wide receiver that was considered a go to guy. But the Texans have also have run a training wheels offense for years. Few players are so good that they can excel no matter what system and situation they go to.

Reports suggest that David Carr had difficulty reading defenses and getting the ball to the appropriate receiver. Time will tell if Matt Schaub as quarterback can distribute any better. The group of Texans wide receivers that are currently on the roster for the #2 position are a group of inexperienced and/or unproven players. But then again, tight end Owen Daniels was inexperienced last year and was able to immediately contribute receiving yards right away under Kubiak's scheme.

So, how did you do on the test? Can you think of any other misconceptions about the 2007 Texans? Or are you just wondering why a designer would have models walk down the catwalk with pencils in their hair and wearing black horn rim glasses?

Sharpen Your Pencils for the 2007 Houston Texans Test originally appeared on Fantasy FanHouse on Sat, 21 Jul 2007 15:11:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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How Inexperienced is Your Team's Offensive Skill Positions?

Stephanie Stradley — Thu, 12 Jul 2007 14:15:00 EST

Filed under: AZ Cardinals, Broncos, Browns, Chiefs, Cowboys, Raiders, Redskins, Texans, Titans, Vikings, Fantasy Football

I just got a new ride, and it has Sirius Satellite Radio in it. Sweet. I find that I listen a lot to Chill, Raw Dog Comedy and NFL Radio, not necessarily in that order. Anyway, yesterday on his NFL Radio program, Pat Kirwan mentioned his NFL.com article about how there could be 10 quarterbacks in the NFL this year who are starting the season for the first time as a 16 game starter. I hadn't realized it could be that many. He stresses that expectations shouldn't be too high for these quarterbacks because their learning curve is steep.

Stat stud, Doug Drinen at the always interesting Pro-Football-Reference.com blog, wrote an entry a while back about the difficulties of teams with inexperienced players at the offensive skill positions. He took a historical look at the greenest teams at quarterback, running back, tight end and 2 wide receivers, and then compared that to their final season records. Though there were a few success stories in the bunch, the data shows that the least experienced teams at the skill positions usually stunk. But since all quarterbacks have to start somewhere, a number of those quarterbacks helming those teams eventually went to the Super Bowl.

So, I have a few questions for you. Are you concerned about the inexperience of your team's quarterback and/or the skill players around him? And, what other Sirius radio programs do I really need to check out?

How Inexperienced is Your Team's Offensive Skill Positions? originally appeared on Fantasy FanHouse on Thu, 12 Jul 2007 14:15:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Best Offseason Analysis of the Houston Texans

Stephanie Stradley — Sat, 07 Jul 2007 13:32:00 EST

Filed under: Texans, AFC South, Fantasy Football, NFL Fans, Houston

It's obvious that most national writers opining about the Texans have never seen much of their play. For example, this SI.com analysis of the AFC South's training camp challenges is ~~garbage~~ not terribly accurate. Hey, readers, here's a minor challenge that you can win zero dollars and up to a million imaginary pride points for. In the comments, mention all the mistakes you can find in the SI.com discussion of the Texans defensive line. Sorta like one of those what's wrong with this picture thingies you are supposed to stare at until you figure out the answer. (Maybe you don't want look at that last link at work.)

It's rare to read spot-on correct information about the team, so since I found some of that, I thought I'd share because I'm friendly that way. Alan Burge aka AJ writes a blog hosted at the HoustonTexans.com website. He's a huge fan of the team, has watched every snap, but doesn't write with kool-aid stained ink. In his most recent blog post, he does a positional analysis of each part of the Texans. He performs a rough accounting of which 53 players will make the team and the strengths and weaknesses at various positions. Read it. Read it now, and report back.

Best Offseason Analysis of the Houston Texans originally appeared on Fantasy FanHouse on Sat, 07 Jul 2007 13:32:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Debate With Self: Ahman Green

Stephanie Stradley — Sun, 01 Jul 2007 13:31:00 EST

Filed under: Packers, Texans, AFC South, Fantasy Football, Houston

I'm always amazed at those people who are absolutely certain in their opinions about how players will do in the upcoming season. For me, it's hard, especially in a sport like football where a player's performance is interdependent on his teammates, coaching and scheme. Anyhow, this entry is devote to talking about Texans running back, Ahman Green, and the debate inside my head on how he might do this year.

