Fantasy FanHouse

Eye on the Prize: Hail Mary Candidates for Hardcore Fantasy Footballers

Matt Snyder — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 08:30:00 EST

Filed under: NFL Sleepers, Fantasy Football

First, a disclaimer. This list is not necessarily a go pick this guy up right now type deal. If you play in an 8-12 team league and you don't have injury or ineffectiveness issues, this list is not for you. If you, however, play in a 16 or more team league with a deep bench, and you have been sitting there waiting on Willis McGahee to show up with a pulse for the past couple weeks, well, I may have something for you.

We call them "Hail Mary" choices because picking up some of these guys would be like throwing a Hail Mary pass. The odds of it winding up helping your team are slim, but there's enough of a chance FTW to hurl it up there. If you have dead weight on your deep bench, let us consider the following dudes.

I've attempted to list them in the order of their likelihood at helping you.

And, actually, the top guy is a sleeper is most leagues for this week ...

Maurice "MoMo" Morris, Seahawks
He's overtaken Julius Jones in the Seahawks backfield. Sure, he's done very little all season -- save for a 100-yard game in Week 12 -- but he gets the hapless Rams in Week 15. You could do worse.

Reggie Williams, Jaguars - Matt Jones is suspended, so someone will have to account for the nine targets a game Jones averaged. Williams caught 10 touchdown passes from David Garrard last year, so he's the obvious choice.

Ahmad Bradshaw, Giants - If Brandon Jacobs is held out of any games, Bradshaw is definitely usable in large leagues. I don't believe the Giants would put the game solely in Derrick Ward's hands, and they are predominantly a running team.

Brandon Jackson, Packers - I missed the mark badly last week on him, but he has looked like a better back than Ryan Grant -- in my humble opinion -- when given carries this season. If anything happens to Grant, Jackson's an immediate stud.

Desmond Clark, Bears - Kyle Orton loves his tight ends, especially in the red zone. The Saints and Packers aren't exactly faring well defensively of late, so you could do worse.

Brandon Jones, Titans - The Texans can be thrown upon, so Jones is a deep sleeper for Week 15. I would not, however, expect him to record more than a catch or two in Week 16 against the Steelers.

Fred Jackson, Bills - For some reason, Jackson's been getting most of the red zone touches instead of Marshawn Lynch lately. Up until this past week -- where he didn't touch the ball -- Jackson usually received at least five touches. Don't look at him this week against a solid Jets run defense, but in Week 16 against the atrocious Broncos run defense he's worth a flier.

J.J. Arrington, Cardinals - I don't expect the Cardinals to run the ball very well in the next two weeks (home against Minnesota and a trip to New England), and Arrington is the pass-catching back.

Steve Smith, Giants - The Giants offense was stagnant this past week. They'll look to get it back on track, and they'll need to find a reliable receiving option for the times they do go through the air. Why not Smith?

Jordy Nelson, Packers - You could find a lot tougher passing defenses than the Jags and Bears. Here's a gamble with huge reward potential because I expect the Pack to be passing frequently.

Harry Douglas, Falcons - Speaking of huge upside gambles, you can do much worse than trying to use a young speedster who is liable to take it to the house from any point on the field.

Patrick Cobbs, Dolphins - While the Niners are vastly improved under Mike Singletary, they still grade out as a subpar defense overall. The Chiefs defense is, well, pretty pathetic. Those are the Dolphins' opponents for the next two weeks. Cobbs went nuts one time this year. If you want to gamble with your championship that he does it again in Week 16, now is the time to stash him on your bench.

Jamaal Charles, Chiefs - Maybe I'm just hoping the Chiefs finally wash their hands of Larry Johnson. Whatever. Charles rushed for over 100 yards against the Bucs -- which would have meant a ton more if I said that last week -- so why not build for the future around a young and exciting back?

Adrian Peterson, Bears - If the Bears get scared about Matt Forte's workload, Forte gets injured, or the Bears blow out the Saints or Packers at home, then Peterson is the guy who gets the touches. Last year against Green Bay at home, Peterson went for 102 yards and a touchdown.

Ken Dorsey, Browns - He's terrible. I know, but we're getting to the bottom of the barrel here. You know what else is terrible? The defense the Bengals run out every week. That's who Dorsey and the Browns get at home in Week 16.

Quinton Ganther, Titans - He had three carries for 23 yards on Thanksgiving. The Titans are one win and one Steelers loss away from clinching home-field advantage throughout the playoffs. If they decided to rest LenDale White and Chris Johnson anytime, Ganther should get around 10 touches.

Todd Collins, Redskins - If the Redskins bench Jason Campbell, Collins jumps in.

I seriously just unearthed some sleepers for those of you playing in 24-team leagues with the last three picks. I can't reiterate the point enough that you have to be in a huge league or have a really deep bench -- probably both -- to check out the bottom of this list.

Either way, it's always fun to think about possible breakthrough guys where you can tell your league how sagacious you are, right?

Eye on the Prize: Hail Mary Candidates for Hardcore Fantasy Footballers originally appeared on Fantasy FanHouse on Wed, 10 Dec 2008 08:30:00 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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Tim Hightower Close to Taking Arizona Starting RB Job From Edgerrin James

Matt Snyder — Tue, 28 Oct 2008 16:53:00 EST

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

Tim Hightower has been an impressive runner in his rookie season for the Arizona Cardinals. Edgerrin James, in what seems like his hundredth NFL season, has not.

Hightower's average yards per carry is low, but that's due to his usage as the goal-line back. He has scored six touchdowns already this season, the majority of which have been from inside the five yard line.

Edgerrin James is averaging only 3.5 yards per carry, and that's mostly without short-yardage touches. He's also got a ton of tread on those aging tires, as he nears 3000 carries in his illustrious career.

