Fantasy FanHouse

Waiver Wire Wonders: Week 13

Ryan Dembinsky — Sun, 30 Nov 2008 21:55:00 EST

Filed under: NFL Waiver Wire, Fantasy Football, NFL New Studs

Brandon Jackson (RB, Packers) -- All you fantasy owners out there who have been asking "Who's the next Ryan Grant?" on repeat for the past 12 months may have your answer -- his replacement, Brandon Jackson. Ryan Grant suffered a bruised hand in the first half and did not return. In his absence, Brandon Jackson ran the ball 11 times for a hefty 80 yards and added one reception. Reportedly, Grant could have returned, but the Packers opted to stick with the more effective replacement. Thus, Brandon Jackson looks like this week's most compelling add.

Isaac Bruce (WR, 49ers) -- Isaac Bruce is definitely a contender for Waiver Wire Wonder of the year. Bruce has not exhibited the consistency to remain a keeper on the roster, he has certainly broke out on a number of occasions this season and showed up on this list a handful of times. So what's the difference today? Well, this is his second straight big game, last week catching 8 passes for 125 yards and a touchdown and this week adding another five balls for 67 yards and a touchdown. The real key here is that Bruce and fill-in quarterback, Shaun Hill, seem to have a solid chemistry, so this could be legit from here on out.

Justin Fargas (RB, Raiders) -- Is this list looking awfully familiar? Fargas is back again after another big game this week, which helps solidify his role as the key man in the Raiders' backfield. Fargas carried the ball 18 times to McFadden's seven. Fargas also racked up 88 yards and scored a touchdown compared to McFadden's 13 yards and 1.3 yards per carry average. The Raiders continued to try to work McFadden into the offense, attempting to line him up at receiver, taking direct snaps from the wildcat, and even running a hook and ladder, but Fargas continues to be the more effective option (still available in 63% of 10-team leagues). On the other hand, the Raiders also just lost to the Chiefs today, so whether or not it is advisable to mess with either option at this point is entirely arguable.

Davone Bess (WR, Dolphins) -- With Greg Camarillo's season ending injury opening up a monster opportunity, Davone Bess looks ready to capitalize. Today, Bess snagged six balls for 84 yards in his debut as a starter and should continue to see an increasing workload. Both Davone Bess and Ted Ginn Jr. see big value upticks with Camarillo's injury, but Bess is the more likely of the two to be available at this point.

Waiver Wire Wonders: Week 13 originally appeared on Fantasy FanHouse on Sun, 30 Nov 2008 21:55:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Waiver Wire Wonders: Week 12

Ryan Dembinsky — Sun, 23 Nov 2008 21:42:00 EST

Filed under: NFL Waiver Wire, Fantasy Football, NFL New Studs

Weeding through those unwieldy waiver wires requires a keen eye and a quick trigger. Thus, Waiver Wire Wonders provides a weekly snapshot of players worthy of consideration who should be available on a good portion of league waiver wires. Enjoy those pickups...

It looks like a pretty slow week for the waiver wires, but depending on needs, there are definitely some promising propositions out there. Since most leagues have passed the dreaded trade deadline, these guys are about the only options at this point to fill any unproductive holes. Thus, from here on out, playing the waiver wires wisely is of the utmost importance.

J.J. Arrington (RB, Cardinals) - While Arrington's numbers were pretty much sub par, his workload is steadily increasing and he looked very good against the Giants this afternoon, particularly on screen passes (5 catches for 38 yards). At this point, he is not startable, but he might be a valuable pickup down the stretch, so keep an eye on Arrington for a potential fantasy playoff pickup.

Maurice Morris (RB, Seahawks) - Earlier in the season, the bulk of the workload looked to be going to Julius Jones, but after a steady descent since his hot start to the season, Jones may have lost the privilege. After Jones went down with an early calf injury, a healthy Maurice Morris carried the ball 14 times for 103 yards and caught three passes for 10 yards and a touchdown. With this performance, Morris looks to see an expanded workload and makes for a compelling add.

Justin Fargas (RB, Raiders) - Who knows where this came from, but Fargas led the Raiders in a 31-10 romp of arch-nemesis, the Denver Broncos. While Darren McFadden scored the two rushing touchdowns, Fargas carried the ball 24 times for 107 yards and caught one short pass. Since this is about the first thing that has worked for Oakland all season, expect more of the same. Fargas is actually owned in just 33% of leagues.

Greg Camarillo (WR, Dolphins) - It's tough to choose which Dolphins wide receiver to choose to take advantage of the surprisingly decent passing game, Ted Ginn or Greg Camarillo, but Camarillo seems to be getting the most looks and today snagged six catches for 75 yards and a touchdown. On the season, Camarillo has a respectable 55 catches and continues to improve. Although consistency is an issue here, Camarillo is a decent safety valve should somebody get injured in the last weeks of the season. (UPDATE: Waiver Wire Wonders was published before the Dolphins Monday announcement that Camarillo is out for the rest of the season with a knee injury).

LeRon McClain (RB, Ravens) - McClain is back and this time, he is die harder. Whoops, sorry. Today, LeRon earned his way back into fantasy discussions as McGahee ran the ball seven times for just eight yards. In his absence, McClain racked up 88 yards and a touchdown. Presumably, McGahee is still nursing his ankle injury, so McClain is only worth adding if it appears that Willis will miss more time, but we'll probably have to wait until later in the week to know for sure.

David Garrard (QB, Jaguars) - One of this season's bigger disappointments from a fantasy perspective, David Garrard, finally put up some decent stats, throwing for 317 yards and a touchdown. While he did manage to toss two interceptions as well, the key factor here is that Garrard threw the ball 45 times. Since Jacksonville typically favors the running game, if this continues, David Garrard might become a valuable contributor. Most likely, the big passing numbers resulted from Jacksonville trying to dig out of a big hole as Minnesota creamed them today, so wait another week before seriously considering Garrard.

Domenik Hixon (WR, Giants) - For most leagues, Domenik Hixon probably does not look all that appealing as he caught six balls for 57 yards. What you don't see is how much of an impact Hixon made throughout the game, compiling 269 all-purpose yards and breaking two huge kick returns. Clearly, this is great for leagues where kick return yards score points, but regardless, Hixon looks like a big part of the offense and will see more targets late in the season. You probably don't need to race out to add him just yet, but keep him on your radar screen for sure as he might be a late season star.

Waiver Wire Wonders: Week 12 originally appeared on Fantasy FanHouse on Sun, 23 Nov 2008 21:42:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Week of the Tight End

Shane Bacon — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 16:48:00 EST

Filed under: NFL New Studs

With fantasy leagues around the country defining who has a chance to win this thing and who can basically kiss their season goodbye (thanks Tom Brady), it was nice to have a little help from some of the not-so usual suspects.

This week went to the tight ends, who had 13 touchdowns between 10 guys, a staggering number for a position that doesn't always get the glory they may deserve.

Week 10 started out well, with Tony Scheffler of Denver catching four balls for 92 yards and Daniel Graham grabbing a touchdown from Jay Cutler. Then we had Bo Scaife, Todd Heap and Kellen Winslow have career fantasy days, racking up some serious points for people that were smart (or lucky, one of the two) enough to start the guys.

