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Wednesday, September 30, 2009

Waiver Wednesday: The Hot 8

If you needed another reason to read The Hot 8 every week, you got it last week when 6 of the players listed scored TD's and the future picks are already about to make an impact in week 4. This week we blend a couple obvious choices with a few players that NOBODY is considering...yet.


SHORT TERM HELP


1) Glen Coffee -- RB -- 49ers -- An absolute must have for this weeks matchup against the Rams. Chances are you will only be able to use Coffee for weeks #4 & 5 because Frank Gore should be back after the bye week. But the 49ers are committed to running the football and they have great faith in Coffee and his ability to produce. Coffee got on the fast track this summer by showing tremendous work ethic, pass catch ability, vision and blocking ability. You can expect a similar week from Coffee than you would Frank Gore this week and that is definitely worth a roster move now isn't it?


2) Aaron Brown -- RB -- Lions -- This guy had caught my eye each of the first two weeks of the regular season. All I could say as I watched was, "Who is that fast guy for Detroit?" and it was Brown who was cutting and slashing and showing great balance and speed in his limited time. Starting RB Kevin Smith injured his shoulder in last weeks win against Washington and is questionable at best for this week at Chicago. Sure Maurice Morris got the TD last week, but Brown is the one who will receive the bulk of the touches if Smith can't go. I have confidence that if Smith doesn't play, Brown will go off and have himself a breakout type of game this week.


3) Kyle Boller -- QB -- Rams -- By now everybody should know how I feel about Kyle Boller. As far back as June of this year I wrote that he was the best backup QB in the NFL and I stand behind that sentiment now. Now, just because Boller is a genuine talent doesn't mean he will instantly come in and dominate like he did last week. The QB is the most important part of any offense but he isn't the whole offense. The Rams lack talent along the offensive line especially without T Jason Smith and at WR without Laurent Robinson. Boller will eventually be the Rams starter even when Bulger comes back so this move could pay off both now and later on this season.


4) Randy McMichael -- TE -- Rams -- Kyle Boller will get the start in week 4 against the 49ers and that is great news for the entire Rams offense. Unfortunately, the 49ers defense is performing very well of late but Boller at least give the Rams a chance at moving the ball and scoring consistently. He is especially good for McMichael who is a quality TE but suffers from Marc Bulger's inability to throw to the middle of the field. Bulger just doesn't throw to TE's. Boller will rely heavily on McMichael this Sunday since the 49ers corners are playing so well. You can expect about 5+ catches, 75+ yards and possibly a score for McMichael in just about every game that Kyle Boller starts for the Rams.


ALL SEASON HELP


5) Chad Henne -- QB -- Dolphins -- Henne has got a big arm and will certainly be able to move the push the ball down the field better than the limp armed Chad Pennington. I see more of a payoff for Ted Ginn and Davone Bess actually, but Henne may be worth taking a shot on in deeper leagues. His physical skills are there. All he needs is to learn how NFL defenses work and how they will scheme against him and then make his adjustments. The test for Henne will be whether or not he is smart enough to become and hold a starting QB job at this level.


6) Kelly Washington -- WR -- Ravens -- I love what the Ravens are doing on offense. They appear to be a juggernaut with the perfect blend of high octane passing game of Al Saunders to go with a power running game lead by 3 multi-dimensional RB's. Washington is right in the middle of it all as he is a regular target of Joe Flacco and someone who will continue to produce solid numbers week in and week out. He missed practice on Wednesday with a tweaked groin but the team says it is nothing to worry about. Washington has a nice blend of size and speed that make him a tough one on one matchup for any cornerback. As long as Washington continues to catch the football he will receive more and more targets and continue to produce very solid WR2 type of numbers.


KEEP YOUR EYE ON


7) Jamaal Charles -- RB -- Chiefs -- The Chiefs schedule eventually gets better and so too should their offense. Charles is by far the most talented RB on the roster and has made an impact already in catching passes out of the backfield. The biggest issue Charles faces is holding onto the football something that could derail his career altogether at some point. But his speed is electrifying and his playmaking ability is desperately needed in the Chiefs backfield right now. He'll get his chance very soon and if he holds onto the ball, Charles could be in for a huge second half of this season.


8) Ruvell Martin -- WR -- Rams -- I have to admit that I used to LOVE NFL Europe. I though it was a fantastic breeding ground of young talent and it proved so by producing players like Kurt Warner, Jon Kitna, Shaun Hill, Jamal Robertson and Maurice Hicks among others. Martin was dominant in Europe and came back to the U.S. with renewed confidence at caught on with the Green Bay Packers where he's been for several years. Martin has decent speed and great size (6'4" 215 lbs) to go along with great hands. This is the perfect situation for him to come in and step up becoming the Rams go to WR. I expect that Martin eventually become the Rams starter opposite Donnie Avery and become a possession WR and frequent red zone target.




That is the Hot 8 for this week. What do you guys think?
Post your comments below or email me at thefantasyscout@gmail.com

Monday, September 28, 2009

Quick QB Repair

Week 3 in the NFL brought several changes to starting QB's around the league. Some were performance related and others due to injury. With the bye weeks coming up it is time to make sure you have coverage for when your every week starter is off and your backup has a bad matchup. Here are my evaluations on the new starting QB's next week.


Tampa Bay -- Byron Leftwich --> Josh Johnson

Despite failing to hold the starting job in Jacksonville and now losing it in Tampa Bay, Leftwich is actually a pretty decent passer. His biggest problem is his lack of mobility, something that haunted him as far back as the college level. He also becomes lazy with his throws, not finishing them off and thus allowing defenders to catch up to them and make plays on them.

Josh Johnson will give himself a better chance to avoid the pass rush by using his exceptional mobility. This should take some of the pressure off a under performing offensive line for the Bucs and also give their slow-footed WR's a bit more time to get open. Johnson is nowhere near as accurate as Leftwich, but he will be able to make plays with his feet as well as his arm and that is something the Bucs offense desperately needs.

With Antonio Bryant now back and Kevin Winslow playing well, Johnson should be able to post some average passing numbers and provide some extra fantasy points with his rushing yards and possibly a couple rushing TD's as well. There is an obvious tradeoff here but it was a move that had to be made in order for this offense to have any chance to succeeding.



Miami -- Chad Pennington --> Chad Henne


I have never been a fan of Chad Pennington's lollipop throws or below adequate arm strength. He is a very competitive player however and made up for his diminished skill set with grit and determination. But, that hasn't nor will it ever translate into fantasy success. You cannot score points in fantasy football with good vibes.

Enter Chad Henne, a big, strong kid with a big time arm who was being groomed for the starting QB role in 2010 anyways. Henne has the tools to be a good NFL QB, but he isn't the sharpest tool in the shed. He performs drills and makes throws like a star, but has trouble identifying and reading defensive packages which can be big trouble for a young QB. Head coach Tony Sparano and team president Bill Parcells both believe that Henne has what it takes to learn how to read a defense and check out of plays at the line of scrimmage. That will remain to be seen.

The immediate impact for the Dolphins is that they will be able to go down field more often and with more authority now behind Chad Henne. I look for either Ted Ginn or Davone Bess to develop into a downfielt now and become a somewhat usable fantasy option.



Cleveland -- Brady Quinn --> Derek Anderson


Brady Quinn's development has taken a major hit since being drafted by the Browns. The team has not brought in any veteran players or specialty coaches to mentor Quinn as most teams with young franchise QB's do. The constant battle between Quinn and Derek Anderson has fractured the locker room, coaching staff and front office of the Browns completely. Eric Mangini is a lousy developer of talent and Quinn doesn't stand a chance as long as the two are together.

Derek Anderson had great success working with former offensive coordinator Rob Chudzinski and appeared on his way to being a star QB in the NFL but took a giant leap backward last season. Anderson is a streaky player who can make certain throws such as timing and crossing routes as good as anybody but then lacks accuracy on the more simple sideline routes. He is an enigma who is fully capable of racking up great fantasy numbers or fully imploding this season.

The Browns have a good offensive line and some playmakers such as Braylon Edwards, Josh Cribbs, James Davis and Jerome Harrison. If they can get some considtent QB play this could actually be an above average offense but so far that hasn't been seen this year. Eric Mangini is the most over rated head coach of all time and is not equipped to coach younger players.



St. Louis -- Marc Bulger --> Kyle Boller


This is one I called from the get go after watching the Rams QB drills in training camp with my own eyes this summer. The difference in skills between Bulger and Boller is staggering. Kyle Boller is a prototype NFL QB. He can make all the throws, has the instincts, the moxy and intelligence to be a starting QB in this league. Marc Bulger was a perfect timing route system QB because of his quick release and ability to lead a receiver. While that worked in the Mike Martz system, Bulger has failed and actually looked quite awful in trying to play in either Scott Linehan or Steve Spagnuolo's offensive scheme.