Common sense would dictate a change in the backfield is near ... and those thoughts are emanating from Cardinals camp this week:

(L)istening to the goings-on around the Cardinals on Monday, you got the feeling that a move from Edgerrin James to rookie Tim Hightower as the starting running back in the coming days or weeks is a distinct possibility.

The rest of the story has a few quotes from Hightower, Edge, and Coach Ken Whisenhunt ... where they basically didn't tell us anything. It was all politcal speak.

There was one thing that was never said, though ... no one ever said that Edgerrin James is definitely the feature back. I found that telling. To me, it sounds like the job is shifting from one man to the other. When asked if this was true, here's how Edge responded ...

"That's the way it was heading anyway, so it's cool."

Wow. It almost sounds like he doesn't even care.

Fantasy Spin:
You must add Hightower immediately in all formats. If he takes the starting job this week, he'll have a great opportunity to make a huge impact against the Rams sub-par run defense. Edgerrin James is relatively worthless in most formats even when he's starting at this point. He had one good week, and one decent one ... other than that he's been a waste this season. Let's hope, for our purposes, that the Cards move on.

Tim Hightower Close to Taking Arizona Starting RB Job From Edgerrin James originally appeared on Fantasy FanHouse on Tue, 28 Oct 2008 16:53:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Fantasy Football Focus: Time to Cut Your Losses on Matt Hasselbeck?

Matt Snyder — Tue, 21 Oct 2008 14:15:00 EST

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

Nothing has gone right in Seattle this year. It started with an epidemic of receiver injuries in the preseason. Now, the once stout defense has sucked, the pro bowl QB is hurt, and the receivers can't stay healthy.

I, however, am using foresight to say that in fantasy football you should own Matt Hasselbeck. He's in a tenuous enough spot health-wise that you shouldn't trade anyone of value for him, but he's worth a waiver wire add -- or keeping on your roster, should you currently be holding onto him -- so you can enjoy him later in the season.

We enter Week 8 hearing that Hasselbeck might play this weekend against the Niners, but he might not. Okay, let's just assume he doesn't go. Hell, let's be conservative and assume he's not back until Week 10. Starting then, he will really help you get into the playoffs with matchups against the Dolphins (27th against the pass) in that week, Cardinals (20th) the following week, and the Cowboys (16th, with major injury issues in secondary) in Week 13. In Weeks 15 and 16, the traditional fantasy playoffs, the Seahawks face the Rams (25th) and Jets (24th).

We're talking about a guy who has thrown for 3000 yards five times, and twice he nearly hit the 4000 yard mark. He's gone over 20 TD passes four times and 25+ twice. His career highs in both figures were achieved last year, and he's only 33 ... which is by no means old for a quarterback. In addition to Hasselbeck, I'm also figuring Deion Branch and Bobby Engram to be completely healthy by Week 10 as well.

Now, we're taking a leap of faith here that Hasselbeck's going to completely heal. He currently has disc issues in his back, and that disc is rubbing a nerve that runs down into his injured knee. I don't understand the implications of the injury moving forward, but I do understand that it's not a huge leap if you only have to own him as your QB3. He's a free agent in many leagues. Drop a backup RB and just roster him. If history is any indication, you won't be sorry.

To answer the title of this entry, no, it's definitely not time to cut your losses on Matt Hasselbeck. Not yet.

Fantasy Football Focus: Time to Cut Your Losses on Matt Hasselbeck? originally appeared on Fantasy FanHouse on Tue, 21 Oct 2008 14:15:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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FanHouse's Quasi-Weekly LIVE Fantasy Football Chat: Thursday, 1:00 PM Eastern

Matt Snyder — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 12:45:00 EST

Filed under: NFL Position Rankings, NFL Sleepers, NFL Waiver Wire, Fantasy Football, NFL Fantasy Felony, Expert Chats

Sure, you can wait to set your lineup until Sunday morning -- when we tailgate -- but there are other things to be done in the middle of the fantasy week.

Need advice on any trades in the works?

Are bye weeks killing your roster, meaning you're in need of a desperation sleeper option?

We will also accept lineup questions, but there is so much more going on in the world of fantasy. You can even come check in if you just want to argue with us. You'll be wrong, but it's cool to try and stuff. We've got no problem with that.

No matter the reason, stop on in and check us out.

By the way, Larry (above right) wants me to tell you he's a must-start every week. Please don't ask about him.

FanHouse's Quasi-Weekly LIVE Fantasy Football Chat: Thursday, 1:00 PM Eastern originally appeared on Fantasy FanHouse on Thu, 09 Oct 2008 12:45:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Matt Schaub Lands in the Hospital, Sage Rosenfels Lands in the Starting Lineup

Will Brinson — Sun, 05 Oct 2008 12:25:00 EST

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

Matt Schaub is sick. Sick and tired of losing. Oh, and he's literally sick -- and it's bad enough that he was sent to the hospital on Saturday night.

So, yeah, in a huge divisional matchup and the team's first return to Houston since Ike hit, things are going to be a little thin at quarterback.

Schaub fell ill Saturday night, but is active as the second quarterback for this afternoon's game. Tight end Owen Daniels is the Texans' emergency quarterback.

In five starts with the Texans in 2007, Rosenfels was 4-1. He played in 10 total games and finished with a career-high 1,684 passing yards and 15 touchdowns.

Yeah, so things aren't that bad for the Texans, but we don't really know how bad they are for Schaub just yet. Hopefully he'll be fine, but until we hear more, we just have to assume that he's doing alright under medical watch.

Sage Rosenfels will start in his place and Lord have mercy on the Texans if Daniels has to take snaps.

Fantasy Spin: Obviously bench Schaub immediately, and consider grabbing Rosenfels -- he doesn't seem like a particularly attractive option but if you're facing Kyle Orton or someone of that lower end nature and he's there, well, the Colts defense isn't that stout and he does have Andre Johnson and Kevin Walter.