The craziest part of this whole thing is the top tight end in the league, Jason Witten, was on a bye, so a lot of owners had to search for some replacements.

What does this say for the rest of the year? Well, one could argue it was just a coincidence, that a lot of the same position players had some good grabs and that was that.

The more positive (and fantasy) side might say that quarterbacks are starting to find their favorite targets as the year shortens and playoffs are on player's mind. You know the usual suspects, with Antonio Gates, Tony Gonzalez and Kevin Boss all scoring a touchdown on 66, 113 and 69 yards receiving, but here are a couple that you might not know but could be interested in starting this coming week.

Dustin Keller, TE NY Jets -- With Thomas Jones taking most of the icing in the Sunday romp, it was hard to find another Jet to gawk over, but here goes. Keller had six catches for 107 yards and a touchdown, the second time in three weeks Keller has had four or more receptions. While Brett Favre enjoys going deep, Keller looks like he might be the other option when Number 4 needs something shorter.

Daniel Graham, TE Denver -- Sure, it's hard to justify starting someone besides Scheffler for the Broncos, but Graham has three touchdowns in his last four games and appears to be the guy to find if the pocket collapses. Cutler sure seems to love his tight ends.

The Week of the Tight End originally appeared on Fantasy FanHouse on Mon, 10 Nov 2008 16:48:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Big Fantasy Night: Fallout From Broncos/Browns Thursday Night Tilt

Matt Snyder — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 12:36:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy Football, NFL Injury Report, NFL New Studs

As long as you weren't counting on the D/ST units or playing in an IDP league, last night was a fantasy football paradise for most. Both sides had several fantasy relevant players going. The uncertainly of the Broncos seemingly crumbling offense teamed with JD McCoy's debut as a starter made for great theater, and we were not let down. Let's run through the major players and dissect what we saw and what it means moving forward.

Brady Quinn
We didn't see many mistakes, did we? He's got weapons, and he used them quite well last night. He especially loved his tight end, Kellen Winslow. Unfortunately, Winslow took away any hope of a miracle comeback when he let a fourth down pass slip right through his hands on the Browns final offensive play. The Browns have to be pleased with the numbers from their rookie. He connected on 23 of 35 attempts for 239 yards and two touchdowns. Most importantly, he didn't turn the ball over.

You have to curb your enthusiasm a bit, because the Broncos have an absolute pathetic defense which has been decimated via injury and futility. On the other hand, Quinn certainly showed he's capable of a big fantasy game. He's going to improve as time moves further, so when you see him facing the Texans (Week 12), get him active. He's a matchup-based start.

Jamal Lewis
I was surprised he didn't find more running room against the atrocious Denver run defense, gaining only 60 yards on 19 carries, but he did find the end-zone. It may be a bad omen for Lewis' owners that the output of Jerome Harrison and Josh Cribbs -- on end-arounds -- was much more efficient. The two gained 96 yards on eight carries. Lewis may be relegated to between-the-tackles work from here on out and the average yards per carry would suffer. The bright side is he'll still be seeing goal-line carries.

Braylon Edwards
He only caught one pass for 15 yards. There was a decent chunk gained by Edwards later, but it was negated by a Winslow penalty. You can't give up on him, but it would appear his bust of a season is continuing.

Donte Stallworth
Pedestrian totals for a pedestrian player. He's never to be trusted in fantasy.

Jay Cutler
Um, yeah. Glad I posted to buy-low on him earlier this week. Wow. Early on, he had thrown the interception and no touchdowns, but a 93 yard touchdown pass to Eddie Royal ignited Cutler to an obscene stat-line. Yes, you are reading those 447 yards correctly, and the three touchdown passes were a cherry on top.

Brandon Marshall
The six catches for 89 yards is about as low a total as I expect to see from Marshall from here on out. He's back.

Eddie Royal
You aren't getting a 93 yard TD every week, obviously, but he'll be their second guy after Marshall and continue developing a rapport with Cutler. He's a very nice fantasy option moving forward.

Tony Scheffler
As long as he can stay healthy enough to stay on the field, he's a definite TE1 in all formats. As much as the Broncos sling it, he'll find the end-zone several more times, and the 92 yards last night won't be uncommon either.

Daniel Graham
That was an aberration, so continue to ignore him.

Ryan Torain
Insert profanity laced tirade. I know I did last night. We've hyped Torain here at Fantasy FanHouse, and it appeared he was arriving as the Broncos every down back. He scored the Broncos first rushing touchdown in five weeks and piled up 68 yards on 12 carries before falling injured.

As it turns out, he tore his ACL and is now out for the season. We'll discuss him again next year. By then I might be sane enough to not flip out.

Selvin Young
He hasn't been trustworthy at all this season, so why would now be any different?

Peyton Hillis
While he only gained 24 yards on eight carries, he ran really hard and gained important yards on second efforts a few times. He's not very talented, relative to his NFL peers, but he'll do the dirty work. For now, I'm guessing he takes the lion's share of carries in the Denver backfield, but he's not good enough to start as anything better than a flex in huge leagues; especially with bye weeks being over.

Big Fantasy Night: Fallout From Broncos/Browns Thursday Night Tilt originally appeared on Fantasy FanHouse on Fri, 07 Nov 2008 12:36:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Dynasty Diaries: Most Talented Rookie Running Back Class Ever

Matt Snyder — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 16:45:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy Football, NFL New Studs, Dynasty Diaries

With Ray Rice and Tim Hightower announcing their presence with authority this weekend, we are continuing to witness easily the best draft class of running backs in NFL history. No class even comes remotely close to this one, should even half of the guys continue to make good on the potential we've seen through just a half season.

You know what that means in fantasy football ... lots of possible horses to lock up for their entire career on your keeper league team. You know there are people out there who drafted LaDanian Tomlinson his rookie year and have enjoyed every single season of his production since. Does this year's draft class sport one of those?

Below, we'll list all the relevant running backs selected in the NFL draft this past off-season. They are listed in order of draft position, and I'll throw in a little (round- overall pick) just for fun next to the names, and we'll analyze what we've seen and what we can expect moving forward, so you can keep this in mind as you enter the busiest trading season in keeper leagues -- as owners falling out of the race deal good players for next year's draft picks.

Each player will be given a KR (keeper rating), which is a scale of 1-10. If I give a guy a one, don't bother to even think about keeping him this off-season. If I give a 10, you must keep him for next year -- this is what Adrian Peterson would have scored last year.