Bulger has what is being called a bruised rotator cuff and will likely miss at least 1-2 games. That will be all the time that players, coaches, fans and anybody else interested in the St. Louis Rams need to realize that Kyle Boller gives the team the best chance to win. Bulger makes a ton of money but will not be back with the Rams next season.

While I like Kyle Boller a great deal, he is left with nothing but scraps to work with here in St. Louis. Chances are he will find his own WR or TE who he is comfortable with. Randy McMichael is a sure bet to get increased looks with Boller at the helm. Losing Laurent Robinson for the season is a big loss. Donnie Avery is a solid downfield threat but they need to find somebody that will get open consistently and who can make plays especially in the red zone. Keenan Burton will get the first look but I believe Ruvel Martin is the guy to now own in St. Louis. Keep an eye on him and his progress with Boller of the next couple of weeks.





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Sunday, September 27, 2009

Sunday Roundup

INJURIES

Marc Bulger -- QB -- Rams -- Right Shoulder
Frank Gore -- RB -- 49ers -- High Ankle Sprain
Kevin Smith -- RB -- Lions -- Shoulder
Laurent Robinson -- WR -- Rams -- Ankle/Lower Leg
Chad Pennington -- QB -- Dolphins -- Right Shoulder
Laurence Maroney -- RB -- Patriots -- Thigh/Quad
Peyton Hillis -- RB -- Broncos -- Head



BREAKOUTS

Kyle Boller -- QB -- Rams -- 16-31 164 Yards 2 TD's
Pierre Thomas -- RB -- Saints -- 14-126 Yards 2 TD's
Kevin Walter -- WR -- Texans -- 7-96 Yards 1 TD
Santana Moss -- WR -- Redskins -- 10-178 Yards 1 TD
Jason Campbell -- QB -- Redskins -- 27-41 340 Yards 2 TD's
Vernon Davis -- TE -- 49ers -- 7-96 Yards 2 TD's



DISAPPOINTMENTS

Drew Brees -- QB -- Saints -- 16-29 172 Yards 0 TD's
Eddie Royal -- WR -- Broncos -- 1-4 Yards
Thomas Jones -- RB -- Jets -- 14-20 Yards
James Davis -- RB -- Browns -- 5-10 Yards
Derrick Ward -- RB -- 5-2 Yards
Byron Leftwich -- 7-16 22 Yards
Terrell Owens -- 0 Catches



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Saturday, September 26, 2009

Week 3 Starts & Sits

These aren't your ordinary fantasy picks right here folks. These are deep cuts, players other fantasy websites don't bother talking about but who can win you games when played correctly.


START


QB - David Garrard -- Jaguars -- Garrard started finding his groove late in week 2 and finally looked the part of an NFL QB. He found a real connection with Mike Sims-Walker down the stretch and that has continued into this week in practice I am told. The Jags will be throwing to score tomorrow and I am predicting Garrard throws at least 1 TD and runs for at least 1 more.


RB - LaDell Betts -- Redskins -- Clinton Portis is banged up but is looking like he will give it a go on a sore ankle. The Redskins are going to keep the ball on the ground all day Sunday and we're gonna see Betts get nearly as many carries and touches as Portis with the benefit of a short yardage TD against the lowly Lions.

WR - Lee Evans -- Bills -- Just when everybody is about to give up on him, Evans will score a long TD this week in a game that looks like it will be pretty high scoring. So many fantasy owners have been taking Evans in and out of their lineup this week that they are going to kick themselves when the results come in.


SIT

QB - Mark Sanchez -- Jets -- Nobody should be starting him anyways but that hasn't stopped nearly 40% of leagues from doing so anyways. Sanchez has managed the games well to be sure, but he lacks several components when it comes right down to it to be a starting fantasy QB's.

RB - Chris Johnson -- Titans -- It will be difficult for anybody to not start Johnson after a sensational game in week 2. But he is facing a tough Jets defense who is tough up the middle and has the speed to tackle sideline to sideline. I see Johnson falling back down to earth this week and letting so many fantasy owners down.

WR - Kelly Washington -- Ravens -- Washington is finally getting some real playing time and looks in his direction in recent weeks. Washington seems like he has won Joe Flacco's trust and may have a real good week this week. The Cleveland secondary is not very deep and can be exposed especially by great offensive minds like Al Saunders and Cam Cameron.




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Sunday's At Fantasy Football Search

PREGAME


As always, I recommend everybody tune in tomorrow morning for the Sunday Kickoff Edition of Fantasy Football Tonight. Ted "Hawkeye" Schuster and I will be breaking down each and every game complete with last minutes news, notes, reports from the sidelines, in-actives, weather conditions, who to start/sit and much, much more. We'll be LIVE starting at 11:30 AM EST (10:30 AM CDT) and going all the way until kickoff. Give us a call during the show at 347-215-9913 or email us at thefantasyscout@gmail.com and ask your questions or give us your take on what you expect to happen this week. Please go to an NFL Betting site to get the latest point spreads on each game.

DURING THE GAME

When the games come on hop on over to our Game Time Fantasy Chat right here on Fantasy Football Search. All of our fantasy writers will be chatting LIVE all afternoon while we watch the games and give you our take on what is going on as it happens. No matter what teams or players you want information on, with our Game Time Fantasy Chat you will never be considered out of market.


AFTER THE GAME


Join me right back here as I deliver my Sunday Roundup where I will go over everything that impressed me, depressed me, injuries, great performances, lost opportunities and everything else that I saw while watching the games. This is where you'll get a head start on next week by finding out which free agents are sure to be hot, what players will be gaining time next week and which ones will be losing time. If you miss any of the games on Sunday, this is where you should come to catch up on everything.



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Friday, September 25, 2009

Friday Injury Report

Friday Injury Report

Only fantasy relevant players listed. Status is that which is listed on the NFL's official injury report. Fantasy Football Search's notes are in parenthesis () next to the injury description.

OUT

Matt Hasselbeck -- Seahawks -- Broken Rib
Jamal Lewis -- Browns -- Hamstring
LaDanian Tomlinson -- Chargers -- Ankle
Donovan McNabb -- Eagles -- Broken Rib
Kevin Curtis -- Eagles -- Knee
Mike Bell -- Saints -- MCL Sprain
Lance Moore -- Saints -- Hamstring
Maurice Stovall -- Buccaneers -- Knee
Brandon Jackson -- Packers -- Ankle



QUESTIONABLE

Jerious Norwood -- Falcons -- Concussion (Very Doubtful)
Steve Breaston -- Cardinals -- Knee
Knowshon Moreno -- Broncos -- Groin
Wes Welker -- Patriots -- Knee Sprain
Randy Moss -- Patriots -- Back (Likely To Play)
Rob Bironas -- Titans -- Right Foot Sprain
Dwayne Bowe -- Chiefs -- Hamstring
Percy Harvin -- Vikings -- Severe Migranes
Clinton Portis -- Redskins -- Ankle Spurs
Phil Dawson -- Browns -- Calf
Brian Westbrook -- Eagles -- Swollen Ankle
DeSean Jackson -- Eagles -- Groin
Marion Barber -- Cowboys -- Quadriceps (Doubtful)
Antonio Bryant -- Buccaneers -- Fluid In Knee
Cadillac Williams -- Buccaneers -- Knee
Domenik Hixon -- Giants -- Knee


PROBABLE

Kevin Walter -- Texans -- Hamstring (Will Be Limited)
T.J. Houshmandzadeh -- Seahawks -- Back
Jason Campbell -- Redskins -- Foot
Frank Gore -- 49ers -- Ankle
Adrian Peterson -- Vikings -- Back
Cedric Benson -- Bengals -- Ankle
Chris Henry -- Bengals -- Thigh
Pierre Thomas -- Saints -- MCL Sprain
Mario Manningham -- Giants -- Shoulder
Anquan Boldin -- Cardinals -- Hamstring



Need any help with waiver pickups or lineup selection now that you know your players status for the week? Email me at thefantasyscout@gmail.com with any questions or concerns you may have.

Wednesday, September 23, 2009

The Hot 8 Expands: 16 Waiver Pickups For This Week And Beyond

That's right everybody, your favorite free agent advice column (hopefully!) was too packed with possibilities that I have doubled it in size just for this week! That means there are 16 players who are on the waiver wire in most fantasy leagues right now who I have on my radar as possible fantasy producers in the coming weeks. I even broke it down to the timeframe in which each player is likely to make an impact for you.


Please take a look at the full article and save it to your favorites if you like what you read. Every Wednesday during the season I will be providing at least 8 players who deserve roster consideration right now. All you have to do is sign up for a FREE Fantasy Football Search Season Pass to get The Hot 8 and many, many other great insider articles each and everyday all season long. Once you are a member, visit The Hot 8 page to read the full article.