Matt Schaub Lands in the Hospital, Sage Rosenfels Lands in the Starting Lineup originally appeared on Fantasy FanHouse on Sun, 05 Oct 2008 12:25:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Brian Westbrook Is Inactive, Devin Hester Will Play in Sunday Night's Game

Will Brinson — Sun, 28 Sep 2008 19:23:00 EST

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

The Philadelphia Eagles head into Chicago tonight, seeking to take the overall lead in the NFC East, with the Dallas Cowboys losing, and they will do it without Brian Westbrook, arguably their most dangerous weapon.

That's because Westbrook is now listed on the team's inactive list.

Eagles running back Brian Westbrook is out of tonight's game against the Bears with an ankle injury. The Bears will see a heavy dose of Correll Buckhalter.

[...]Devin Hester warmed up before the game and will play. How much action he'll see is unknown.

As you can also see, the Bears will have their most dangerous offensive weapon as Hester will suit up. Again though, he might not play a significantly huge role though, considering that "rib injuries + kick returns" isn't a particularly enticing formula for success.

Obviously the Eagles will miss Westbrook, and Buckhalter will get a healthy amount of carries, but I would also expect to see Donovan McNabb approach the 40 mark in term of pass attempts.

Fantasy Spin: Westbrook owners need to hustle up and get their lineups swapped. If you've got Buckhalter, obviously that's the best option for switching someone out, but otherwise you might be limited. I would suggest Le'Ron McClain, who's running for the Ravens and might split carries with Ray Rice for Baltimore. Mewelde Moore is another option though, too, considering Willie Parker's absence in Pittsburgh.

Brian Westbrook Is Inactive, Devin Hester Will Play in Sunday Night's Game originally appeared on Fantasy FanHouse on Sun, 28 Sep 2008 19:23:00 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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Passed Out at Your Desk: Seriously, It's About Time to Grow Up, D.A.

Will Brinson — Thu, 25 Sep 2008 09:00:00 EST

Filed under: NFL Sleepers, Fantasy Football

Everyone needs sleep. Including fantasy football teams and one-armed men. We will now discuss some ways for you to get rest throughout Week 3. Notice what annoying word I'm avoiding. One from each major position in order of league depth; I will most certainly remind you when these people have big games on Sunday.

Mucho gusto (yes, I know it's the incorrect translation) to Shane Bacon for filling in quite well last week. As with everything else in my life this week, I blame Vegas. To the picks ...

Power Naps
Derek Anderson, QB, CLE -- Oh, how I hate you, Mr. Anderson. Oh, how I hate you so much. But yet, here we are, in Week 4 and Brady Quinn is set to take your job. And you get to play against the Bungles Part II. Now or never, sir.

Selvin Young, RB, DEN -- Well, this list is already chock full of people I drafted who haven't performed well this year. Sigh. Fortunately, Kansas City is horrible at everything, including stopping the run.

Braylon Edwards, WR, CLE -- OHMIGODBRAYLONEDWARDSISASLEEPER. Seriously, see above. Start him.

Mild Piles
J.T. O'Sullivan, QB, SF -- I love that people are shocked, shocked!, I say, that New Orleans stinks against the pass. What's new, really? Start O'Sullivan this week.

Pierre Thomas, RB, NO -- San Francisco has been a little better against the run this year, but they've still allowed three rushing touchdowns, and a memorable shredding by Julius Jones. Therefore/ergo/hencewith, I like Pierre to score.

Bryant Johnson, WR, SF -- On the other hand, see above.

Heavy Sedation

Trent Edwards, QB, BUF -- Edwards has been nothing short of consistent as he attempts to have a breakout season. Plus, he's a winner. Not a .750 winner, but still a winner. St. Louis, on the other hand, is not full of winners.

Correll Buckhalter, RB, PHI -- Starting a second-stringer against the Bears isn't exactly the top choice, but in some leagues, it's the only option. I'd take a gamble on Buckhalter here if Brian Westbrook is out. Or at least make the add and then hope B-Dubs doesn't play.

Chansi Stuckey, WR, NYJ -- He's not imminently startable ... yet. But Brett Favre sure does love targeting him this year, no?

Passed Out at Your Desk: Seriously, It's About Time to Grow Up, D.A. originally appeared on Fantasy FanHouse on Thu, 25 Sep 2008 09:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Plaxico Gets Laxico, Giants Suspend For Two Weeks

Ryan Dembinsky — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 09:41:00 EST

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

As reported by Jay Glazer of Fox Sports, the Giants' dominating wide receiver, Plaxico Burress, will be absent for the next two weeks after coach Tom Coughlin suspended him for insubordination.

"The New York Giants will not have the services of their most electrifying offensive weapon when they play Seattle after their bye week. WR Plaxico Burress will miss the game, not because of injury, but rather insubordination.

FOXSports.com has learned that the Giants have suspended Burress for two weeks for failing to show up for work on Monday and not responding to several phone calls by the team to explain his unexcused absence both Monday and Tuesday."

Proving what we already knew - that Michigan State breeds ghetto wide receivers - Plaxico apparently abused the fact that he just inked a big contract and felt that he could get away with one. It also fuels the side of the barstool debate that Plaxico was never really injured, but that he just hasn't really felt like practicing over the past couple of seasons.

No, in all seriousness, we do not know the circumstances of Plaxico's truancy, so there may well be a good reason for his missteps. We will keep you posted on any new developments.

In terms of fantasy, this could be a lot a worse for Plax owners, because the Giants have a bye next week, thus he will really only miss one game versus the Seahawks. Still, one missed game for a star wideout can present problems as the bye weeks commence. Further, it might actually present a solid opportunity to trade for Burress on the cheap.