Darren McFadden (1-4) - He had a monster game earlier in the season, so we saw the potential. Of course, that was against the Chiefs pathetic excuse for a defense and McFadden's been hampered by futility and injuries ever since. So we really haven't gotten a firm grasp on what he can be in this league. We do know he sports enormous talent and potential, overshadowed by only Peterson in those terms when it comes to young runners. The main problem is that we have to trust the Raiders team and specifically offense to become at least somewhat productive down the road, or McFadden runs the risk of being wasted. KR: 7

Jonathan Stewart (1-13) - We've seen spurts of fantasy stardom, but not many because he's only getting a limited number of touches. DeAngelo Williams has been taking the lion's share of touches recently in the backfield, while Stewart is relegated to short-yardage situations. He's a valuable back both in reality and fantasy, because touchdowns matter. On the other hand, two back systems are quite popular in the league right now, and Williams isn't exactly old. I believe the Panthers stick with this platoon for the foreseeable future, and that puts a definite ceiling on Stewart's value. KR: 5

Felix Jones (1-22) - Felix hasn't seen a ton of touches in the games where he's been healthy enough to play, but he's certainly made the most of them ... garnering over 10 fantasy points three times. That's huge for being so limited. When he comes back healthy, you have to believe the Cowboys would like to curb some of that punishment Marion Barber takes -- which is much less than he dishes out, but still, he's only human -- by giving more carries to the talented rookie. In the future, as Barber ages and wears down due to his running style, Jones becomes more and more relevant to fantasy. KR: 8

Rashard Mendenhall (1-23) - The Steelers aren't the type of team to hold onto a guy for dear life, unless he's a quarterback, so conventional wisdom when they drafted Mendy was that they'd just let Willie Parker walk after his contract expired (after next season) and hand the job to the young bruiser from Illinois. Of course, we never got any sample of work from Mendenhall this year on which to judge, and he's out for the season due to injury. Unless you keep upwards of four or five RBs each year in your league, you can ignore for now ... but drafting him next year would be advisable. KR: 1

Chris Johnson (1-24) - He's a star, on the verge of becoming a superstar already. The Titans are going to remain a ball control and defense team for a long time with the pieces they have in place, including Head Coach Jeff Fisher. The presence of LenDale White in the same backfield could scare some, but it actually helps keep the wiry Johnson fresh and healthy. He won't have to deal with the inside pounding, yet still sometimes gets goal-line touches. He's on pace for 1430 yards and 10 touchdowns this year, and averages nearly five yards a carry. You're crazy if you don't hang onto him like Matt Jones does his secret stash. KR: 10

Matt Forte (2-44) - The Bears offense has been a work in progress the entire year. The line is somewhat patched together, and they are counting on a first round pick to bolster it in the future. Kyle Orton was developing the passing attack into a strength before his injury. All the while, Forte was piling up respectable or great fantasy numbers from week to week. He's never dipped below ten points, being a bastion of consistency. Don't expect things to change. Chicago loves its running game, and he'll grow with the offensive line. KR: 9

Ray Rice (2-55) - Brian Westbrook and Tiki Barber were once thought to be too small to survive being an every down back. Still, more times than not the little guy just can't make it as a feature back. Westbrook still is banged up quite often. This past weekend, for the first time, Rice was asked to carry the full running load. He succeeded admirably, chalking up 154 yards on 21 carries. He did lose goal-line touches, though, and it looks like he'd face that same platoon with the 23 year-old 260 pound LeRon McClain in the future ... and that's only if the Ravens decide to end the Willis McGahee era. KR: 2

Kevin Smith (3-64) - It's hard to get excited about anything Lions-related right now -- except MegaTron, of course -- but let's remember the albatross that was Matt Millen is gone. It will take some time to right the ship, especially with three teams in the division who appear headed in the right direction, but Smith has shown some good qualities. He's posted servicable fantasy numbers thus far, and it looks like he'll end up in the 800 yard and eight TD range. That's not bad at all on this team as a rookie. He'll be the featured back moving forward under the new administration. KR: 5

Jamaal Charles (3-73) - He's averaging 5.7 yards per carry this season, and is coming off his first career 100 yard rushing game. It came against the run-stingy Bucs, no less. When Larry Johnson returns to the field, he'll lose the majority, if not all, of his touches. The thing is, the Chiefs franchise is in such bad shape right now, it makes sense for them to start over at season's end. I don't see any way they retain the services of Johnson. Now that we've seen a flash of brief, but bright, potential, I bet the Chiefs head into next season with Charles as their running back. KR: 4

Steve Slaton (3-89) - The Texans offense has a really bright future, but until the defense gets fixed they are going to be throwing the football more often than not. Still, the diminutive speedster has shown he has what it takes to carry the load in a legitimate NFL offense, and he's been rather durable thus far. My only concern would be the Texans bringing in a short-yardage back to limit the pounding he takes between the tackles. KR: 6

Ryan Torain (5-139) - Even if I'd expressed that he has a chance to break through in the second half last week, which I did, and that this week it appears the path to his being the featured back in Denver is completely clear ... why in God's name would you keep a Denver back anymore? The Terrell Davis days are over. KR: 1

Tim Hightower (5-149) - The way this offense is built, it's going to be a machine for years to come. The only question comes when Kurt Warner gets too old to run it: Will Matt Leinart be mature enough to step in, or can they replace Warner with someone else? Regardless, heading into next year, Hightower will have shown his pedigree over a half season and will be much more comfortable with his teammates and the offense. He'll also have the job all to himself. You could do much worse. My only concern at this point is that the one game in which he carried the load came against an awful run defense. Let's see him against someone tough before we get too crazy. KR: 6

Dynasty Diaries: Most Talented Rookie Running Back Class Ever originally appeared on Fantasy FanHouse on Tue, 04 Nov 2008 16:45:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Waiver Wire Wonders: Week 9

Ryan Dembinsky — Sun, 02 Nov 2008 20:15:00 EST

Filed under: NFL Waiver Wire, Fantasy Football, NFL New Studs

Weeding through those unwieldy waiver wires requires a keen eye and a quick trigger. Thus, Waiver Wire Wonders provides a weekly snapshot of players worthy of consideration who should be available on a good portion of league waiver wires. Enjoy those pickups...

Every week, the waiver wires continue to give us hyperactive fantasy football owners something to do besides work. And Week 9 provides a particularly compelling source of procrastination. Some of the biggest performances came from players simply in fill-in roles for the key starters. Thus, owners cannot just seek out the big stat guys and jump on them, because several of these players require an evaluation of the former starter's worth as well as the severity of the injury to make an informed decision. Still, there is a lot of quality talent available after Sunday's games, so don't get caught sleeping or you will likely be sorry come playoff time.

Dan Orlovsky (QB, Lions) - With the news of the Daunte Culpepper signing, Orlovsky's respectable 292-yard, two-touchdown performance in the Lions' closest near-win to date gets diminished a bit. But he is improving and it is not likely that Culpepper will step right in as he needs to learn the offense and presumably get in shape. Thus, keep an eye on Orlovsky since he might be serviceable as -- dare I say it -- the Lions are improving. Orlovsky also threw the ball 47 times, which leads me to believe that Rod Marinelli finally might have realized that you can't just "pound the rock" when you suck. He did ding a finger on his throwing hand early in the game and is going in for an X-ray, so keep this in mind as well.

Ray Rice (RB, Ravens) - Ray Rice posted huge numbers Sunday against the Browns, racking up 154 yards on the ground and another 22 yards on three receptions. Unfortunately for Rice, the 21 carries were the result of Willis McGahee's nagging ankle injury keeping him on the sidelines for the entire duration. Thus, while Rice looks like a good snag this week, his value will probably go right back down unless McGahee's injury keeps him out another week or beyond. McGahee played through this injury for weeks, so he should be back soon.