In the meantime, here is a sampling of some of the 16 players I have in The Hot 8 this week. Please feel free to comment on each player if you like or don't like and recommend others that I may have missed.


THE HOT 8 SAMPLER


Johnny Knox -- WR -- Bears -- The speedy WR has gotten everybody's attention after two very productive games and establishing himself as one of Jay Cutler's favorite targets. Knox has very good top end speed to get behind a defense and with Cutler's big arm he can certainly do some damage. Don't let the small school or his late draft status fool you. Knox is a better WR already than Devin Hester, Rashied Davis or Earl Bennett. This is a WR that has breakout written all over him.



Kelly Washington -- WR -- Ravens -- Washington has bounced around the NFL for years, always displaying great speed but also sloppy route running and inconsistent hands. He had been tagged as a return man and hasn't had much of a chance being a receiver in awhile. But, he is one of those guys who is now in the perfect system for his skills and is desperately needed due to the lack of WR talent currently on the Ravens roster. Washington is a veteran who has the confidence of the coaching staff and his QB Joe Flacco. With passing game coordinator Al Saunder and offensive coordinator Cam Cameron drawing up plays, the Ravens are able to acutely run plays that are suitable for the talent they put on the field. Washington could explode and be an every week fantasy starter for an offense that everybody will want to have a part of by midseason.



Chris Brown -- RB -- Texans -- It is crazy how fast Steve Slaton is falling out of favor in Houston. Head coach Gary Kubiak has come out publicly twice now and thrown shots at Slaton. The latest outburst comes from Slaton's fumbling that began in training camp and continued into the season. Slaton has had issues with fumbling in the past and I doubt making public comments about it is going to help the young RB's confidence. Chris Brown is not a great RB by any stretch, but he is already the choice to carry the ball inside the 10 yard line and thus will hawk a fair share of TD's from Slaton anyways. But he could wind up stealing more carries or even the starting job unless Slaton starts playing better and fast.



Kyle Boller -- QB -- Rams -- Marc Bulger is done. It has always been my opinion that Bulger was a system QB whose quick release and timing accuracy was a perfect fit for Mike Martz system. He would be a perfect backup in Baltimore right now as a matter of fact. But for the Rams and for this season, Kyle Boller is a much better fit and could actually produce some solid numbers for an offense desperately in need of good decision making. Boller is good enough to be a starting QB in this league, do not be fooled by what happened to him in Baltimore. That was a mutiny by jealous players who did not think highly of Boller's high draft pick status and take charge attitude when he came to town. The Rams need a leader and someone who can deliver a pass on target and is not afraid to take a shot in the process. Boller will finish the season as the Rams starting QB.




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Tuesday, September 22, 2009

News & Notes 9/22

KUBIAK MAD AT SLATON


Houston head coach Gary Kubiak said publicly that he is upset with Steve Slation's fumbles so far this season and says the young RB can, "definitely run better." Slaton has fumbled three times in just 26 carries this season and is already losing time around the goal line to backup Chris Brown. Brown is a must own fantasy RB right now as Slaton is starting to lose favor already in Houston and will continue to do so until he plays better.


QB CHANGE IN KANSAS CITY?


Matt Cassel got alot of money to become the starting franchise QB in Kansas City but it seems the one year wonder is already losing favor from both coaches and teammates. Brodie Croyle's strong performance in week #1 and Tyler Thigpen's sensational end to the 2008 season has everybody in Kansas City thinking they can do without Tom Brady's former backup. Cassel played pretty poorly on Sunday against the Raiders but get the benefit of the doubt because he is still shaking off rust from a knee injury and the Chiefs offensive line was also awful.


THE HOT 8


Tomorrow night I will be posting The Hot 8, my weekly waiver wire article right here on Fantasy Football Search. This week there are so many good players on my radar that I may have to expand the list to 10 or even 12. The one thing I notice about the players that are mostly on the waiver wire is that there are a ton of WR's. I could do an entire article just on which receivers to pick up this week.

Last week I told you to go out and pickup Pierre Garcon and/or Laurent Robinson. If you did so then I am sure you are happy with me and anxious to read the next edition of The Hot 8. But if you ignored my advice last week don't stand pat for too long. There are good players still available in most leagues and it is crucial to make the necessary moves at this point in the season.


BILLS LOST TWO TE'S


The Buffalo Bills got bad news today concerning their top 2 TE's. Derek Schouman has been placed on injured reserve with a knee injury and Derek Fine will most likely miss time due to a hamstring injury. That leaves just rookie Shawn Nelson by himself atop the depth chart. Nelson is not worthy of a fantasy roster spot just yet but keep an eye on him anyway.


ALSO OUT THIS WEEK

Matt Hasselbeck -- Broken Rib
Marion Barber -- Quad Injury
Troy Williamson -- Torn Labrum
Mike Bell -- MCL Sprain



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Monday, September 21, 2009

Breaking News Email Alerts From Fantasy Football Search

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Fantasy Football Search is proud to offer our Breaking News & Injury Email Updates for FREE this season.


You will be the first to know whenever important fantasy news breaks. Injuries, suspensions, depth chart changes, extreme weather alerts, cuts, breakout performances, podcast announcements and everything else you need to know this season will be delivered straight into your inbox instantly.


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Monday Roundup

The injury to Seahawks QB Matt Hasselbeck has turned out to be a fractured rib. There is conflicting reports on whether or not Hasselbeck will be able to go against the Bears in week 3. The fact of the matter is that Hasselbeck was hospitalized with the broken rib and this type of injury is very painful. Hasselbeck has not been one to play while in much pain and therefore it is doubtful that he goes this week against Chicago. Even if by some miraculous recovery he does suit up this week, he will be one hit away from taking another half a game off and therefore screwing fantasy owners who may depend on him.


Jaguars WR and preseason phenom Troy Williamson is likely out for the season with a torn labrum in his shoulder. Williamson suffered the injury in Sunday's game against the Cardinals and gave way to Mike Sims-Walker who stepped up big for the Jags. Drop Williamson and take a shot on Sims-Walker for the rest of the year.


And speaking of the Jags WR situation, there might be a chance that former Jacksonville WR Reggie Williams makes a return somewhere in the NFL after being reinstated today after serving a two game suspension. He would make perfect sense in Jacksonville but a lot of healing would have to be done before that deal is struck.


Mike Bell has been diagnosed with a sprained MCL. Again, there are conflicting reports on the severity of this sprain and the recovery can vary dramatically. We'll have to wait until Friday for any sort of clarification on Bell's status but it is likely that he won't suit up in week 3. Pierre Thomas figures to finally be healthy and a central piece of the Saints offense this week.


The Saints are also watching the progress of Lance Moore who left week 2 after aggravating his hamstring. Moore has been slow to get going since having offseason shoulder surgery. He's been dealing with the same hamstring injury for several weeks so this is cause for concern. Let's cool it on Moore until he proves that he can not only stay on the field but become a part of the high octane Saints offense once again.


Chaz Schilens will not be back for the Raiders in week 3. He is making progress but the team is going slowly with him after getting quality performances from Louis Murphy and Zach Miller. Look for Schilens to be a game time decision for week 4.


The Cowboys are saying that RB Marion Barber is day-to-day with the quad injury that cut short a sure touchdown run late in Sunday's game against the Giants. My sources however, tell me that Barber is scheduled to have a battery of tests on on Tuesday to see the full extent of the injury. The Cowboys are far more fearful about Barber's injury then they are letting on.


Brian Westbrook now has swelling on his surgically repaired right ankle. This in addition to his degenerative knee and makes for a sure fire loss of playing time for the #1 RB. If you own Westbrook, you absolutely must acquire LeSean McCoy as he is becoming more and more valuable with every swollen part of Westbrook.


DeSean Jackson is day to day with a groin injury. Speaking of speedy Eagles WR's...what the heck has happened to Jeremy Maclin?




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Thursday, September 17, 2009

The Problem With Darren Sproles

Just some words of caution to all of you out there who are salivating over the apparent death of LaDanian Tomlinson. Darren Sproles is 5'6" and 170 lbs. He is fast, got great change of direction and breakaway speed and can catch the ball like a wide receiver. But he will never, ever be a full time feature NFL RB.

His body just cannot handle a constant pounding that would be distributed with 20+ carries and several catches each and every game. It doesn't matter how tough mentally or physically he might be, it is just nature that that body type doesn't hold up under such stress. This is why you see little known college players and junior college players enter the NFL and get drafted higher than Heisman Trophy candidates. An NFL RB must have the body type to be able to handle a weekly beating and keep on ticking.

Sproles will always be the San Diego third down and chage of pace RB. No matter if LT is healthy, injured, 30 years old or retired. If LT can't go this week, you will see Michael Bennett get at least half if not more of the carries than Sproles gets. That is not to say Sproles will be worthless in fantasy if LT doesn't play. But I have spoken with and heard from many of you who believe Sproles will step in and be the next LaDanian Tomlinson and that is where I just have to cut it off.