Plaxico Gets Laxico, Giants Suspend For Two Weeks originally appeared on Fantasy FanHouse on Wed, 24 Sep 2008 09:41:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Fantasy Value Machine: Fast Willie Goes Down, Mendenhall Slides Up

Matt Snyder — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 15:10:00 EST

Filed under: NFL Position Rankings, NFL Sleepers, Sunday Wrap-Up, Fantasy Football, NFL Fantasy Felony

Value Machine checks out the overall perceived value of fantasy players. If you want to commit a fantasy felony, you'll sell high on the up arrow guys and buy low on the down arrow guys.

We caught a glimpse of vintage Willie Parker in week one, and have since seen a steady decline. The points -- we'll round and generalize, as many leagues use different scoring formats -- have gone from 30 to 10 to 2. And now he's hurt. He will not play in week four. He didn't score a TD in the past two weeks after putting a three-score hurtin' on the Houston Texans in week one. Even if he comes back, you have enough evidence to worry about durability and week one being fluky (for what it's worth, he did have a 100-yard game in week two ... but that was on less than four yards per carry).

In light of this, Willie Parker is your top this week.

On the flip side, your top in value is Rashard Mendenhall. Fast Willie received 53 carries in the first two weeks, so you know the Steelers like to run the football. Mewelde Moore becomes the de facto backup to Mendenhall, and he's nothing more than a third-down back. Expect Mendenhall to get 20-plus touches per game while Parker sits. Also, Mendenhall's value will never be higher, because people love the "new guy" starter ... and Mendenhall's likely to get stuffed all night against the Ravens this week.

Other

Philip Rivers -- Gotta consider him an elite option at this point. Don't sell. Just enjoy.

Jason Campbell -- He's got a little something going in Jim Zorn's offense with Santana Moss.

Steve Slaton -- What a coming out party that was in Tennessee. We loved Slaton in the preseason here at FanHouse, so it wasn't altogether shocking.

Correll Buckhalter -- Came through with some good stats after Brian Westbrook's exit. Westbrook now has a high ankle sprain, which poses a significant issue for a guy that uses speed and agility as his main weapons.

Trent Green -- He's now the starter in St. Louis, so there's that. The bad news is that the Rams are just brutal.

Brandon Lloyd -- He's emerged as the clear-cut number one WR option for the Bears. Sure, they don't rely upon the pass, but a number one wideout is still a viable option. Oh yeah, in weeks five through nine -- when you'll likely be missing guys due to bye weeks -- the Bears face the Lions twice and the Falcons. Stash Lloyd now.

Carson Palmer -- Quality numbers against the stellar Giants defense, so maybe he's not dead after all?

Brady Quinn -- Derek Anderson is down to his last chance. Unfortunately for Quinn, it's the Bengals. Quinn's stock is rising because everyone has given up on Anderson, but Anderson could torch Cincy, so let's hold off on the love for now.

Julius Jones -- Two straight big weeks, and it appears that with a decimated receiving corps Mike Holmgren is ready to keep the ball on the ground. We'll see, but I don't think his value ever rises higher than it currently is.

Chansi Stuckey -- Brett Favre loves him. You know how he always finds way to get the ball to guys he loves.

LeRon McClain -- Two TDs and more carries than Willis McGahee. He's surely a coveted player in all fantasy leagues this week. I suspect that once McGahee is finally full-go, McClain is relegated to backup duties again, though.

Joseph Addai -- He's back. Once the Colts offense can stay on the field for more than a third of the game he'll get more carries, too.

Antonio Bryant -- He was the main benefactor of Brian Griese's onslaught, and is thus worth a look should Joey Galloway continue to miss games.

Other

Jeremy Shockey -- Sports hernia. Ouch. The reports say three-to-six weeks ... and I'm betting on the latter being much more realistic.

Brian Westbrook -- As I said above, the ankle sprain poses significant issues for Westbrook for the next few weeks.

Marc Bulger -- Lost his job, not that he was doing much with it anyway. Don't buy.

Derek Anderson -- As I stated earlier, this week is his absolute last chance as the Browns' starting QB. It is, however, his first chance against a subpar defense. I'm going out on a limb and predicting he blows up and keeps the job.

Jon Kitna -- He sprained his knee after a really lackluster day against the Niners' defense. Zero TDs to Roy Williams and Calvin Johnson is not good.

Jonathan Stewart -- His value was sky-high after week two. Then he faced a stellar run defense in Minnesota. If you catch an owner of Stewart's that lacks foresight, trade for him now. He proved his value in the second half against the Bears ... and they face the stop-the-run challenged Falcons this week at home. He's gonna go nuts.

Brandon Jacobs -- Other than the touchdown, that was a pathetic effort against the Bengals at home Sunday.

Plaxico Burress -- Just when you think you can count him as a top-five option, he pulls a disappearing act.

Bryant Johnson -- Someone on Sunday Morning Tailgate called me a homer because I recommended Marvin Harrison over Johnson ... which was weird since I'm a Bears fan. Either way, scoreboard. Three points against the Lions defense? That's a precursor for a season of unpredictable fluctuation. Not fun for Johnson's owners.

Andre Johnson -- The Texans are probably going to be a bit unpredictable all season following the destruction of Hurricane Ike in their hometown. That being said, you have to assume last Sunday will be one of Johnson's least productive of the season.

Fantasy Value Machine: Fast Willie Goes Down, Mendenhall Slides Up originally appeared on Fantasy FanHouse on Tue, 23 Sep 2008 15:10:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Slinging the Rock: The Old, Annual San Diego Handcuff Stab

Will Brinson — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 12:10:00 EST

Filed under: NFL Sleepers, NFL Waiver Wire, Fantasy Football, NFL Fantasy Felony

Having a short term memory is pretty awesome sometimes. (Other stories, other times.) Not as much in fantasy football. Why? Because last year, we draft LaDanian Tomlinson with our top picks and, as I recall, well, we kind of freaked out about how he performed during the first few weeks.