Cedric Benson (RB, Bengals) - Benson officially earned himself a starting job in Cincinnati and he is making the most of it. The Bengals gave Benson the ball 24 times versus the Jaguars and he moved the ball 104 yards, hitting pay dirt on one occasion. If Benson is still around in your league, sign the paperwork. He makes a great pickup to play matchups or even as your No. 3 RB down the stretch.

Jamaal Charles (RB, Chiefs) - Most people jumped all over Kolby Smith when the future began looking bleak for Larry Johnson after his latest meltdown , but savvy football folks know that Jamaal Charles is a far more explosive runner with more upside in Kansas City. Against the Bucs, Charles got 18 carries to Smith's 10 and Charles notched 106 yards on a 5.9 yards per carry average. He did lose a fumble, but he should continue to get the bulk of the load going forward after this quality performance. In other words, pull the trigger.

Matt Ryan (QB, Falcons) - With big name quarterbacks like Drew Brees, Jake Delhomme, and Phillip Rivers on their bye weeks, Matt Ryan made a lot of fantasy friends today who were forced to insert him in their patchwork lineups. Ryan played a very solid, serviceable game and continues to improve each week. He posted 220 yards and a pair of touchdowns with no interceptions. He looks like a great backup going forward.

Brent Celek (TE, Eagles) - This week's "performance of the day by a guy I have never even heard of" goes to Brent Celek. Celek actually broke the Eagles' all-time single-game record for receiving yards by a tight end with 131 on six catches. And anybody who has ever played Tecmo Bowl with the Randall Cunningham to Keith Jackson connection knows that this is no easy feat. Still, Celek was filling in for L.J. Smith who was out with a concussion, so it's probably best to wait to see how the Eagles respond to the big day in terms of who gets the targets going forward.

Koren Robinson (WR, Seahawks) - If only this was 2002 and Hasselhoff was in his prime, we'd be wound up about Koren Robinson's 105 yards on four catches with a touchdown, but 2008 with Seneca Wallace? Not so much. Still, the options at receiver are still few and far between, so keep watch, because Robinson might prove valuable down the stretch.

Waiver Wire Wonders: Week 9 originally appeared on Fantasy FanHouse on Sun, 02 Nov 2008 20:15:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Last Chance to Grab Ryan Torain in Fantasy Football, So Act Now

Matt Snyder — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 13:51:00 EST

Filed under: NFL Sleepers, Fantasy Football, NFL Injury Report, NFL New Studs

The Broncos have used Michael Pittman, Selvin Young, and Andre Hall in the backfield this season, and -- aside from a few noteworthy games by Pittman -- the fantasy football fallout has been maddening. There's even been a trickle-down effect, because the Broncos inability to run the ball with any success has caused opposing defenses to back out of the box and send more men into coverage. This renders the dynamic Jay Cutler to Brandon Marshall passing connection much less prolific than they are capable.

Enter rookie runner Ryan Torain.

Torain is, in my opinion, the most talented runner of the bunch. The coaches loved him in the preseason before he cracked his elbow. Now we have this little nugget, courtesy of the Rocky Mountain News:

Selvin Young has missed a game because of a groin injury, Michael Pittman has rib and neck injuries and rookie Ryan Torain has only started practicing again after suffering a fracture just above his left elbow during training camp.

Torain figures to play Sunday against Miami and likely will get increasingly more carries as the second half of the season progresses.

Don't go throwing the rook into your starting lineup or anything this week -- unless you are desperate due to injuries, bye weeks, or a crappy backfield -- but if you have room to stash him for the fantasy playoffs, I advise you do so immediately.

He'll need a few weeks to get up to speed -- call it his new preseason -- but I like the thought of having him as their top runner by Week 11. Starting there, the Broncos face the Falcons, Raiders, Jets, and Chiefs for a four game stretch.

Torain will be ready to help propel you to the playoffs by then.

This year's Ryan Grant? Could be ... don't miss out this time. Go get him.

Last Chance to Grab Ryan Torain in Fantasy Football, So Act Now originally appeared on Fantasy FanHouse on Wed, 29 Oct 2008 13:51:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Waiver Wire Wonders: Week 8

Ryan Dembinsky — Sun, 26 Oct 2008 23:49:00 EST

Filed under: NFL Waiver Wire, Fantasy Football, NFL New Studs

Kevin Faulk (RB, Patriots) - The trusty old utility guy in the New England offense looks -- for the time being at least -- to be the primary ball carrier in Belichick's crumbling offense. With LaMont Jordan, Laurence Maroney, and Sammy Morris all sidelined, Faulk is basically all that they have left. Should any of these guys return, Faulk's value immediately drops to his normal nil status, but if not, he is a decent fill-in if you are desperate at running back.

Leonard Weaver (RB, Seahawks) - While it is a little hard to feel confident in anyone on the Seahawks offense putting up consistent numbers with all of the injuries at the skill positions, Weaver puled off an amazing statistical day with four receptions for 116 yards and two touchdowns as well as another 13 yards on the ground. My gut says fluke on this one as Weaver did not even have 100 all-purpose yards to his name coming into Sunday's game. Still, he is certainly worth watching.

Cedric Benson (RB, Bengals) - This is the same story as last week, but I thought it was worth mentioning again. Benson got 13 carries for the Bengals, the most on the team, and turned them into 49 yards. In addition, he caught two passes for 20 yards. Benson looks like he will be getting a decent workload, so he is definitely worth a closer look if you need RBs.

Matt Jones (WR, Jaguars) - Upon first seeing Jones' big numbers of eight catches for 117 yards and a touchdown, I assumed he would be owned in a pretty high percentage of leagues. In actuality, he is only owned in about 20 percent of leagues (based on 10-team leagues). If Garrard improves down the stretch and finishes anything like he did last season, Jones should continue to benefit.

Chad Pennington (QB, Dolphins) - As I mentioned in the Ted Ginn Jr. segment, Chad Pennington continues to improve in Miami and makes for a very serviceable backup QB in deep leagues at this point. Currently, Pennington is only owned in about 40 percent of leagues -- a number that should double after this week. He posted 314 yards and a touchdown with no interceptions. That makes three games in a row with over 280 yards through the air.

Waiver Wire Wonders: Week 8 originally appeared on Fantasy FanHouse on Sun, 26 Oct 2008 23:49:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Waiver Wire Wonders: Week 7

Ryan Dembinsky — Sun, 19 Oct 2008 20:58:00 EST

Filed under: NFL Waiver Wire, Fantasy Football, NFL New Studs

Visanthe Shiancoe (TE, Minnesota Vikings) - The newest member to the T.J. Houshmandzadeh club for players whose names take forever to remember how to spell, Shiancoe is maturing into a valid fantasy tight end option. Gus Frerotte is playing surprisingly well in Minnesota and Shiancoe seems to be one of his favorite targets. Shiancoe saw a little flurry of pickup activity two weeks ago when a number of key tight ends had their bye weeks, but he remains available in about 75 percent of leagues. He is definitely worth a spot at least for your backup.