LT is a little guy himself. But he is still 3-4 inches taller and 30 lbs heavier then Sproles and even LT's body gets beaten down after a few real good hits like he sustained Monday night. So keep your expectations in check as far as Sproles is concerned. Now would be a fantastic time to trade him in fact. There is surely somebody in your league who will buy into the hype that is this mini RB and swap you a pretty decent WR or TE for him.



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Colts To Sign Hank Baskett

Fantasy Football Search sources have indicated that the Indianapolis Colts intend to sign former Eagles WR Hank Baskett today.

Anthony Gonzalez will be out a minimum of six weeks which will give Pierre Garcon plenty of opportunities to post some real good weeks coming up. Baskett could also make a low impact once he learns the Colts offense and Peyton Manning's complicated hand audible signals.

Wednesday, September 16, 2009

Waiver Pickups & New Injuries

Every week during the season I will be posting The Hot 8 which contains my top 8 waiver wire pickups. These are not your obvious, Donovan McNabb got hurt so go and pickup Kevin Kolb, Jeff Garcia or Michael Vick. No, sir. I'll uncover and explain in detail which players are on the cusp of breaking out in a big way. These are the pickups that win championships and you'll get them well before anybody else in your league even knows about them.

Of course, The Hot 8 is just for those who purchased our Season Pass ($10) which includes our game time fantasy blogs, weekly start 'em and sit 'em, pass target report, early morning in-active report, detailed weather report, goal line touch counts, strength of schedules, weekly statistical projections and so much more. Here is a sample of the kind of in depth information and analysis that is contained inside The Hot 8:


Pierre Garcon -- WR -- Colts -- With Anthony Gonzalez being out for a minimum of 6 weeks, it will be Garcon who steps into the #2 WR role for the Colts. Austin Collie is best suited for the slot and thus that is where he will stay. Garcon actually allows Peyton Manning some more flexibility in ball placement as he's a bigger and stronger WR than Gonzalez. This will give the team more red zone options as well. Garcon is experienced in the system and Manning is comfortable with him. He is the must have player right now in just about every fantasy football league.


Jared Cook -- TE -- Titans -- Cook is an exceptional athlete. He has great size, speed and can catch anything thrown his way. After dealing with a sprained ankle the past few weeks, Cook will be back this week to fill in for Bo Scaife. With a strong performance this week, Cook could solidify his status as the Titans starting TE of both now and the future. His presence give the Titans another legitimate downfield option next to Justin Gage and Kenny Britt. This offense is now chalk full of playmakers at nearly every position. It is very possible that Cook winds up among the top 3 or 4 TE's in the NFL this season. He is that good.


Laurent Robinson -- WR -- Rams -- Robinson is the Rams best receiver. For whatever that is worth, don't underestimate what he could bring to your team. He will be an every week producer especially in PPR leagues. I think that once Kyle Boller takes over for Marc Bulger, the entire St. Louis offense will improve. Robinson is still available in nearly 75% of fantasy leagues but should be owned ahead of many bigger name players such as Chris Chambers, Santana Moss and Ted Ginn.


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NEW INJURIES REPORTED TODAY


It was told today that Kurt Warner suffered a stinger in his neck/shoulder on Sunday which severely limited him from airing the ball out downfield. This explains all of the catches by Tim Hightower on dump offs even while the Cardinals were playing from behind. He is supposed to be fine, but it is really just a matter of time before he crumbles and Matt Leinart is inserted to the lead role.


Desean Jackson tweaked his groin and not in a good way during the Eagles blowout win over the Panthers on Sunday. Jackson did not practice today but is aiming to be a limited participant on Thursday and be a full go by Friday.


Limas Sweed injured his foot during practice drills this morning and had to be helped off of the field by teammates and trainers. I have yet to receive any news on X-rays or an MRI that was performed this afternoon on Sweed but should know more by tomorrow. If Sweed misses any time it would really jeopardize his chances at ever climbing to the #3 WR role in Pittsburgh.



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Tuesday, September 15, 2009

Quick Hits 9/15

Just a couple random things before I call it a night. If you want all of latest news, notes and updates in long form listen a replay of Fantasy Football Tonight -- The Tuesday Show where Ryan Hallam and myself. Subscribe to the feed or download us on iTunes and hear our shows 5 days a week.


  • The Giants claimed RB Gartrell Johnson off of waivers from San Diego today. The Giants are getting themselves a pretty decent player to pad their depth while the Chargers really screwed up with this move. They had wanted to sneak Johnson onto their practice squad, but a good young RB is hard for teams to pass up especially at this early point in the season.
  • Speaking of San Diego, LaDanian Tomlinson sprained his ankle in last night's win over the Raiders and is very questionable to play against the Ravens this week. If he can't go, Darren Sproles and Michael Bennett will fill in LT's shoes.
  • The Eagles placed RT Shawn Andrews on injured reserve, ending his season before it began. Andrews has been suffering from back issues all summer long. However, Andrews has some major personal demons that he needs to exercise before he can come back to playing football and being depended on again.
  • The Eagles also released WR Hank Baskett, better known as the guy who stole Kendra away from that old walking STD Hugh Hefner.
  • The Eagles also went ahead and declined an option in Brian Westbrook's contract that would have kept Westbrook in Philly through 2013. This was an obvious decision but the timing of it all is alarming. We all know that Westbrook has a degenerative knee and that he can only stand so much of a pounding these days. I would almost expect LeSean McCoy to be a primary RB in Philadelphia next season.
  • Patriots LB Jerod Mayo has been diagnosed with a sprained MCL in his right knee and could miss more than half the season. It is a grade III sprain and thus it will take quite awhile for him to get back onto the field.



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Monday, September 14, 2009

News & Notes 9/14

GONE, BABY GONE

Word out of Indianapolis is that WR Anthony Gonzalez will miss much if not all of the season. The Colts are suddenly shy about disclosing information this year but the team is meeting with several medical people after receiving disappointing MRI results of Gonzalez's knee. I will update this story when more details become available.


The Bears officially placed MLB Brian Urlacher on injured reserve, ending his 2009 season after one game. This is a big hit to the Bears defense as Urlacher was a force in creating turnovers and always among the league leaders in tackles. Hunter Hillenmeyer takes over the MLB spot and warrants minimal fantasy consideration.


Panthers backup QB Josh McCown has also been placed on IR with knee and ankle injuries. His contract expires after this season so he is officially done with the Panthers and possibly in the NFL.


Jaguars DE Reggie Heyward will miss the season as well after suffering a destruction of his left shin. The bone is shattered so badly that this may end Heywards career altogether. The Jags may wind up moving DT John Henderson over at times especially in running situations.


The Bengals must be satisfied with Cedric Benson and Bernard Scott as the team released third string RB DeDe Dorsey today. Doresy is a decent RB who can catch the ball well out of the backfield. He will get a look somewhere else this season but won't get much if any playing time anywhere else.


Fourth round draft pick RB Gartrell Johnson was released by the Chargers today, just hours before their first game of the season. The team hopes to land Johnson on their practice squad instead of using up a roster spot for him.



SIGNED, SEALED & DELIVERED

QB A.J. Feeley had his pick of going back to Philadelphia and be either Kevin Kolb or Michael Vick's backup for a few weeks or going to Carolina and be the backup and eventually challenge the struggling Jake Delhomme. Feeley chose wisely and signed with the Panthers today. It will take him a few weeks to learn the offense, but he honestly could be the starting QB in Carolina once he does.


The Eagles then decided to bring back Jeff Garcia as insurance in case Kevin Kolb has to start more than one week. There is speculation that Garcia could step in and start instead of Kolb this week, but that will remain to be seen. It is interesting that A.J. Feeley got the better of the two jobs and not Garcia.


Former Vikings WR Bobby Wade was signed by the Chiefs today. Why? No idea really other than the Chiefs are desperate for players on the offensive side of the ball and are confusing activity with accomplishment here.



INJURY UPDATES

Pierre Thomas says he plans on playing in week 2 and will practice by the end of the week.


Steve Breaston aggravated his PCL sprain during pregame warmups yesterday and was thus ruled in-active at the last possible minute. Breaston is still hurting today I am hearing and his status for week 2 is up in the air at this time.


Despite the Lisfranc scares last night and this morning it appears Giants rookie WR Hakeem Nicks got off easy with only a sprain of a ligament on the top of his foot. The timetable for his return is 2-3 weeks but could easily be a bit longer considering the nature of this injury.