My Shiny, Happy Thoughts on Green:

The Texans running back situation stunk last year. Domanick Williams (previously Davis) ended up on the shelf with injuries right before the season started. Rookies started the season and by the time the coaches figured out that things weren't working, they ended up playing Ron Dayne and Samkon Gado--two players who hadn't been in camp. Dayne ended up being the leading rusher for the Texans.

Since the Texans wanted to improve their running back group, they ended up signing Ahman Green in the offseason. Reports from camp say that Green appears to be in terrific shape and has looked great, including this report from Lance Zierlein's blog that says Green looks "as good as he did back in 2001 from a physical standpoint." Green does all the things that Gary Kubiak wants from his running back: quick decision making, precise route running and blocking.

It's helpful for Green coming into Houston that he is familiar with offensive coordinator Mike Sherman's playbook and terminology, so the learning curve will not be steep. Kubiak has said that Green should be getting 25 or so carries a game, so there won't be quite the running back by committee that there was last year.

The IDP News blog has an interesting thought on Green:

"Green played against two of the toughest run D's last season (Minnesota and Chicago , ranked 1st and 6th, respectively) a total of four times. In 2007 he will instead face Tennessee 's and Indy's run D a total of four times (ranked 30th and 32nd respectively)."

Coming off his ruptured quadriceps injury in 2005, FootballGuys.com notes that Green was ranked 15th for fantasy backs, and excluding 2005, has been in the top 15 each year since 2000. The quadriceps injury Green had isn't the sort to reoccur, and that he will regain his leg strength over time..

Interestingly, the FootballGuys go on to make the point that even with the Texans running game struggling for a good part of the season, Houston's seven running backs combined for 2,034 yards and 12 TDs. In addition, Footballoutsiders.com stats show that the Texans running game last season was 8th in the league in power stats and 5th in the league in avoiding being stuffed. (see their guidelines on what that means). In other words, Green isn't coming into as dire of a run blocking situation as some observers think.

My Not-So-Shiny, Happy Thoughts on Green:

Ahman Green is 30. Ultimately, on average the track record on running backs pushing 30 isn't great, especially those who have had lots of carries. How many situations are there where a 30 year old running back changes teams and makes an instant impact for that team? (minor shiny happy interruption: Doug Drinen at Pro-Football-Reference.com had an article a while back that noted that the number of running backs 30 or older making contributions for their teams has increased over the years.)

The case can be made that Ahman Green is an old 30 because he has had a lot of carries and the nagging injuries that come from that. Even with his work ethic, it may be difficult for him to avoid his body breaking down on him. Last year, they said Green looked good before camp started, and he had early year hamstring problems compensating for the quadriceps injury. Even before his quadriceps injury, some observers questioned whether Green was in decline, specifically questioning whether he could still break long runs. (Long runs have been in short supply for the Texans too).

The argument has been made that Green's decline corresponded to the decline in the experience and ability of Green Bay's offensive line. Though Green Bay's pass blocking was substantially better than Houston's last year, their run blocking was very similar and on some measures the Texans were better.

It would be great that if the second year past his injury, and reunited with his previous coach, he regained all the strength and form that made him a 4 year Pro Bowler. Few expected him to come back from his 2005 injury to have a 1000+ yard season last year, but Texans fans aren't accustomed to fairy tale endings from free agent acquisitions. (See e.g. Phillip-Buchanon-to-fix-Texans-secondary acquisition. Apologies to Texans fans and Ahman Green for mentioning that in this entry but you can't control what your brain thinks).

So what does your own fine self say about this subject? I'd like to know because it's kinda weird mumbling to yourself about this stuff.

Debate With Self: Ahman Green originally appeared on Fantasy FanHouse on Sun, 01 Jul 2007 13:31:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Matt Schaub: Breakout Star of 2007?

Stephanie Stradley — Mon, 25 Jun 2007 13:20:00 EST

Filed under: Texans, AFC South, Fantasy Football, Houston

Adam Schein at FoxSports.com lists Texans quarterback Matt Schaub as one of his breakout stars of 2007 saying in part, "Schaub will put himself and the Texans on the map with a big season."

In the offseason, people either really like the trade for Schaub or have the opinion that with the same Texans offensive line, Schaub will get killed. I'm not sure Schaub is going to be a breakout star, but I do believe that given the offseason options in free agency and the draft, he was the best option for the Texans. The Texans passed up the fabu 2006 QB draft class, and weren't going to compound that error by keeping David Carr when he wasn't doing the things that Gary Kubiak expected him to do.