Greg Olsen (TE, Chicago Bears) - Everything we said previously about Orton benefits Greg Olsen. Olsen is a key part of Orton's passing attack and posted his best day to date on Sunday with six receptions, 74 yards and one touchdown. He could be a real gem down the stretch.

Cedric Benson (RB, Cincinnati Bengals) - I know, I know; Benson only ran for 52 yards and no scores. The key thing to watch here is that he carried the ball 14 times for an offense that is struggling to find its stride. With Carson Palmer still dealing with the shoulder injury, Benson might become a go-to No. 1 running back in Cincinnati. Keep an eye on him or even take a gamble if you have the roster space. He might be worth taking the long shot.

Josh Morgan (WR, San Francisco) - Morgan put up nice numbers for the one percent of fantasy teams who owned him, catching five passes for 86 yards and a score. At this point, the 49ers passing offense is too sporadic to bother with someone like this. Even on good days, O'Sullivan spreads the ball around a lot, so you can not really rely on any one receiver here for consistency.

Ahman Green (RB, Houston Texans) - As a proud Slaton owner in my league of utmost importance, this makes my stomach cramp up as I run for the bathroom. The most injury-prone player in the history of the world stole away 14 carries and picked up 62 yards, a touchdown and one reception. Let's hope this is a byproduct of getting him some playing time against the lowly Lions, but it appears he may be a bigger factor if he stays healthy. Green is currently owned in roughly 16 percent of leagues.

Javon Walker (WR, Oakland Raiders) - JaMarcus Russell and Javon Walker looked like their connection was finally developing against the Jets - in the most boring game in years. Walker caught five passes for 75 yards and a touchdown. Walker is owned in about 25 percent of leagues, so he should be around if you need a fill in receiver for bye weeks.

Donnie Avery (WR, St. Louis Rams) - Not only did Donnie Avery put up stellar numbers in Sunday's rout of the Cowboys with 5 catches for 65 yards and a touchdown, but he has become a very legitimate deep threat. With targets on two additional deep balls, Avery's day could have wound up looking more like 140 yards and a score. Plus the Rams are facing the bizarrely terrible Patriots followed by the Cardinals. Consider us curious.

Waiver Wire Wonders: Week 7 originally appeared on Fantasy FanHouse on Sun, 19 Oct 2008 20:58:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Top Fantasy Football Player? Clinton Portis

Matt Snyder — Wed, 15 Oct 2008 15:30:00 EST

Filed under: NFL Position Rankings, Fantasy Football, NFL New Studs

That's right. If I joined a mid-season start-up league right now -- which would be really weird -- and was awarded with the top pick, I'd take Clinton Portis.

In the overwhelming majority of leagues, you are required to play two running backs and only one quarterback. The list of reliable running backs who have the job all to themselves is a bit shorter than that of wide receivers who put up studly numbers, and much shorter than the number of quality quarterbacks. Thus, I'm taking a running back first overall.

Why Portis? Well, since a Week 1 that I've decided to just write off, he's been incredibly consistent. He's always going to get over 20 carries, and he's always going to get the goal line touches. The Redskins' passing attack has sputtered in each of the past two weeks, but Portis has picked up the slack, coming through with his two biggest games of the season.

With some patsies upcoming (vs. CLE, @ DET, @ SEA, to just name a few) on the schedule, I do not expect him to slow down.

Some others to consider first-rounders, in this fictional situation:

Marion Barber -- Especially now with Tony Romo and Felix Jones hurt, the Cowboys will lean heavily upon this beast. He's up to the task.

Frank Gore -- He's the focal point of the Mike Martz offense. The only problem is that the team can't always guarantee him quality touches.

Adrian Peterson -- He's just too good to forget about, even after his past two weeks.

Reggie Bush -- In a PPR league, I'd seriously consider him No. 1 over Portis. As many passes as he catches, and as explosive as he is, he's liable to put up 30 points every week in that format.

Ronnie Brown -- Throw out the first two weeks. He wasn't healthy yet. Since then, he's put on the most dominant fantasy performance of the year and two quality ones. The Dolphins are a sneaky-good team at this point, and he's the main component of their offense.

Matt Forte -- The rookie runner has been as consistent as anyone, and he's got some terrible run defenses ahead on the docket.

Marshawn Lynch -- Started with a bang, but fell back a little in his last two outings. He'll be refreshed after the bye week with the return of Trent Edwards at QB.

Drew Brees -- He's getting Marques Colston and probably Jeremy Shockey back this week ... and he barely suffered without them. This passing attack is obscene.

Michael Turner -- He destroys sub-par run defenses. Unfortunately, good run defenses destroy him. I wouldn't take him, but I'm sure he'd go this high.

LaDanian Tomlinson -- I'm not sure if it's his age, his toe, or what ... but he just doesn't seem the same. Still, it's freaking LdT!

Brian Westbrook -- I'm scared about him staying on the field, but when he plays... there is no one like him.

Other Tops Per Position:

QBs (somewhat) close to Brees -- Aaron Rodgers, Philip Rivers, Jay Cutler, Kurt Warner ... and you can never forget about Peyton Manning ... or Tony Romo after his return from the dinged pinky.

RBs that just missed the above list -- Steven Jackson, Brandon Jacobs, Chris Johnson, Thomas Jones, Steve Slaton

Top WRs in the order I'd take them -- Larry Fitzgerald, Andre Johnson, Marques Colston, Reggie Wayne, Greg Jennings

Top TEs in the order I'd take them -- Jason Witten, Antonio Gates, and Jeremy Shockey.

Top D/STs in the order I'd take them -- Titans, Bears, Bucs, Eagles, Steelers

Top Ks -- Matt Prater, Jason Elam

Top Fantasy Football Player? Clinton Portis originally appeared on Fantasy FanHouse on Wed, 15 Oct 2008 15:30:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Waiver Wire Wonders: Week 5

Ryan Dembinsky — Sun, 05 Oct 2008 20:52:00 EST

Filed under: NFL Waiver Wire, Fantasy Football, NFL New Studs

Weeding through those unwieldy waiver wires requires a keen eye and a quick trigger. Thus, Waiver Wire Wonders provides a weekly snapshot of players worthy of consideration who should be available on a good portion of league waiver wires. Enjoy those pickups...

Week 5 looks sleepy on the waiver wires relative to the past few weeks. There are definitely some decent options to fill holes for a week or two here and there as well as one solid receiver option coming off an injury, but generally speaking it is more like a group of names to get to know, so watch how they follow up on today's big performances in the coming weeks.

Kyle Orton - (Chicago Bears, QB) Don't be fooled by Orton's 334-yard and two-touchdown outing; the Lions are officially malfunctioning. If the Lions were a car, they would be Layne Meyer's Camaro . They need to bring somebody in to fix that lemon and get it running. Anyway, the Bears passing game is inconsistent, so this type of performance is not likely to repeat itself regularly.

Bo Scaife - (Tennessee Titans, TE) While Scaife has risen eyebrows on a number of occasions already this season and may not be available, he is officially a reliable tight end, at least as a bye week substitute. This week he snagged seven passes for 72 yards.