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Bills at Patriots In-Actives

The following players have been ruled IN-ACTIVE for tonight's game:



BILLS

TE Derek Fine
LB Ashlee Palmer
DL Chris Ellis
CB Drayton Florence
CB Ellis Lankster
QB Gibran Hamdan
OT Kirk Chambers
WR Steve Johnson


Note: No surprises here. There won't be many surprises in Buffalo as long as Dick Jaruon is running the show.

PATRIOTS

WR Julian Edelman
G Dan Connolly
RB BenJarvus Green-Ellis
OL Rich Ohrnberger
DL Myron Pryor
OG Kendall Simmons
S Matthew Slater
CB Terrance Wheatley


Note: I guess Green-Ellis isn't a threat for carries despite his effort in the final preseason game.

Sunday, September 13, 2009

Sunday Night Roundup

So much has happened..so much has been learned since the early games got going today. We've seen major injuries, big surprises, disappointments and of course some fluky never seen before plays all of which is why Sunday football is so great. In case you missed anything, here are the highlights:


INJURIES

The day got off to a horrible start for the Indianapolis Colts as WR Anthony Gonzalez went down in a non-contact manner with a knee injury. Gonzalez needed to be carried off of the field and eventually took a cart to the locker room in what was a terrible scene. Late word on Gonzalez is he's only got a MCL sprain at this time, however it is a grade 2 sprain which is significant. A diagnosis of MCL sprain, especially a grade 2 can mean anything from 2 weeks to an entire season lost for the young receiver. We'll know more tomorrow but for now start scouring the waiver wire for free agent WR's if indeed you own Gonzalez.

The Philadelphia Eagles defense and special teams took a 7 point deficit and turned it into a laugher for the Eagles. Except nobody was laughing after QB Donovan McNabb got landed on while in the endzone after a short TD run late in the game. McNabb suffered a broken rib of all things and will miss at least 1 game that we know of until further tests are done. Kevin Kolb will lead the Eagles next week against the high octane New Orleans Saints. Michael Vick will not replace McNabb once he is officially reinstated so please don't waste a waiver move this week on that. Only if McNabb is out 4+ weeks will Vick have any chance at leading the Eagles and right now that seems unlikely.

In other QB news, Panthers backup QB Josh McCown will be out a long time after tearing up his knee after he replaced the ineffective Jake Delhomme this afternoon. This one looked real bad and it is very possible that McCown will not be back this season. Look for the Panthers to address this situation early next week.

Giants rookie WR Hakeem Nicks was carted off the field after suffering a injury to his foot. Nicks was in good spirits after the game but his leg was in a protective boot and he was using crutches to get around. I have spoken to a Giants representative who told me the team is fearing this injury may be a Lisfranc fracture which is to the top of the foot where Nicks has much swelling and pain right now. If it is Lisfranc, Nicks won't be back anytime soon and would probably miss the rest of the season. Stay tuned...

Andre Davis got the start for the Texans today after Kevin Walter was made in-active due to a hamstring injury he's been dealing with of late. Davis had a couple of drops early on in the game before suffering a concussion that knocked him out (literally!) for the remainder to today's game. He will be evaluated later in the week and will be questionable for next week.

Giants third string RB Danny Ware is likely out for the season after dislocating his elbow during a special teams play in the first quarter.

Tony Romo said after the game today that he injured his ankle before halftime of today's game against Tampa Bay. Maybe Tony just wants some sympathy cause he didn't look injured while he dismantled the Bucs defense in the second half. He will be fine.


GOOD

Adrian Peterson -- 25-180 Yards - 3 TD's Rushing
Drew Brees -- 26-34 358 Yards - 6 TD's Passing
Tony Romo -- 16-27 353 Yards - 3 TD's Passing
Thomas Jones -- 20-107 Yards - 2 TD's Rushing
Reggie Wayne -- 10-162 Yards - 1 TD Receiving
John Carlson -- 6-95 Yards - 2 TD's Receiving


BAD

Jake Delhomme -- 7-17 73 Yards - 4 Interceptions
Larry Johnson -- 11-20 Yards Rushing
David Garrard -- 14-28 122 Yards Passing
Ronnie Brown -- 10-43 Yards Rushing
Steve Slaton -- 9-17 Yards Rushing
Steve Smith -- 3-21 Yards Receiving


IMPRESSIVE

Jonathen Stewart was far more involved than I would have thought today after sitting out much of training camp with an achilles tendon injury. Stewart was the goal line back for the Panthers today, even though he failed on four attempts from within the 10 yard line. Still, it was nice to seem him out there so often running hard and looking like he will contribute good things all season long.

The Saints were thin at RB going into today's game but got a great performance out of third string RB Mike Bell. Much will be made of Drew Brees and the Saints passing game and rightfully so. But, it was Bell who kept the Lions defense off balance all afternoon by running hard on both inside and outside runs. With Pierre Thomas out and Reggie Bush dealing with a nagging knee, Bell may continue to see time for this very productive offense.

Cadillac Williams lived up to his name this afternoon. Coming off major knee surgeries the past two season, there was no way I thought that Cadillac would show such explosiveness and big play potential at any point this year. I am still highly skeptical for his chances the rest of the way, but for me this was the most surprising performance of week 1.


DISAPPOINTING

Matt Schaub didn't record 100 yards passing until the fourth quarter of today's loss to the Jets. Though I remain high on Schaub, the performance of the Texans offensive line today was flat out unacceptable and quite shocking. Schaub got comfortable later on as he finally found Andre Johnson a couple of times late but by that time the game was out of reach. Steve Slaton and the running game will have to improve too for Schaub to have the passing lanes and opportunities downfield that he needs.

The Bengals offense did not look nearly as bad as the stats or the final score would indicate. But the disappearance of Chris Henry was surprising to me today. Henry made a real nice catch on the first drive of the game but was silent the rest of the day. I strongly believe that Carson Palmer needs to find Henry more often downfield for the Bengals offense to put points on the board. Henry will be fine but this was definitely not a good start for the emerging star.


QUICK NOTES

Kyle Orton's final numbers were far better than he actually was today. In fact, Orton was downright awful all day long. The 87 yard touchdown was actually a terrible throw that was tipped up and just happened to fall into Brandon Stokley's waiting arms. He was horrible and is not startable next week whatsoever.

James Davis played but clearly wasn't cleared for a full complement of carries today. Jamal Lewis did pretty good but don't get off track here. This is still Davis' job eventually and Lewis is just keeping the seat warm.

Jay Cutler was bad, but his receivers were even worse. Cutler will produce fantasy numbers this year but if your league takes away for interceptions, he loses quite a bit of value.

Please don't read too much into Percy Harvin's TD this afternoon. Harvin is being used mostly in a gimmick type role right now and while that is all well and good, it just doesn't provide steady fantasy points. Harvin is a very good draft and follow player but is not an everyweek starter.

Earnest Graham only got 1 carry today. The Buccaneers will run even more in the coming weeks but I just don't see much value in Graham right now or anytime soon.

Look for Jeff Garcia to get some offers this week as contracts are no longer guaranteed for veterans like Garcia if not on a roster in week 1. I have heard that a few teams will be contacting Garcia as early as Monday morning in hopes of landing him as their backup QB. You can probably add the Panthers to that mix as well after Jake Delhomme's performance and the loss of backup Josh McCown to a knee injury.




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Donovan McNabb Breaks Rib

Comcast Sports Net in Philadelphia is reporting that Donovan McNabb has a broken rib suffered in today's game against the Panthers. McNabb was injured while scrambling to the endzone and getting landed on hard by a Carolina defender. His legs instantly kicked out in pain and he was down for all of a commercial break. It was obvious that he was in pain and that the injury was serious in nature.

Kevin Kolb will be the Eagles starter if McNabb cannot go next week. For all the Michael Vick people out there remember that he is out until week 3 on suspension and probably will need some time after that to get ready. By that time, McNabb may be back already so cool your jets on the Vick waiver claims this week.

Saturday, September 12, 2009

James Davis Taken To Hospital After Car Accident

Cleveland Browns rookie RB James Davis was involved in a one-car accident early Saturday morning while on his way to the teams practice facility. Davis suffered a head injury that now leaves his status for tomorrow's game against the Vikings up in the air. He was taken from the scene to a local hospital where he remained for several hours before being discharged just over an hour ago.

According to Tom Withers, a local writer for the AP the accident was a minor one and nobody else was involved. The injury to Davis' head is still unknown at this time though there is speculation that he was bandaged and possibly stitched during his visit to the ER.

If Davis can't go, Jamal Lewis will get a full load of carries against a potent Vikings run defense. Still, Lewis would become usable at that point as a low level #2 or #3 RB. James Harrison is also injured suffering from a hamstring injury and is questionable to play as well.

We'll have all the up to date information and status of Davis, Harrison and Lewis on the Sunday Morning edition of Fantasy Football Tonight beginning tomorrow morning at 11:30 AM EST.