It took him to the fourth game of the season to crack 150 yards ... on the season. He averaged well under three yards per carry and only scored once in three games. Seriously, we completely freaked out. Remember?

Well, look at this year. Two games, 130 some yards, no touchdowns. Tomlinson's case of turf toe, with which he's not practicing, isn't exactly helping things either. And so we are in the middle of another fantasy meltdown. "What do I do with LT? Do I trade him? I need to add Darren Sproles, right? Should I drop Tomlinson for Eddie Royal?"

And the answers would be: "Simma. No. Perhaps. Yeah, sure." See, Tomlinson is dealing with some offensive line issues, he has a backup performing well, he's injured and his team is losing, so he's essentially caught in a perfect storm of fantasy devaluing.

This is why you need to involve him in a trade in some way. And there are two easy ones. First, to lay out the obvious, trade for him. Stop. Just stop. I don't want to hear the excuses. He's LaDanian Tomlinson. He was a consensus top two pick this year. You go get him if you can do it for a RB2/WR2 combo that are overperforming.

Or, alternately, you grab Sproles off the wire and you trade him to Tomlinson's owner. This has worked for Michael Turner owners for years; Tomlinson owners in semi-panic have overpaid for someone that they could never actually use. That's because the idea of losing the Chargers valuable fantasy points is a terrifying proposition. And whoever has been running for the Chargers has always excelled.

So, to sum up, go get LaDanian. Don't freak out. This is two weeks into the season. He's underperforming. It's gonna be cool. You'll enjoy his stats. And more importantly, you'll win.

Slinging the Rock: The Old, Annual San Diego Handcuff Stab originally appeared on Fantasy FanHouse on Thu, 18 Sep 2008 12:10:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Seahawks Adeptly Mend Wide Reciever Wounds

Ryan Dembinsky — Wed, 17 Sep 2008 10:47:00 EST

Filed under: NFL Sleepers, Fantasy Football

Just when we were about to crank out a wise ass story about the phones ringing at the homes of Jerry Rice, Charles Rodgers, and Steve Largent, the Seahawks announced a savvy double signing of Keary Colbert and Koren Robinson to patch up their mangled wide receiver corps .

The Seahawks traded for Colbert by allegedly sending a fifth round pick to Denver after Colbert clearly lost out in the tough competition amongst the Broncos' elite group of receivers. Robinson came over in a second chance tale after leaving the Seahawks in 2005 due to repeated problems with alcohol. Robinson convinced president Tim Ruskell that his boozing ways were a thing of the past.

Robinson has now been sober for 25 months according to the AP report filed by Gregg Bell.

"The 28-year-old Robinson said he has been sober for 25 months thanks to a new marriage, two young sons, a baby girl due next month and religion.

"I'm definitely proud of that," he said.

Robinson said the final incident that caused him to abandon his partying ways came in August 2006. Police said Robinson, then with the Minnesota Vikings, led them on a car chase at speeds more than 100 mph, and that his blood-alcohol content was found to be 0.11 percent, above the legal limit of 0.08."

In terms of fantasy value, it's tough to predict what will happen with these two, but something tells me Koren Robinson is due for a return to form as he used to be a favorite target for Matt Hasselbeck and his sobriety is clearly a good good thing. Supposedly, Robinson is already listed as #1 on the depth chart and that's not even alphabetical order. Koren Robinson has feel good story of the year written all over him.

As for Colbert, he has always been a serviceable receiver, but has never really made the jump to fantasy relevant, so I'd expect more of the same. Keep a close eye on the Seahawks though, because as reliable wide receivers are harder to come by this season than a good burrito in New York City, one of these guys could become a hot commodity.

Seahawks Adeptly Mend Wide Reciever Wounds originally appeared on Fantasy FanHouse on Wed, 17 Sep 2008 10:47:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Monday Night Football Fantasy Preview: Iggles, 'Boys Are Stacked

Matt Snyder — Mon, 15 Sep 2008 15:15:00 EST

Filed under: NFL Sleepers, Fantasy Football

If you pay attention to fantasy football, odds are you have something riding on tonight's game. Combining these two teams, you have a veritable fantasy paradise. Let's run through the players who are fantasy relevant and examine their possibilities for blowing up, shall we?

Tony Romo -- Brinson's already covered his bad splits against Philly at home, but that's a small sample. There's no reason to sit him in any format.

Marion Barber -- He's banged up, and he's a physical back. The Eagles have a gritty defense. I don't like the way these things add up. Again, though, you can't sit him because he's a touchdown machine. You're liable to miss out on two scores if you get nuts enough to bench him. That should overtake the possibility that his yardage numbers don't end pretty.

Terrell Owens -- What a pathetic person he is to go out of his way to call Donovan McNabb jealous. He's not half the man McNabb is, nor will he ever be. Does that impact fantasy? Of course not, it was just an unrelated rant. Look, there's fire here on both sides. The Eagles really want to stop him, and they have the tools to do just that. T.O., however, loves the spotlight and wants to prove something to the Eagles. Something's gotta give, and I'm betting it's T.O. Eagles blanket him, bust-city. Book it.

Patrick Crayton -- With all the attention on T.O. and the running game, expect Crayton to exploit the few holes given by the Iggles defense.

Felix Jones -- It all hinges on the health of Barber. Jones will get about 10 touches if Barber is full-go, and probably about 20 if he's not. As things stand now, you can't count on Jones as a fantasy starter. The touchdown last week was nice, but it's not going to be a consistent thing with the beast Barber around.

Jason Witten -- Best TE in football. Any questions?

Donovan McNabb -- He's not going to amass the same stats as last week because he's not playing the hapless Rams again. That being said, he's a stud when healthy. He's healthy right now, so you must start him. I like 250 yards and a pair of TDs at the minimum.