Le'Ron McClain (Baltimore Ravens, RB) - Baltimore appears to have officially joined the dreaded masses of the running back committee. While Willis McGahee is still the clear go-to No. 1, Le'Ron McClain gets the touchdowns. The carries appear to be going about two-thirds to McGahee and one-third to McClain. Thus, McClain is a good add at this point for a bye week running back. Other than that though, he is not a weekly start.

Domenik Hixon (New York Giants, WR) - Hixon posted huge numbers -- four catches for 102 yards and a TD -- in an effort to pick up the slack during Plaxico Burress' one game suspension. While Burress returns next week, reducing Hixon back to a reserve role, he tends to get a decent amount of playing time and numbers simply due to the Giants winning so many games by a wide margin. I would not pull the trigger, but keep an eye on him.

Bobby Engram (Seattle Seahawks, WR) - We mentioned it on the injury report, but Engram and Branch both came back this week. Engram emerged as the preferred target in the first game back with eight catches for 61 yards. Engram looks like he could become a top-flight receiver, so jump on him if it's not too late.

Tim Hightower (Arizona Cardinals, RB) - Hightower is definitely stealing the goal line carries from Edgerrin James in Arizona. This guy is not a great option since he only gets around a quarter of the carries, but if you are desperate to fill a hole on a bye week, he is not a disastrous option. He scored a pair of touchdowns on Sunday versus Buffalo.

Steve Breaston (Arizona Cardinals, WR) - We said it last week and it still holds: as long as Boldin is out, Breaston is a great choice, especially if you score return stats. Today, Breaston hauled in seven catches for 77 yards. Boldin underwent a surgical procedure on his sinus fracture last Thursday that was estimated to have about a 10-day recovery period. If he sits next week, Breaston is a decent option to start.

Isaac Bruce (San Francisco 49ers, WR) - Presumably, Isaac Bruce is off the board in most leagues, but it might be worth double checking. The 49ers' passing offense is streaky, and this week it only produced 130 yards and three interceptions, but J.T. O'Sullivan still managed to throw three TDs and two went right to Isaac Bruce. That brings his TD tally to four in the past three games. And the game before that, he racked up 153 yards. Reuniting with old chum Mike Martz is clearly benefiting Isaac Bruce's stat sheet.

Waiver Wire Wonders: Week 5 originally appeared on Fantasy FanHouse on Sun, 05 Oct 2008 20:52:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Aaron Rodgers May Play Sunday Regardless of His Shoulder Injury

Will Brinson — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 23:55:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy Football, NFL Injury Report, NFL New Studs

The shoulder injury that Aaron Rodgers suffered on Sunday had many Green Bay Packer fans freaking out. And some pundits declaring the Bears early favorites to storm out to a lead in the NFC North. But it appears that such discussion may be a touch premature, at least in part because Aaron Rodgers seems intent on playing this week, shoulder injury or not.

Packers coach Mike McCarthy and his assistants will spend this week monitoring Rodgers' progress and preparing rookie backup Matt Flynn to start, just in case.

"Speaking with Aaron this morning, he has every intention on playing," McCarthy said Monday in Green Bay. "But I think Wednesday's practice will be a pretty good indicator for us. It's just something we'll have to continue to rehab and see where we are on Wednesday."

So maybe I shouldn't be speaking in such absolutes; still, it sure does seem like Rodgers wants to get back out on the field Sunday. And the Packers need him too, what with, well, Matt Flynn calling the signals should Rodgers not make it back.

Of course, if it were the Lions they were squaring off against this week, I would demand that Rodgers rest, since Flynn could handle them without whatever arm he uses to throw the ball. Instead, they've got the Falcons and, well, to be honest ... they'd probably be better resting Rodgers here too. No offense to Matt Ryan.

Fantasy Spin: This is good news, and actually makes Rodgers a decent trade target -- his owner is probably looking to get something at this point. I've got a Rodgers - Derek Anderson combo going in a few leagues, and I'm debating a waiver move, but I'm also not going to do anything crazy until I find out what Rodgers plan of attack is.

Aaron Rodgers May Play Sunday Regardless of His Shoulder Injury originally appeared on Fantasy FanHouse on Mon, 29 Sep 2008 23:55:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Waiver Wire Wonders: Week 4

Ryan Dembinsky — Sun, 28 Sep 2008 20:40:00 EST

Filed under: NFL Waiver Wire, Fantasy Football, NFL New Studs

Waiver Wire Wonders: Week 4 originally appeared on Fantasy FanHouse on Sun, 28 Sep 2008 20:40:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Derek Anderson Is a Last Minute Add to the 'Injury Report'

Will Brinson — Sun, 28 Sep 2008 11:34:00 EST

Filed under: NFL Sleepers, Fantasy Football, NFL New Studs

No one is saying Brady Quinn will start. Or that Derek Anderson won't play. But the Cleveland Plain-Dealer is saying that Anderson is suddenly dealing with ~~mental scarring from the last time he played in Cincy~~ an injury.

Anderson was added to the injury report Saturday as probable with a right forearm injury suffered in the Ravens game. He joins Palmer, who's questionable with an elbow injury.

Well, what an egg by the team on this one -- they had the full-on chance to act like Anderson had been hurt all season and give him an out (we in the baseball writing biz like to call this "Pulling a 'Druw") and instead, now there's all kinds of mixed messages coming out of the Cleveland locker room and coaches office.

For instance, Terry Pluto writes that Romeo Crennel's posturing about the starting QB was nothing more than that.

I recently learned that while coach Romeo Crennel was keeping the media and fans guessing with vague statements about who'd play quarterback today in Cincinnati, there was little discussion in staff meetings about a QB change.

It makes total sense, of course, seeing as how Anderson saved his job and made him look like a genius last year, but that's not what he told the media and the public, hinting that Brady Quinn needed to be "ready". And at this point, who isn't calling for Quinn to get some time? Okay, only Braylon Edwards, who can't seem to catch the ball.

Fantasy Spin: I'm still starting Anderson this week -- it's his last shot to have a big game and actually do something worthwhile to make us not totally regret the sixth round pick we ~~wasted~~ used on him. Quinn's actually a nice add, because the Browns, in theory, have a ton of offensive upside.

Derek Anderson Is a Last Minute Add to the 'Injury Report' originally appeared on Fantasy FanHouse on Sun, 28 Sep 2008 11:34:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Waiver Wire Wonders: Week 3

Ryan Dembinsky — Sun, 21 Sep 2008 19:06:00 EST

Filed under: NFL Waiver Wire, Fantasy Football, NFL Injury Report, NFL New Studs

Antonio Chatman (Cinncinati Bengals) - Although 70 yards on six catches is not exactly eye-popping, Chatman gets a lot of looks from Palmer (more than Ocho Sinko apparently) and seems on track to become a integral part of the offense. Keep an eye on this guy as he played a great game against a ridiculously good Giants defense.

Steve Slaton (Houston Texas) - Looks like the debate about who will take over as the go to running back in the Texans' offense can finally be put to bed. Slaton busted out a 116 yards with a touchdown and four receptions (albeit for 8 yards). More importantly, he averaged 6.4 yards per carry and took one 50 for yards. Unfortunately, he probably is not available on all that many waiver wires.