Many of Carr's issues last year were mental errors: reading defenses, consistent decision making, getting happy feet in the pocket, timing, and difficulty throwing in the middle of the field. Behind the scenes, there were whispers denigrating his work ethic and leadership skills. Exactly the sort of situation that begs a new start for both Carr and the team.

Those who haven't seen much of Carr play believe that the 249 sacks he experienced over the years were all on the offensive line. Most of us who've watched every Texans snap know a little different. Certainly over the years, some of blame can be on the line, but a good deal of blame can go on Carr, inexperienced running backs and tight ends helping on protection, and on the offensive scheme. A great number of those sacks were from Carr running out of bounds behind the line of scrimmage instead of throwing the ball away and mishandled snaps. (I even wrote a blog post explaining the mystery of Carr's mishandled snaps. The above YouTube is a fan reenactment of this drive killing phenomenon.) This doesn't even take into account just needing quicker decision making and pocket presence.

Matt of DGDB&D and the TexansTalk.com blogs believes that the general point of view that the "Texans Oline sucks" is an exaggerated story nationally. It is a convenient shorthand. The reality is that the Texans reduced their sacks from a horrific 68 in 2005 to a marginal 43 last year. It just might be to reduce that number further, the Texans need a quarterback who can read defenses better and make quicker decisions. (Though it would probably help for the line to stay healthier this year). The Texans hope that Schaub can be that guy. Their fans have hope in that they get to see another guy at the quarterback position and maybe something different and happy results from that. What say you?

Previously at FanHouse:
Does Video Lie? David Carr v. Matt Schaub
David Carr or the Offensive Line: The Chicken Egg Question
Texans Draft Grades: 'Experts' Full of It, Like I Have to Tell You That

Matt Schaub: Breakout Star of 2007? originally appeared on Fantasy FanHouse on Mon, 25 Jun 2007 13:20:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Candidates for Texans #2 Receiver

Stephanie Stradley — Thu, 24 May 2007 10:52:00 EST

Filed under: Texans, AFC South, Fantasy Football, NFL Rumors, NFL Video, Houston

Texans receiver Andre Johnson went to the Pro Bowl last year after a fast start of the season. His numbers tapered off after teams started using exotic defenses to make sure he didn't get the ball. The team released Eric Moulds, figuring that though he was a good possession receiver, he was not a realistic threat to stretch the field. (Moulds defenders would claim that David Carr couldn't get him the ball).

This leaves the Texans where they've been ever since drafting Johnson--wondering who their #2 receiver is. The new and entertaining Texans blog, Da Good, Da Bad, DeMeco, does an thorough analysis of the options the Texans have at wide receiver. He is particularly intrigued with the potential of third round pick, Jacoby Jones.

The only thing I really would like to add to this is some gossip I heard from one of my friends at the Texans. He is usually more negative/realistic about players than some of the rah rah you read in the paper. He said that at least in early OTA's, Jones looks like he could be a player, the real deal. If he says something positive about a guy, I pay attention. Battle Red Blog had similar observations about Jones' performance in the Shrine Game.

Jones' road to the NFL was unique. When he came out of high school, he went to college on a track scholarship as he was 5'7" and 160 lbs. While at college, he grew to 6'2" and 210 lbs. He played Division II ball for Lane College, and clearly has some learning to do to play at the NFL level. For some video relevant to the #2 WR position, check out this Texans TV video focusing on Kevin Walter, and this interview with Jacoby Jones.

Going into the 2006 season, Gary Kubiak said he wanted to see kick returner Jerome Mathis play wide receiver, but that plan got derailed by Mathis' broken foot. This year, Mathis' foot is better, but he is reportedly struggling some with his hamstrings, which gave him problems in his breakout Pro Bowl rookie season and also put him back on IR last season.

Do you have any favorites at #2?

Candidates for Texans #2 Receiver originally appeared on Fantasy FanHouse on Thu, 24 May 2007 10:52:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Must Hear Gary Kubiak Radio Interview

Stephanie Stradley — Tue, 15 May 2007 11:48:00 EST

Filed under: Texans, AFC South, Fantasy Football, NFL Draft, NFL Injuries, Houston

If you are a Houston Texans fan, or are interested in the Texans from a fantasy football perspective, you need to listen to this morning's Gary Kubiak interview on Houston's SportsRadio 610. Great questions, very honest answers. He talks about just about every position on the team, and some of their thinking during the draft.