Friday, September 11, 2009

Friday Night Injury Report

NFC

North
Chicago Bears
Devin Aromashodu -- WR -- Quad -- QUESTIONABLE
Detroit Lions
Drew Stanton -- QB -- Knee -- DOUBTFUL
Jason Hanson -- K -- Knee -- PROBABLE
Dennis Northcutt -- WR -- Hand -- PROBABLE
Green Bay Packers
Brandon Jackson -- RB -- Ankle -- DOUBTFUL
B.J. Raji -- DT -- Ankle -- QUESTIONABLE
Minnesota Vikings
Bernard Berrian -- WR -- Hamstring -- QUESTIONABLE

East

Dallas Cowboys
No significant injuries
New York Giants
Aaron Ross -- CB -- Hamstring -- OUT
Kevin Dockery -- CB -- Hamstring -- QUESTIONABLE
Philadelphia Eagles
Shawn Andrews -- OT -- Back -- OUT
Brian Westbrook -- RB -- Knee -- PROBABLE
Kevin Curtis -- WR -- Knee -- PROBABLE
Washington Redskins
Carlos Rogers -- CB -- Calf -- PROBABLE
Mike Williams -- OT -- Ankle -- PROBABLE
South

Atlanta Falcons
William Moore -- SS -- Hamstring -- OUT
John Abraham -- DE -- Knee -- PROBABLE
Jerious Norwood -- RB -- Knee -- PROBABLE
Carolina Panthers
Jonathen Stewart -- RB -- Knee -- PROBABLE
Chris Harris -- S -- Knee -- QUESTIONABLE
New Orleans Saints
Pierre Thomas -- RB -- Knee -- OUT
Jamaal Brown -- OT -- Hernia -- OUT
Jeremy Shockey -- TE -- Ankle -- PROBABLE
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Antonio Bryant -- WR -- Knee -- PROBABLE
Michael Clayton -- WR -- Hamstring -- PROBABLE

West

Arizona Cardinals
Anquan Boldin -- WR -- Hamstring -- QUESTIONABLE
Early Doucet -- WR -- Ribs -- QUESTIONABLE
Steve Breaston -- WR -- Knee -- PROBABLE
St.Louis Rams
Marc Bulger -- QB -- Finger -- PROBABLE
San Francisco 49'ers
Ahmad Brooks -- LB -- Knee -- OUT
Brandon Jones -- WR -- Shoulder -- OUT
Seattle Seahawks
Walter Jones -- OT -- Knee -- OUT
Chris Spencer -- C -- Quad -- OUT
Deion Branch -- WR -- Hamstring -- QUESTIONABLE

AFC

East

Buffalo Bills
Monday Night
Miami Dolphins
Vontae Davis -- CB -- Knee -- PROBABLE
New England Patriots
Monday Night
New York Jets
Kellen Clemens -- QB -- Arm -- PROBABLE
Shonn Greene -- RB -- Ribs -- PROBABLE
Dustin Keller -- TE -- Toe -- PROBABLE

North

Baltimore Ravens
L.J. Smith -- TE -- Hamstring -- DOUBTFUL
Cincinnati Bengals
Andre Smith -- OT -- Foot -- OUT
Chris Henry -- WR -- Thigh -- PROBABLE
Roy Williams -- S -- Thigh -- PROBABLE
Carson Palmer -- QB -- Ankle -- PROBABLE
Cleveland Browns
Rex Hadnot -- OG -- Knee -- OUT
Cedric Peerman -- RB -- Thigh -- DOUBTFUL
Jerome Harrison -- RB -- Knee -- QUESTIONABLE
Shaun Rogers -- DT -- Foot -- QUESTIONABLE
Steve Heiden -- TE -- Knee -- PROBABLE
Pittsburgh Steelers
Already Played.

South
Houston Texans
Eugene Wilson -- CB -- Knee -- OUT
Jacques Reeves -- CB -- Leg -- OUT
Kevin Walter -- WR -- Hamstring -- QUESTIONABLE
Matt Schaub -- QB -- Ankle -- PROBABLE
Indianapolis Colts
Bob Sanders -- S -- Knee -- OUT
Jacksonville Jaguars
Zach Miller -- TE -- Knee -- OUT
Tra Thomas -- OT -- Back -- PROBABLE
Tennessee Titans
Already Played.

West
Denver Broncos
Jabar Gaffney -- WR -- Finger -- QUESTIONABLE
Knowshon Moreno -- RB -- Knee -- QUESTIONABLE
Kyle Orton -- QB -- Finger -- QUESTIONABLE
Chris Simms -- QB -- Ankle -- QUESTIONABLE
Kansas City Chiefs
Matt Cassel -- QB -- Knee -- QUESTIONABLE
Terrance Copper -- WR -- Hamstring -- QUESTIONABLE
Oakland Raiders
Monday Night
San Diego Chargers
Monday Night

Thursday, September 10, 2009

News & Notes 9/10

STEELERS/TITANS RECAP

Troy Polamalu left the game just before halftime with what is now being called a sprained MCL in his left knee. Postgame comments by Mike Tomlin suggest the injury could be more serious even and the NFL Network is reporting that Polamalu is out 3-6 weeks.

Though we had to suffer through a very boring first half, tonight's season opener went down to the wire and eventually overtime before the Steelers prevailed 13-10.

Some fantasy notes worth mentioning about this game. Neither Willie Parker or Rashard Mendenhall contributed anything to the Steelers offense tonight. Mendenhall was nowhere to be found for most of the game. Parker vanished after a very slow start and gave way to MeWelde Moore as the game was on the line. Moore was an effective runner and pass catcher and will no doubt be a hot pickup probably before next week. I wouldn't promote that move quite yet, though it is very disappointing for owners of Parker or Mendenhall.

Rookie WR Kenny Britt looked good in his first NFL game catching 4-85 yards including a big 57 yard catch and run to set up the Titans lone TD of the game. Britt definitely helps out Kerry Collins and the Titans passing game. He gives them another big target who can make tough plays in coverage.

As good as Britt was, it is still obvious that Kerry Collins favorite target is Justin Gage. Gage collected 7-78 yards and a 14 yard TD reception tonight. He was the target in many of the Titans third down plays and whenever Collins needed a play, he went to Gage.



ADDED TO INJURY REPORT

Brian Westbrook was suspiciously added to the Eagles injury report this afternoon. Though everybody around the team claims there is nothing to worry about, it should be noted that Westbrook will most likely be on the injured list all season long. His knee is in bad shape and he'll eventually need to take a game or two off during the season and thus why LeSean McCoy is a valuable handcuff.

In Cincinnati, Chris Henry was held out of practice due to a upper thigh injury suffered in a morning workout. Henry was unavailable for comment and the team didn't discuss is status much other than to say he didn't practice. Henry is still probable at this point but that can be updated depending how he feels on Friday. Henry is a big time sleeper and a must start in my opinion this week depending how his thigh heals in the next few days.



RAMS WORKOUT A RB

There was a DeShaun Foster sighting at Rams camp today as the team continues to explore all options for improving their backup RB spot. The team is just not happy with Antonio Pittman, Kenneth Darby or current backup Samkon Gado. No contract was offered so Foster continues to be one of the better free agent RB's on the open market.




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Join Our Game Time Chat -- LIVE

Wanna chat with our gurus during tonight's game? Just click on this link and read what our experts have to say about the opening game of the 2009 season.

Don't forget every Sunday we will have at least one of our experts watching every game and chatting LIVE right here with you all day long. If you want to know what is going on in a game that is not in your market, join our chat and ask us anything!!


http://www.fantasyfootballsearch.com/draftkit/gametime_blogs.asp

Titans & Steelers Inactives

Just a reminder that we will be posting the inactives for every team before every game all season long. If you want to know if Nate Washington, Jared Cook or Lawrence Timmons are playing in tonight's game, all you have to do is login to your Fantasy Football Search Season Pass and find out immediately before anybody else.

Of course this is just a small part of what you get with your Fantasy Football Search Season Pass, but just think of how great it will be to know if your guys are playing or not EARLY on Sunday morning instead of having to wait to just before kickoff? You can set your lineup with ease and relax now before the games while your buddies scour the pregame shows and internet for the answers you already know.

Here is a sample of what you'll get before every NFL game this season:




Tennessee Titans:


TE - Jared Cook
RB - Chris Henry
CB - Ryan Mouton
WR -Lavelle Hawkins
DT - Sen'Derrick Marks
DE - Dave Ball
OL - Troy Kropog

NOTE: Nate Washington is playing and is expected to see regular time as Tennessee's slot WR.