Robert Meachem (New Orleans Saints) - Meachem caught a 73 yard bomb and is getting a lot more looks from Brees. The risk with Meachem is that his numbers will take a hit when Colston returns, but he is still slated to become a big part of the offense, so he's a decent gamble.

Antonio Bryant (Tampa Bay Buccaneers) - Perhaps one of the most promising waiver wire guys this week is Antonio Bryant having secured ten catches for 138 yards. Ten catches is usually no fluke and with Joey Galloway nursing a sprained foot, he should have increased value.

Le'Ron McClain (Baltimore Ravens) - Back for his second appearance on the list in three weeks, this time McClain added two touchdowns and 66 yards on 17 carries. He might be worth grabbing if you are shallow at RB, but both touhdowns were one-yarders, so don't count on this type of output on a regular basis.

Hank Baskett (Philadelphia Eagles) - Baskett's consistency is an issue, but so far he posted a big game in week 1 (from one big play) and now eight catches for 85 yards in week three. I'm not sold personally, but with receivers at a premium this year, he's a decent guy to have for the bye weeks.

Brandon Lloyd (Chicago Bears) - I can't say the idea of relying on a receiver catching passes from Kyle Orton every week is entirely appealing, but Lloyd's 6 catches for 126 yards and a touchdown are mighty tempting. Lloyd might just be a hidden gem.

Waiver Wire Wonders: Week 3 originally appeared on Fantasy FanHouse on Sun, 21 Sep 2008 19:06:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Waiver Wire Wonders: Week 2

Ryan Dembinsky — Sun, 14 Sep 2008 21:10:00 EST

Filed under: NFL Waiver Wire, Fantasy Football, NFL New Studs

Michael Bush, Radiers - Bush might not be available on your wire, but if he is, his stock went up this week with a 90-yard and one touchdown performance. The Raiders running game dominated as McFadden also dropped 164 and a touchdown (and two fumbles). Bush's carries are due in large part to Justin Fargas' groin injury though, so his output will not always be this lucrative.

Brandon Jackson, Packers - Considering Ryan Grant put up a whopping 20 yards on 15 carries against the putrid Lions defense, Jackson's 61 yards and a touchdown gives reason to both question Grant's value and consider Jackson as a decent bench add.

Ahmad Bradshaw, Giants - While Bradshaw's numbers came mostly in garbage time, he still posted some darn good ones. On the ground he dominated the Rams with 52 yards, a touchdown, and an average of over 10 yards per carry. Furthermore, he scored another on a screen pass with an additional 18 yards.

Darren Sproles, Chargers - With LdT running under 100 percent, Sproles came up big scoring both a rushing touchdown and a receiving touchdown. Overall, he amassed 125 yards. If LaDainian continues to feel the wear and tear piling up from his brutal workload over the last several years, Sproles is in good shape to see continued looks. Oh and by the way, if you score kick returns, Sproles added another 103 and a touchdown.

Isaac Bruce - I almost forgot old Isaac and his 153 yard effort on four catches. Reliable like the falling of the leaves, Bruce shows up as a waiver wire guy every single year. He might be old, but he's working with his old coach, Mike Martz, and it's no coincidence they are together in San Francisco. Martz loves Bruce. Still, he is old and playing with a pretty inconsistent group.

Waiver Wire Wonders: Week 2 originally appeared on Fantasy FanHouse on Sun, 14 Sep 2008 21:10:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Antonio Cromartie Would Just Prefer That You Not Throw His Way, Mr. Cutler

Will Brinson — Sun, 14 Sep 2008 19:15:00 EST

Filed under: Sunday Wrap-Up, Fantasy Football, NFL New Studs

The Denver Broncos and Jay Cutler have been playing the role of school yard bully the first two weeks of the NFL season, causing two different defensive backs to have awkward, game changing penalties called against them.

Last week, it was DeAngelo Hall who was beaten soundly, time and time again as Eddie Royal did his best Jerry Rice impersonation late Monday night. Hall kept playing the role of, well, DeAngelo Hall (usually reserved for matchups with Steve Smith though).

And today, as Bill Williamson notes, it's Antonio Cromartie's turn.

Cromartie finally drove Marshall out of bounds. Cromartie kept driving and was called for a personal foul. The Broncos ended up taking a 14-3 lead on a Jay Cutler touchdown pass to Tony Scheffler.

On Denver's next drive, Cromartie was charged with another personal foul after tackling Marshall. Cutler then hit Scheffler for another touchdown as Denver jumped up on San Diego, 21-3.

After each penalty, Cromartie, who was questionable with a hip injury, was jumping up and down and clapping his hands.

Somehow, through all of this -- an additional five yard penalty to keep a Broncos drive alive in the middle of the fourth didn't help either -- the Chargers are only down by one point.

This is, of course, no help to Cromartie, who has allowed Brandon Marshall to pick up a whopping 14 catches for 133 yards and a touchdown. Clearly, when I told you to sit Marshall, I had no idea that Cromartie was playing with one leg and one arm today.

Update + Fantasy: As JJ notes via email, it's probably worth noting that Marshall has a franchise record 17 catches, and counting, already. And yeah, he would be a must start every week forever. I apologize.

Antonio Cromartie Would Just Prefer That You Not Throw His Way, Mr. Cutler originally appeared on Fantasy FanHouse on Sun, 14 Sep 2008 19:15:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Stars to Sit: Just So You Know, Romo's Splits Against Philly at Home Are Horrible

Will Brinson — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 16:00:00 EST

Filed under: NFL Waiver Wire, Fantasy Football, NFL New Studs

Yeah. So last week's Stars to Sit? A casual six for six. No big deal. In other words, you might not want to start some of the following people that are generally considered "must starts".

Quarterback
Tony Romo, DAL -- You'll never do it, and I won't blame you. But let's take a quick look at Romo's previous stints against Philly in Dallas shall we? December 12, 2006: 14/29, 142 yards, 1 TD, 2 INT; December 16, 2007: 13/36, 214 yards, 0 TD, 3 INT. To recap: not good. I expect the Eagles to be pumped to stop Terrell Owens, and I also expect it to happen.

Carson Palmer, CIN -- What's actually to like about Palmer? Anything? After all, the Tennessee defense is a lot better than anyone really thought. Sure they were good last year, but a step back seemed like a reasonable turn of events. Well, they looked pretty good against Jacksonville, and I expect that to continue this week.

Running Back
Joseph Addai, IND -- Yeah, this article's gonna be really easy if the Vikings get first round running backs every week. Peyton will be passing the entire time.

Frank Gore, SF -- Fun fact: Gore has never scored against Seattle. Like in all six games/three years. He did have two absolute monster games in 2006, running for 356 yards. (Even though it was on an relatively obscene 53 carries.) But still, never scored. And last year, when Seattle's defense was closer to what it is now, he did almost nothing. I don't expect J.T. O'Sullivan to open up the run via the pass either.