Brian Westbrook -- Never sit him when he's healthy.

L.J. Smith -- He's a decent plug-in option here. Kellen Winslow had good success over the middle for the Browns against the Cowboys last week. While he has about half the talent, Smith is cut from the same mold in the lanky, athletic TE sense. Expect about 4 catches for 50 yards and hope one of them is a score.

DeSean Jackson -- The rookie isn't going to sneak up on anyone after his week one arrival. There's no way the Cowboys are going to allow a rookie to beat them. He'll be blanketed all night, yet talented enough to garner some good stats. I'm expecting around 10 points.

Greg Lewis -- With Westbrook and Jackson netting most of the attention, Lewis is a great sleeper this week in deep leagues.

Reggie Brown -- Apparently he's going to play tonight, but I wouldn't be caught dead starting him in fantasy. The Eagles slung the rock quite well last week without him, so they aren't about to throw a less than 100 percent -- and mediocre -- receiver into the fire much.

Hank Baskett -- I really hope you didn't waste a waiver priority based upon a fluky 90 yard TD. Seriously. Don't start Hank Baskett on your fantasy team. Ever.

Monday Night Football Fantasy Preview: Iggles, 'Boys Are Stacked originally appeared on Fantasy FanHouse on Mon, 15 Sep 2008 15:15:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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4th and 26: Ja Need a Quarterback to Start for Your Team? We Got Ja Answer Right Cha

Will Brinson — Sat, 13 Sep 2008 19:40:00 EST

Filed under: NFL Sleepers, Fantasy Football

We here are at Fantasy FanHouse are deeply committed to helping the desperate. And you may be among them. If that's the case, we have some lovely last-minute gambles for you to try out in fantasy this week. Fourth and 26 isn't an "ideal" situation, but sometimes it works out.

Quarterback
JaMarcus Russell, OAK -- No way he's owned in your league. Seriously. No way (unless it's a keeper league I suppose). And you may remember from that Monday night snooze fest that Russell ended up going 17 of 26 for 180 yards and two touchdowns; respectable numbers, even in a blowout. And the Broncos are slightly better than the Chiefs. And by "slightly" I mean "the rough equivalent of "USC over OSU". (Warning: Comparison could backfire.)

Kerry Collins, TEN -- He doesn't have any receivers, and the Titans will probably lean on the running game and defense to win. But if you're considering him, you're pretty desperate. And the Bengals are pretty bad. So you could do worse.

Running Back
Tim Hightower, ARI -- Hightower might actually be a pretty good start this week; Edgerrin James had 100 yards last week, but it took him 26 carries, and Hightower saw some goal line action. Also, Miami is not good.

Michael Pittman, DEN -- Hahahahahaha. Ha-ha-ha. Thanks Shanahan. I keep saying he's not crazy, but maybe he is. Anyway, Pittman appears to be getting plenty of carries in Denver and while San Diego isn't the ideal matchup (even without Shawne Merriman), you didn't come here for the obvious.

Wide Receiver
Antwaan Randle-El, WAS -- I mentioned ARE elsewhere this week, but I think he works pretty well here. Especially considering the low quality of football in DC this year. But against the Saints, I think you have to expect some air out of Jason Campbell and Santana Moss can't be the only recipient.

Seneca Wallace, SEA -- I have been waiting for years to use this guy in a spot like this. Seriously, Holmgren, what's taken so long? Wallace is fast, has hands and the Seahawks have nothing at wideout (Courtney Taylor is also a decent option this week). But for the deep league kind of folk in horrible shape at WR -- or with Andre Johnson starting -- Seneca's the definition of hail mary.

4th and 26: Ja Need a Quarterback to Start for Your Team? We Got Ja Answer Right Cha originally appeared on Fantasy FanHouse on Sat, 13 Sep 2008 19:40:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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'Round in Circles: Playing the Defensive Matchup Game

Sean Lalley — Sat, 13 Sep 2008 17:00:00 EST

Filed under: NFL Sleepers, Fantasy Football

So, you didn't land the Vikings, Patriots, Chargers or Bears DST. Did I miss any? Fair enough, you did the wise decision of waiting until the end of your draft to snag a defense. Now, you've got an entire season ahead of you where you'll be forced to play the match-up game each week. Relax; it's not all that bad. Aside from wasting waiver transactions (if your league charges for that sort of thing) it can really be advantageous.

Last season the Chargers were the clear cut DST leaders. However, if you break it down, in average leagues they scored about 20-30 more points than the Patriots and approximately 50-60 more than the 12th ranked DST. Go ahead and divide that over a sixteen week season and that only comes out to about an extra three to five points per week. Hmm, I guess those three to five points are really worth spending an 8th round pick on a defense.

Well, aside from just that you know that there will be some games where one of those top defenses just doesn't play like a top defense. It's an unpredictable proposition to say the least and the final numbers are always deceiving. And that's why I've always been a big, big fan of just playing weekly the match-ups.It's a fairly simple game that you can get down to a science. Sure, you have to be on your toes and the degree of difficulty always increases with a handful of other owners in your league doing the same. For starters, it's fairly easy to grasp which teams are the futile offensive teams in the league after just a few weeks. There are always the warning signs like a bad offensive line, an interception prone QB, the inability to run the ball, etc.

Wait, did I just summarize the Detroit Lions? Moving on, another item to add to the watch list is always injuries and rookie QB's. By about Week 3 or 4 at least four or five teams will have emerged as key match-up candidates, some probably even sooner. Once you've got those crappy offenses pegged, it's schedule watching and planning, because you've gotta be ready to pounce the waiver wire first thing on Monday morning.

If you sleep...you lose. Keep thinking a week ahead.