Pittsburgh Steelers:


LB - Lawrence Timmons
QB - Dennis Dixon
WR - Shaun McDonald
OG - Kraig Urbik
OT - Tony Hillis
DE - Nick Eason
CB - Joe Burnett
CB - Keiwan Ratliff

Wednesday, September 09, 2009

2009 Busts

So much hype. Every year, there are players that are given an unsolicited free pass into the first round or two of fantasy drafts. It seems that so much emphasis is put on what players did last year that it causes certain players to be drafted way higher than they should be based on what their prognosis is for this season. After all, we are drafting for this years fantasy points, not last years or a careers worth, right? With all of this in mind, here is my bust list for 2009. Leave your comments below and tell me what you think.


Quarterbacks

Tom Brady -- Patriots -- I just do not understand the fascination with Brady? He set an NFL record for TD passes in 2007 with 50 but other than that he's been a slightly above average fantasy QB. I expect Brady to produce solid numbers, but for a QB to be taken in the first or second round he should be expected to throw for at least 4000+ yards and 30+ TD's. Factor in Brady's major knee reconstruction, losses along the offensive line and the loss of pass happy offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels and the picture gets even more cloudy for me. Tom Brady will throw for 3500+ yards and 25-30 TD's this season. Those numbers along with his injury risk does not make him worthy of a top pick. I rate him around 5 overall for QB's and wouldn't be surprised if 8-10 QB's have better seasons than Brady this year. So, while I believe his numbers will be that of a quality QB, his average draft positions for those numbers makes Tom Brady a bust in my book.


Brett Favre -- Vikings -- He is 40 years old and playing with a partially torn rotator cuff and coming off of biceps surgery. Sure, Favre is a first ballot hall of famer, but that will do little for your fantasy team this year. I am certain that Favre's consecutive game streak ends at some point this year and that Sage Rosenfels will outperform him in the games that he starts. If Favre is your backup fantasy QB, your are OK. But if you are counting on him to lead your squad to a championship, you are going to be really disappointed.



Running Backs

Chris Johnson -- Titans -- Don't get me wrong, I love Johnson's speed, lateral quickness and vision but I think he is in for a disappointing sophomore season. This is just a gut call on my part but one that has some reasoning behind it. The Titans offensive line is old and has been banged up all offseason long. Kevin Mawae is finally back but fresh off another surgery and without any practice time at all. I am not sure if the entire running game will falter for the Titans or whether LenDale White just has a breakout season, but the big leap that many are expecting for Chris Johnson isn't going to happen.


Clinton Portis -- Redskins -- Portis is absolutely hated by the Redskins coaching staff. There is so much animosity there that I doubt that we get 4 weeks into the season without a major blowup out of Portis. Then we have to acknowledge that he will be running behind the worst offensive line in the NFL or at least this side of Seattle. There won't be much running room, scoring opportunities or harmony in Washington this season and thus you should avoid Portis like the plague.



Wide Receivers

Terrell Owens -- Bills -- Owens was looking like a nice undervalued player up until Turk Schonert was fired from his offensive coordinator position with the Bills a week ago. Now, Dick Jauron will once again be involved in the offense and that can mean only one thing. The Bills are now a running team! After an entire offseason spent implementing a spread offensive no huddle system and acquiring the talent in which to run the system the team now decides to hand the reigns back to the most vanilla coach in the NFL. The Bills offense just took a major hit and went from being a sleeper system to one that you should avoid.


Antonio Bryant -- Buccaneers -- Anybody who thinks that Bryant will post similar numbers to what he did last season is either wearing rose colored glasses or just plain delusional. Bryant is a good WR, but he is the only weapon at all in Tampa Bay this year and will see a ton of double and triple teams this season. He is also coming back from knee surgery this summer and will be catching passes from Byron Leftwich this season. He will not come close to last years numbers and is another guy who could blow up at any minute and thus is a risk to anyone who drafts him.


Lance Moore -- Saints -- Everything Moore did in 2008 you can pretty much write into Robert Meachem's column for the 2009 season. Moore is an ideal slot receiver and that is exactly where he will play the majority of the time this season. He'll get some receptions, but won't come close to the 10 TD's that he had last season. With a healthy Reggie Bush, Marques Colston and Jeremy Shockey, the Saints will be able to use more options than they did last year when Moore produced his greatest season ever. It won't happen again so grab Meachem but stay away from Lance Moore.



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Tuesday, September 08, 2009

News & Notes 9/8

GAME TIME FANTASY CHATS

With the start of the new football season we are all set to unveil our latest invention, the Game Time Fantasy Chats. These are real-time chat boxes in which our staff will be blogging into during each and every NFL game this season. One of our staff members will be assigned a game each week to watch and blog about anything and everything that is relevant to fantasy football players everywhere. If you can't see all the games in your area, don't worry cause we got you covered. You'll get up to the minute scoring updates, injury news, weather conditions, scouting reports, pass target reports, red zone notifications and so much more.

Best of all is that all of our bloggers will be posting the information in one easy to read spot so that you will be updated on every game without having to jump from place to place or open multiple windows. All you need to know about every single NFL game from a fantasy insiders perspective will be right there for you. All you need is a membership to Fantasy Football Search in order to watch the games with the Gurus all season long.


EAGLES LAND SMITH

The Eagles finally made good on the highly speculated rumor about their interest in TE Alex Smith by signing him to a one year deal today. Smith was cut by New England last week and immediately steps into a good situation in Philadelphia. Smith is a huge target with nice soft hand. He can be a force inside the red zone and should be considered a decent backup fantasy TE with the Eagles.


STATUS CHECK

Matt Schaub is going to be able to start in the Texans opener against the Jets on Sunday. Schaub sprained his ankle in the teams third preseason game and has been taking it easy ever since.

Also for Houston, WR Kevin Walter is questionable as his recovery from a hamstring strain has been slower than expected. Walter has not practiced at all this week and will most likely be labeled questionable on the injury report this week. My sources say that Walter is likely to play, but will be limited in how many plays he is on the field for and therefore not a good fantasy play at all this week.

Detroit kicker Jason Hanson is back kicking field goals from 40+ and looking pretty good after having his knee scoped on August 18th. The Lions are optimistic that Hanson will be ready to go on Sunday but have Billy Cundiff hanging around just in case. Hanson will try kickoffs tomorrow to see how the leg recovers and the power he can generate with it at this point.

Kyle Orton practiced with a glove on his throwing hand today but has been declared 100% ready to go for the Broncos opener in Cincinnati this week.



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Monday, September 07, 2009

News & Notes 9/7

BULGER STILL HURTING

Rams QB Marc Bulger is still in a protective cast for his broken right pinky finger and hasn't taken snaps from center since the injury two weeks ago. Bulger did some simulated shotgun snaps today but won't even attempt until the cast comes off on Wednesday. This could be a real problem for Bulger and anybody who would dare count on him in fantasy which hopefully is no one. I think it would be best for the Rams to let Kyle Boller play against the Seahawks this Sunday. In my mind Boller is the better QB anyways, but trying to force Bulger to not only take direct snaps but to throw accurately with that finger is ridiculous. If Bulger does start, expect a heavy dose of Steven Jackson on Sunday.


PIERRE THOMAS NOT LOOKING GOOD

There is almost no chance that Pierre Thomas will play on Sunday against the Lions. He is still wearing a brace around the knee and is not even running at full speed yet. The Saints are being quiet about it because they can up until the injury reports are submitted on Thursday. He will be doubtful, so have an alternate plan ready this week and possibly next week as well. With MCL sprains, if the pain and mobility doesn't come back in a couple weeks, it is usually a higher grade sprain in which Thomas could miss up to 3 games of the regular season.


TIGHT END DERBY IN NEW YORK

Just when we thought TE Alex Smith was destined for Philadelphia, he has worked out for the Giants today as did former Cardinals TE Leonard Pope. The Giants are evidently not satisfied with their backup TE situation. Rookie Travis Beckum has had a poor training camp and it seems that the Giants may not want to throw him into the fire just yet.


A 'GHOST' SIGHTING

Browns RB Jerome Harrison was finally back at practice this afternoon sporting a heavy duty brace on his left knee. Still, he took handoffs and looked fairly nimble in doing so. We have been told for several weeks that Harrrison had hurt his ankle but that, like many coaches injury statements was hogwash. Harrison is listed at the backup RB to Jamal Lewis on the Browns official depth chart. But, the better fantasy player right now is rookie James Davis. Davis will likely be the feature RB in Cleveland before long. But, if and when Harrison is 100% again, head coach Eric Mangini will use him as a jack-of-all-trades type RB much like he used Leon Washington while with the Jets.


A BIT OF ADVICE

There is a lot of BS being spewed out there right now. Most of which is straight from the mouths of NFL head coaches. Listing Cadillac Williams as the RB1, not providing any details of Matt Cassel's knee injury or status, telling us Jerome Harrison injured his ankle despite wearing a big knee brace during practice. It should all be taken with a grain of salt. A week from now, teams and coaches are required by NFL rules to be forthcoming with information about depth charts and injuries and thus the jig will be up. When the official week 1 injury report comes out on Thursday, we'll finally know what the status of some of these starting QB's and RB's really are. As well as what the injuries are and what the outlook will be going forward. This is why it is important to only trust the information you get from sources such as the Training Camp Blog right here on Fantasy Football Search or somewhere else where the writers ACTUALLY SEE what is going on with the teams and not just carry on this charade.