Wide Receiver
Chris Chambers, SD -- You do know who Champ Bailey is, right? And you do know he may have some hands in the face of Mr. Chambers on Sunday, right? Yeah.

Brandon Marshall, DEN -- Marshall makes his 2008 debut on Sunday against the Chargers and people are very, very high on him, because Jay Cuter is not human. Also, Eddie Royal went nuts ... so imagine what Marshall will do! Or not, because the Chargers are not the Raiders. Also, Marshall has never cracked 75 yards or scored against San Diego. So there.

Stars to Sit: Just So You Know, Romo's Splits Against Philly at Home Are Horrible originally appeared on Fantasy FanHouse on Fri, 12 Sep 2008 16:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ranking the Rookie Runners

Sean Lalley — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 23:35:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy Football, NFL New Studs

"Set the gearshift for the high gears of your soul...you've gotta run like an Antelope out of control."

Ah yes, the year of the Rookie RB is upon us in Fantasy Football. There have been many a great year in the past, but certainly not a talent pool so potent and so deep as this year's class. There are more than a handful of solid rookie RB options this season and any one of them could very well help you win your league. It's no surprise that most of these guys weren't flying under any radar this pre-season.

However, many of them could be found on the cheap or at a bargain rate in the 4th round or later of most Fantasy Drafts. And most of them appear to be off to a solid, perhaps steady start. Well, not many Darren McFadden owners are nodding their heads in agreement...just yet. That's hard to figure, considering he was the most coveted prize from the crop. Need I remind everyone...it's still very, very early?

Anyhow, after one week in the books it's time to gage the old value meter and track the progress of each back. We'll be taking the temperature of each RB as the season winds along. Of course, let's not get too excited and rush to judgment, because it is only one week, but for now here's how they stand.

1. Matt Forte - Bears: No real shock here. Forte abused the Colts in prime-time for 123 yards and a TD. He left a lot of folks not kin to Fantasy Football saying "who was that man and what have you done with Cedric Benson?" He heads to Carolina this week where he should see a little more resistance than the Swiss cheese the Colts threw at him.

2. Chris Johnson - Titans: The "dream" sleeper came to fruition right out of the gate. Fantasy pundits everywhere are dishing out "self high-fives" to themselves this week, as if they were the only ones that pegged Johnson to be something special. He dazzled a solid Jacksonville defense, while LenDale White was at the concession stand. And next up he gets to run his luck against a marshmallow like Bengals defense this week. Have to wonder if he'll rise in the rankings after Sunday? Hmm.

3. Felix Jones - Cowboys: First carry, 11 yards...TOUCHDOWN!!! He certainly couldn't have drawn up his first action any better. The Browns were worn and battered from Marion Barber and the Cowboys handed the keys over to their prized rookie. With Barber slightly ailing, Jones could be in line for some additional duty. However, that's coming against the Eagles in prime-time.

4. Kevin Smith - Lions: Well, it's hard to get excited about any Lions RB. He didn't exactly set the world on fire, sputtering out a meager 48 yards on 16 carries. Although, he did manage to add his first TD to his resume. And the Lions did appear to stubbornly continue to run the ball as promised, even though they were getting hammered. How long until that plan dissolves and how long until Rudi Johnson vultures his way for a fair share of the load?

5. Jonathan Stewart - Panthers: He put up solid yardage against the Chargers, but simply didn't get enough carries. DeAngelo Williams appears to be the only thing standing in the way between Stewart and Fantasy stardom. Well, that and John Fox. Of course, don't you just expect DeAngelo to find his way into an injury at some point? The road ahead for Stewart is hardly easy with the Bears and Vikings in successive weeks. However, hold steady and wait, because Stewart will come into relevance before you know it.

6. Darren McFadden - Raiders: An inept offense and Justin Fargas are serious road blocks for Run D.M.C. McFadden was probably gobbled up a few rounds too early in most Fantasy drafts by a giddy owner who thought they were getting the second coming of Adrian Peterson. I'm just not sold. Of course, I think McFadden will be a star, but it's gonna be a work in progress. The Raiders are simply god awful.

7. Steve Slaton - Texans: Ahman Green is hurt, yet again. Slaton appears to be the guy for the time being in Houston. However, round one was anything, but impressive. You can fault that on his team getting blasted, but I've never been a fan of the running game in Houston. I mean how many recycled RB's are they gonna run through before they get it right? Is Wali Lundy still on the waiver wire?

8. Rashard Mendenhall - Steelers: Willie Parker was supposed to be a fading asset. Instead, Parker played his trump card and ran all over the Texans, leaving Mendenhall with mop-up duties. If you're into conventional thinking, you've gotta believe eventually Mendenhall will grab some more goaline duties and raise his stock. And comforting feeling must reside with the fact that the Steelers aren't going to play the Texans every week.

So, there you have it...for now. It's one week and you never want to jump to conclusions in Fantasy Football. It's a what have you done for me lately game. After this coming weekend, we all could have a whole new outlook on the progress and standing of these famed rookies. Keep your tabs on these guys. However, if own one or more of them, take solace and rest assured that they're all going to have an impact on the outcome of many a Fantasy League.

Ranking the Rookie Runners originally appeared on Fantasy FanHouse on Wed, 10 Sep 2008 23:35:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Feel Like Rolling the Dice?

Ryan Dembinsky — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 17:30:00 EST

Filed under: NFL Sleepers, NFL Waiver Wire, Fantasy Football, NFL New Studs

In what could only be described as "flukey," week 1 proved yet again that no matter how much you put into it, research and logic can only take you so far in fantasy football. I will honestly admit that I had never even heard of one guy that I already picked up since last weekend (Anthony Fasano). And if you told me Sammy Morris was on my roster after week 1 just a couple weeks ago, I would have said at least five swear words in rapid succession assuming one of my stallions went down.

So it goes. Anyway, I'm preaching to the choir. Well, today we'll try to defy logic in advance and throw out a junk bond so-to-speak; a risky play that has the potential to pay some nice yields in the next few weeks. Unfortunately, like most junk bonds, this one comes with the increased risk of returning jack sh*t, so make sure you don't give up anything too valuable here.

The recommendation falls in the "Well, they have to throw it somewhere, right?" camp. If you've been paying attention, you know that the Seattle Seahawks literally have no wide receivers. After Nate Burleson went down in week 1 and with both Deion Branch and Bobby Engram nursing relatively serious injuries, that leaves none other than backup quarterback Seneca Wallace. If you need a refresher course on this Iowa State phenom, take a look at this clip which is aptly named, "The Run." Although, the guy at the 27 second mark could make a pretty good case for calling it "The Block" as well.

As you can see, Wallace is explosive, shifty, and quick enough to get open, particularly over the middle. Granted, he has little to no experience as a wide receiver, but you know what they say about on the job training. You can't beat it, right? So, look for Seneca to shock the world this weekend in the absense of anybody better to do it.

Oh, and by the way, you know how I said this was risky? Well, you have to start him at quarterback. He is not even eligible as a wide receiver yet. Just so you know.

Feel Like Rolling the Dice? originally appeared on Fantasy FanHouse on Wed, 10 Sep 2008 17:30:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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