So, it might be a bit early to take a leap into the matchup game full speed ahead. However, it's safe to say like any position in Fantasy, there are always gonna be sleepers. With that, let's take a peak at some of the key DST match-ups for Week 2. Or better yet, a few DST that might be available that you can exploit this week for some freebie points against a weak offense.

1. Arizona vs. Miami: There's already a little buzz brewing around the Cardinals defense. Well, they were one of the Top defenses in Week 1 and they were playing J.T O'Sullivan. Well, this week they get to feast on Chad Pennington who proved that he still can't get the ball down the field last week. The Dolphins running game never had a chance to get off the ground. The Cardinals defense might not even be around on your waiver wire anymore, but if so...this is another week for them to feast.

2. New York Giants @ St. Louis: OK, I'm speaking from the obvious department. However, I just noticed the Giants were still available in one of my leagues. Stating the obvious, the Rams offensive line can't hold water and the Giants biggest strength happens to be getting pressure on the QB. You have to worry about the well being of Marc Bulger, but factor in a lot of Steven Jackson from the Rams. To me this one seems like either a home run or a strikeout, but if available the Giants are worth a look.

3. Tennessee @ Cincinnati: It's simple; the Titans were the best defense in Week 1 and now they have the chance to feast on a Bengals team that looks shaky and is toting a fragile psyche. You do run the risk that the Bengals offense will break out of the funk, but it's just not 2005 anymore. Carson Palmer is raring to throw another stinker at his Fantasy owners on Sunday. Look for the Titans to gladly oblige.

4. Seattle vs. San Francisco: I'll take my chances any day with whoever is facing the 49ers. As long as Mike Martz is calling the shots, expect a lot of J.T O'Sullivan passes to be up for grabs. The man is just too stubborn to settle for anything less. And the Seahawks are a not a bad long term DST solution. Although, they probably aren't or shouldn't be available for the having.

5. Green Bay @ Detroit: Do I really have to explain? Bank on the Lions being a member of the "crap" group that you can play the match-up game with all season long. Am I wrong? As a Lions fan, I sure hope so, but am not holding my breath.

6. Indianapolis @ Minnesota: It might be a reach, especially after last week. However, as long as Tarvaris Jackson is attempting to play QB...I like the chances of one or three INT's. Of course, you might want to concern yourself with a guy named Adrian Peterson. Well, as they say...no risk, no reward.

'Round in Circles: Playing the Defensive Matchup Game originally appeared on Fantasy FanHouse on Sat, 13 Sep 2008 17:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Passed Out at Your Desk: Someone Has to Back Up Brady ... And Your Fantasy Team

Will Brinson — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 09:00:00 EST

Filed under: NFL Sleepers, Fantasy Football

"Hey, bro-ther!"
Everyone needs sleep. Including fantasy football teams and one-armed men. We will now discuss some ways for you to get rest throughout Week 1. Notice what annoying word I'm avoiding. One from each major position in order of league depth; I will most certainly remind you when these people have big games on Sunday.

To recap from last week: 5/9, and two of my misses were of the deep variety. You're welcome.

Power Naps
Matt Cassel, QB, NE
Chad Pennington looked good against the Jets and he doesn't have Randy Moss or Wes Welker. I'm not overly optimistic that Cassel is going to pull a Brady on Brady, but I think he's a pretty nice start here this week. Also, he quarterbacks the Patriots, which means he can only be so bad. He's probably about saturated, ownership wise, though, in your league.

Chris Johnson, RB, TEN
Speaking of saturated ... oh no, that's LenDale White, the guy losing his job to Johnson. But you might be debating whether to go with Johnson this week, and you should stop debating. Start him.

Dwayne Bowe, WR, KC
Sure, Damon Huard-Croyle is scary. But did you see Eddie Royal on Monday?

Mild Pile
Damon Huard, QB, KC
Yes, anyone can abuse DeAngelo Hall.

Sammy Morris, RB, NE
Bill Belichick might actually be the new Mike Shanahan, in terms of running back usage. Or maybe he just hates Laurence Maroney. Morris could see a ton of carries again this week.

David Patten, WR, NO
It seems obvious because it's easy, but that doesn't mean he's owned by a bunch of people. Drew Brees has to throw to someone.

Heavy Sedation
Brian Griese, QB, TB
Just because Atlanta stopped Detroit doesn't make them good on defense. Oh. They didn't stop Detroit?

Pierre Thomas, RB, NO
Washington is very, very, very bad. But with Marques Colston out, I think New Orleans will run the ball more. Since Reggie Bush doesn't do well "between the tackles" Pierre could backdoor some yardage.

Antwaan Randle-El, WR, WAS
Of course, to keep up, Washington will have to throw the ball. Not for the faint of heart.

Passed Out at Your Desk: Someone Has to Back Up Brady ... And Your Fantasy Team originally appeared on Fantasy FanHouse on Thu, 11 Sep 2008 09:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Slinging the Rock: Why Trading Michael Turner Is as Smart as the Lions Are Bad

Will Brinson — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 00:10:00 EST

Filed under: NFL Sleepers, Fantasy Football, NFL Fantasy Felony

There aren't many people hotter in fantasy circles right now than Michael Turner. The Falcons running back was the top fantasy scorer in Week 1, rushing for 220 yards and two touchdowns against the very, very hapless Detroit Lions. So naturally, people are freaking out at how good he could be over the course of a season.

There's some precedent for this, considering that he looked like a monster while he was backing up LaDanian Tomlinson in San Diego. "Some" being the key word. There is absolutely zero precedent for him averaging 10.0 yards per carry for more than one week; that being the number per tote he tossed up against the Lions.

That's not to say he won't be effective -- he will be. But at the same time, Matt Ryan is also not going to go 9/13 for 160 yards and a touchdown every time out, which are pretty monstrously efficient numbers for anyone's first game as a pro.