Anything particularly jump out at you?? I'd love to have a comment conversation about the interview as it contains so much information about the team. Personally, I was struck at how he called out kick returner Jerome Mathis and defensive tackle Travis Johnson basically saying that this was the year they both needed to step up for the team. Both of those players had injured, disappointing seasons last year, but even so, there were other injured players who didn't get singled out this way.

Must Hear Gary Kubiak Radio Interview originally appeared on Fantasy FanHouse on Tue, 15 May 2007 11:48:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Texans Release David Carr: Most Overpaid NFL Player Ever?

Michael David Smith — Fri, 23 Mar 2007 16:06:00 EST

Filed under: Texans, AFC South, Fantasy Football, Overpaid NFL Players

After trading for Matt Schaub and naming him their starter, the Houston Texans announced today that they have released quarterback David Carr. Carr made about $35 million in his career, and that raises an interesting question: Is he the most overpaid player in NFL history?

I can't think of a player who made that much money and provided so little production. The Texans gave Carr opportunity after opportunity, and he never produced. Sure, you can say he had a weak offensive line in front of him, but a quarterback has to do something even if he's not getting much protection.

The worst move the Texans made wasn't drafting Carr first overall -- mistakes like that can happen. No, the worst move was their idiotic decision to give Carr an $8 million bonus a year ago instead of just releasing him. They finally did the right thing today, but only after they devoted far too many resources to a quarterback who simply wasn't worth the money.

Carr will now try to catch on as a backup somewhere, perhaps in Oakland. The Texans also released running back Domanick Williams, formerly known as Domanick Davis. After a setback during his recovery from a serious knee injury, Williams' career is likely over.

Texans Release David Carr: Most Overpaid NFL Player Ever? originally appeared on Fantasy FanHouse on Fri, 23 Mar 2007 16:06:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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What Makes Anyone Think Matt Schaub Is an NFL Starter?

Michael David Smith — Thu, 22 Mar 2007 11:03:00 EST

Filed under: Falcons, Texans, Fantasy Football, NFL Draft, Atlanta, Houston

The big news in the NFL is that the Falcons have traded backup quarterback Matt Schaub to the Texans. In return, the Falcons got to swap their own 10th overall pick for the Texans' eighth overall pick, and they also got the Texans' second-round picks this year and next year.

Doing some back-of-the-envelope calculations and using the chart that NFL teams rely on when determining the value of draft picks, I've come to the conclusion that those picks mean the Texans have given up the equivalent of a mid-first-round pick (about the value of the 19th pick overall) for Schaub.

So here's the question: What makes the Texans think Schaub is worth that much? As my colleague Tom Mantzouranis noted yesterday, Schaub has started only two games in his career, going 81-for-161 with six touchdowns and six interceptions. There's no guarantee that he'll be a competent quarterback when he gets the starting job, let alone a star.

That's why the contract the Texans and Schaub have agreed to is so interesting. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports that it's a six-year, $48 million contract with $7 million guaranteed. That's really not a lot of guaranteed money for a starting quarterback contract, especially a six-year contract for a 25-year-old starting quarterback. That means the Texans and Schaub both understands that if things work out, he'll be rewarded handsomely, but if things don't work out, he won't have cost the Texans anywhere near as much as David Carr did.

What Makes Anyone Think Matt Schaub Is an NFL Starter? originally appeared on Fantasy FanHouse on Thu, 22 Mar 2007 11:03:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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David Carr Expected to Start Against the Bills

Stephanie Stradley — Mon, 13 Nov 2006 21:01:00 EST

Filed under: Texans, AFC South, Fantasy Football, NFL Injuries

Texans quarterback David Carr left the game against the Jaguars after getting a direct hit on his throwing shoulder after he released the ball. Early reports were that it was a bruised shoulder. He threw some on the sidelines after the hit, but didn't return to the game.

Gary Kubiak in his Monday press conference said:

"David (Carr) went for an MRI this afternoon we do not have it back yet, but we do feel like he's fine. He felt pretty good today; I would be surprised if there is a problem. I think he's going to be okay....All indications from (head athletic trainer) Kevin (Bastin) are that he will be fine and ready to go."