The point? The Lions are flat out the worst team in the NFL, and by a long margin. They made the Falcons look like an offensive juggernaut, and to do so is nothing short of embarrassing. Also, because this game seemed like the worst possible matchup available, not many people got to see the 400 or so missed tackles by Detroit on Turner.

Now, you might be somewhat stretched to actually get someone like Randy Moss for Turner at this point ... but then again, maybe not. Moss did after all, just lose his QB, and people are legitimately talking about whether or not he'll quit on this season. (Hint: he won't. The Pats aren't Oakland.)

But even if you can't pull Moss, you can at the very least get someone like Anquan Boldin, Steve Smith or possibly Braylon Edwards. These are all receiving options that, assuming you've bolstered your running backs enough at the draft, can push you over the edge by giving you three strong number one options at wideout.

And while it's nice to sit back and extrapolate Turner's numbers over a full season, clearly that's not going to happen. Besides, if you took Turner and a few other good running backs, you're only gambling with yourself in terms of having to make lineup decisions.

Slinging the Rock: Why Trading Michael Turner Is as Smart as the Lions Are Bad originally appeared on Fantasy FanHouse on Thu, 11 Sep 2008 00:10:00 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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4th and 26: Nimble Chad's Miami Mind Control

Will Brinson — Sat, 06 Sep 2008 02:30:00 EST

Filed under: NFL Sleepers, Fantasy Football

Run, Run ... It's Not Too Late: Play FREE Fantasy Football at Fleaflicker

We here are at Fantasy FanHouse are deeply committed to helping the desperate. And you may be among them. If that's the case, we have some lovely last-minute gambles for you to try out in fantasy this week. Fourth and 26 isn't an "ideal" situation, but sometimes it works out.

Quarterback
Chad Pennington, MIA -- This is actually a really, really logical start. Pennington has the Jets playbook inside his head (I'm actually convinced the Fins will win), and he's out for revenge against the team that spurned him. He has a dangerous deep threat in Ted Ginn, and the running back tandem of Ricky Williams and (maybe) Ronnie Brown should give him some room to dink and dunk his way to nice low-end QB1 numbers. A nice waiver-wire scramble.

Trent Edwards, BUF -- Whaaa? Against the Seattle defense? Really? Yes. Really. As pointed out in this wonderful, wonderful book, the Seahawks defensive backs are short; neither Marcus Trufant nor Kelly Jennings are over six feet tall. Bills rookie James Hardy is 6-foot-5. Lee Evans is only 5-foot-10, but he's fast as all get-out. And the Bills have Marshawn Lynch to open up the passing game. Edwards won't win the week for you, but he won't be as bad as Eli Manning or Jason Campbell.

Fantasy Gambles Worth Taking

New Dolphins quarterback Chad Pennington will be out for revenge against his former team, but garbage yards will be easier to come by. Expect Miami to play from behind versus New York, as Pennington connects with speedy Ted Ginn Jr. on his way to solid fantasy numbers.

Marc Serota, Getty Images

The Seahawks were very formidable against the rush last season, but they do still have some weaknesses in the secondary. Bills quarterback Trent Edwards should be able to take advantage and connect with Lee Evans and 6-foot-5 James Hardy downfield.

Rick Stewart, Getty Images

The departure of Rudi Johnson has cleared the way for new starter Chris Perry, pictured, but there's a big question mark hanging over his helmet. Still, the oft-injured running back could rack up 100 total yards versus the Ravens if he's utilized in the receiving game.

Joe Robbins, Getty Images

With star wideout Brandon Marshall out of the lineup, expect the Broncos to rely heavily on the ground game against a Raiders defense that allowed a league-high 24 rushing touchdowns last year. Andre Hall, pictured, isn't the starter but he could finish with 10 carries and a touchdown.

Bill Baptist, Getty Images

The Seahawks' receiving corps is very thin due to injuries, which opens a starting role for second-year wideout Courtney Taylor. Expect Matt Hasselbeck to air it out and spread the love against a Bills defense that allowed 247.4 passing yards per game last season.

Otto Greule Jr., Getty Images

With suspended star Steve Smith out of the lineup for the Panthers, it'll be up to D.J. Hackett to try to stretch the field against a top-flight Chargers defense. San Diego did allow 20 receiving touchdowns last season, and Hackett is Carolina's best chance at adding to that total.

Rick Havner, AP

Running Back
Chris Perry, CIN -- Perry backdoored the starting gig late via Rudi Johnson's release, and while he's probably a better option for shallow leagues because he's been drafted, I could see him pulling out respectable numbers via the passing game. And for a point-per-reception league? Yeah, I'd be all over that for a low-end flex option, especially with Kenny Watson banged up.

Andre Hall, DEN -- Rushing the ball a lot would make sense for the Broncos this week, especially with Brandon Marshall out. Oh, and playing the Raiders helps. With that in mind, seeing 10-plus carries from Hall isn't a stretch at all, and all he needs is one jailbreak to make you (and me) look like a genius.

Wide Receiver
Courtney Taylor, SEA -- I love Taylor this year. Really do. He's been getting praise from coach Mike Holmgren since the beginning of camp, and more importantly, he's the only option to line up beside Nate Burleson. QB Matt Hasselbeck doesn't get locked on any one guy, and Buffalo didn't get torched by the primary receiver late last year at all. Expect 50 yards and a touch.

D.J. Hackett, CAR -- The Chargers have a stout secondary with Antonio Cromartie and Quentin Jammer, but the Panthers have to pass at some point if they want to give Jonathan Stewart and DeAngelo Williams some room to run. And someone will have to catch those passes. Obviously, it won't be Steve Smith (suspended) and Hackett is heavily underrated; he'll find the end zone once.

4th and 26: Nimble Chad's Miami Mind Control originally appeared on Fantasy FanHouse on Sat, 06 Sep 2008 02:30:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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