Though statistically Carr didn't have one of his better games against Jacksonville, he made plays when it mattered and didn't give up the ball to an aggressive defense. He was able to move the ball during crucial third downs and keep the offense on the field.

UPDATE 11/14: Carr's MRI was negative.

David Carr Expected to Start Against the Bills originally appeared on Fantasy FanHouse on Mon, 13 Nov 2006 21:01:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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David Carr to Start Against Giants

Stephanie Stradley — Mon, 30 Oct 2006 13:31:00 EST

Filed under: Texans, AFC South, Fantasy Football

If you live in Houston, it is sports talk radio hades week. It is the perfect storm of bad sports talk: David Carr played horrible and got benched, backup Sage Rosenfels played great, Gary Kubiak said after the game that Carr will start next week, Vince Young had two touchdowns and didn't turnover the ball and the Cowboys won. For every intelligent thing said on the radio this week, there will be 100 braying exaggerated and/or stupid and/or told-you-so things said after this one game.

The Texans made mistakes in all three phases of the game, had tons of stupid penalties, and gave up the ball 5 times. That being said, it is remarkable that they were in the game at the end.

The most controversial thing post-game is the announcement that David Carr will start. For those who just rely on statistics, and haven't watched his play, let me explain the extent of the controversy.

Locally, David Carr has lost most good will with the fanbase, and is under a ton of pressure because many locals wanted the Texans to pick Young. When he plays good games, the criticism is muffled, but it comes out in full force when he is awful. His QB rating has been very high this season, but part of that is an illustration of the problem with QB ratings. They do not penalize for fumbling the ball.

The FootballOutsider's QB metric does look at fumbles and you can see here that Carr doesn't rank as highly on this list. (though he is still vastly improved from last year, of course, faint praising). Carr fumbled twice on Sunday and threw a really ugly interception.

The following is my brief analysis of Carr, Rosenfels and the Texans line as it relates to the Titans game:

Basically, both starting Texans tackles dressed like human turnstiles for this pre-Halloween game. Both right tackle Zach Weigart and left tackle Ephraim Salaam are hurt and oldish, and they were abused all day. Salaam managed to receive 3 false start penalties, a penalty that the Texans have not had big problems with this season.

David Carr was clearly flustered with the pressure, and had a terrible game. He stared down receivers, did not move well in the pocket in response to pressure, threw into quadruple coverage for his interception and never looked comfortable on the field. It looked like he was pressing a bit. If you were just looking at his stats for the first half (15-21, 113 yards, 1 INT), and thought geez, that's pretty good given the pressure, you are missing how panicky he looked in the pocket.

Sage Rosenfels, with the same line, looked very composed (18-25, 186 yards, 3 TDs, 1 INT). His initial interception was not his fault, as it bounced right off of Andre Johnson's hands. He moved around within the pocket, sidestepping pressure, and seemed to have very good field awareness. When pressured, he took care of the ball and didn't fumble. His touchdown pass to Andre Johnson was a perfect pass thrown only to where Andre Johnson could get it.

I cannot remember a time where David Carr had a great game on the road, but I've seen plenty of especially bad road games. But I suppose the same can be said for the rest of the team as they are not talented enough to overcome their road tendency for turnovers, penalties and other mistakes.

Kubiak says he sat Carr because during half time, he told Carr if he couldn't take care of the ball in the second half, he would be benched:

This is not all about David. He was under pressure and did get hit. When I coach a quarterback, even if you are getting hit, you have got to protect the ball. That's just part of it. We have got that better. Should we have protected better? You can find a lot of guys in that room that are going to take that blame for not protecting. I can guarantee you that. I just want him to understand his responsibility for protecting the football. Our defense was playing very well. If we don't turn the ball over in the first half, you know? To be in the football game in the NFL having five turnovers is unbelievable anyway.

So if David Carr looked poor, and Sage Rosenfels looked good, why is Carr getting the start against the Giants? Kubiak has no qualms about sitting down running backs for poor performance, as he has done the running back shuffle all season. He probably believes that the quarterback position is just different and needs more patience. That from week to week, even good quarterbacks have bad games.

The difference between Kubiak and the fan base is that apparently Kubiak believes in Carr as a good quarterback and the fan base doesn't.

David Carr to Start Against Giants originally appeared on Fantasy FanHouse on Mon, 30 Oct 2006 13:31:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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