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Saturday, September 05, 2009

FINAL CUTS -- UPDATED AROUND THE CLOCK

All weekend long we will be updating this space right here with the latest NFL transactions including players who are cut, placed on injured reserve, put on the PUP list, traded, suspended or signed by a new team.

PLEASE BOOKMARK THIS SPOT and keep hitting your REFRESH BUTTON as news breaks fast on cut down day and if you are in the middle of a draft, you will need this information fast.

Please note that we will only be listing FANTASY WORTHY players in this list.


Quarterbacks

Colt Brennan -- Placed on IR
Chase Daniel -- Cut by Redskins
Joey Harrinton -- Cut by Saints
John David Booty -- Cut by VikingsBrian Brohm -- Cut by Packers
Brian Brohm -- Cut by Packers
Luke McCown -- Traded from Buccaneers to Jaguars
Jeff Garcia -- Cut by Raiders
Todd Boumans -- Cut by Jaguars
A.J. Feeley -- Cut by Eagles


Running Backs

Dominic Rhodes -- Cut by Bills
Aveion Cason -- Cut by Lions
Antonio Pittman -- Cut by Rams
James Johnson -- Cut by Bengals
Allen Patrick -- Cut by Giants
Kregg Lumpkin -- Cut by Packers
Darius Walker -- Cut by Broncos
Ian Johnson -- Cut by Vikings
Chris Ogbonnaya -- Cut by Rams
Arian Foster -- Cut by Texans
Gary Russell -- Cut by Raiders
Noah Herron -- Cut by Browns
Kevin Jones -- Placed on IR by Bears
Chauney Washington -- Cut by Jaguars
Alvin Pearman -- Cut by Jaguars
Mike Hart -- Cut by Colts

Wide Receivers

Ronald Curry -- Cut by Rams
David Tyree -- Cut by Giants
Antonio Chatman -- Place on IR
Jayson Foster -- Cut by Ravens
Yamon Figurs -- Cut by Ravens
Justin Harper -- Cut by Ravens
Aundrae Allison -- Place on IR
Ruvell Martin -- Cut by Packers
David Patten -- Cut by Browns
Ashley Lelei -- Cut by Chiefs
Tiquan Underwood -- Cut by Jaguars
Dane Looker -- Cut by Lions
Keary Colbert -- Cut by Lions
Courtney Taylor -- Cut by Seahawks
Logan Payne -- Cut by Seahawks
Mike Hass -- Cut by Seahawks
Jordan Kent -- Cut by Seahawks
Isaiah Stanback -- Cut by Cowboys
James Hardy -- Put on PUP list
D.J. Hackett -- Cut by Redskins


Tight Ends

Billy Miller -- Placed on IR

Alex Smith -- Cut by Patriots

Kickers

Matt Bryant -- Cut by Buccaneers
Graham Gano -- Cut by Ravens
Brandon Coutu -- Cut by Seahawks


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Friday, September 04, 2009

TE, K, DST Sleepers 2009

I've poured over and over the offseason work outs, training camp and the preseason and come up with my ultimate sleepers for 2009. I've broken them down by position and have included my special Super Sleepers as well. If you like what you see here, you will find even more in the Fantasy Football Search Draft Kit. Members can login anytime and have all the information you will ever need for the draft and all season long.



Tight Ends


Greg Olsen -- Chicago -- I am not even sure on how much of a sleeper Olsen is going into the draft this year. I have him rated as my #1 overall TE right now, a move that has been greeted with surprising hostility especially among Cowboys fans. Either way, Olsen has hit it off in a big way with new Bears QB Jay Cutler as the two have been spied around town all offseason long going to ballgames, eating at restaurants, playing double dutch in the park. OK, everything but the double dutch but there is no doubt these two are close friends and it doesn't hope that both are supremely talented. Olsen can stretch the middle of the field and has great hand and athletic ability for a TE. Cutler will find security in throwing to Olsen repeatedly and it is my belief that Olsen will be the Bears leading receiver this year.


Vernon Davis -- San Francisco -- Head coach Mike Singletary got Davis' attention last season when he yanked the young TE out of the game and dressed him down in front of everybody including the TV cameras. For the first time in his life quite possibly, Davis was humbled and also motivated. He's put in a solid offseason and looks ready to finally make due on his tremendous natural talents. The 49ers won't be much of an air attack this season, but there will be plenty of scoring opportunities for Davis as long as he keeps himself on the field and out of the doghouse.



Kicker
John Carney -- New Orleans -- I know not much attention is paid to kickers but Carney will most likely be the Saints kicker for the duration of the season after Garret Hartley got himself suspended for the first 4 games. Carney did quite well with the Giants last year and is coming back to a place he played for quite a long time and has a great feel for. Plus, the Saints score tons of points and will always give their kicker plenty of opportunities to rack up fantasy points.
Defense & Special Teams
Green Bay DST -- I love what the Packers have done to their defense this offseason. They switched from a 4-3 to a 3-4 and had one of the best in the business in Dom Capers oversee the transformation. The 3-4 is far better suited for the personnel in Green Bay because they have smaller, quicker players especially at linebacker. The Packers also will get Nick Barnett back from injury to go along with first round pick B.J. Raji. The secondary already was solid, full of ball hawking corners and safeties which should be even better with an improved pass rush that is expected. The Packers led the league in defensive scoring last year and I strongly believe will be among the top of fantasy defenses and special teams in 2009.
***This is just a taste of the insight that awaits you in our Fantasy Football Search Draft Kit & Season Pass.***

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Thursday, September 03, 2009

WR Sleepers 2009

I've poured over and over the offseason work outs, training camp and the preseason and come up with my ultimate sleepers for 2009. I've broken them down by position and have included my special Super Sleepers as well. If you like what you see here, you will find even more in the Fantasy Football Search Draft Kit. Members can login anytime and have all the information you will ever need for the draft and all season long.



Wide Receivers
T.J. Houshmandzadeh -- Seattle -- The Seahawks are getting overlooked quite a bit in most fantasy drafts so far and some of this is with good reason. But Houshmandzadeh has been doing great since signing his big money deal this offseason. He and Matt Hasselbeck have spent a lot of time together going over plays, hand signals and reads this summer and the two have developed great chemistry. The Seahawks are not going to be able to run the ball that well and so they will rely on Hasselbeck and his new #1 WR to move the chains this season.


Chris Henry -- Cincinnati -- Chris Henry's skills have never been questioned. He is an amazing talent but his off the field troubles have often kept him well..off the field. At one point during camp, Carson Palmer predicted that Henry would have the best season of any Bengals WR ever. Big words but then Henry has gone out and scored a TD in every preseason game he's played. His off the field troubles seem to be behind him now too. He has a steady girlfriend and his helping raise his child. Teammates notice a difference too as Henry is no longer the last to meetings or first to leave the practice field. He's put in extra work and appears ready to showcase himself as one of the best WR's in the NFL this season. You have to draft Chris Henry.


Robert Meachem -- New Orleans -- No, this has nothing to do with the ridiculous third year WR rule. Rather, Meachem has been slow to learn all of Sean Payton's complex offense since being drafted in the first round in 2007. He started coming on last season but was behind Marques Colston, Lance Moore and Devery Henderson for playing time. This year it appears that Meachem will be the #2 WR in New Orleans and has finally won the trust of both Sean Payton and Drew Brees. Meachem has good size and excellent speed to get down field but has needed to develop better route running ability which he's been able to do. While many are using high picks on Lance Moore, who is coming off of a major shoulder surgery in the offseason, take a shot on Meachem in the lower rounds. He'll outproduce Moore this season and has a chance to catapult himself into fantasy stardom in this offense.
Super Sleeper
Laurent Robinson -- St. Louis -- For the first time in quite awhile the Rams open the season without a proven #1 WR. The team spent two high draft picks last season to take Donnie Avery and Keenan Burton but only Avery showed flashes of being an NFL capable WR. So, the Rams traded for Laurent Robinson and Ronald Curry to try and bring in some more talent and experience to the position. Robinson is a good talent. He is tall with great leaping ability. He can go up and pluck the ball out of the air with the best of them. The biggest issue with Robinson is his strength. He gets jammed easily at the line but has worked hard on building strength and technique since coming to St. Louis this spring. I see Robinson as the best WR on the Rams and one who can make plays in big time situations especially in the red zone. For a low round pick you will get very good production out of Robinson this year and may wind up with an every week starter at some point during the season.
***This is just a taste of the insight that awaits you in our Fantasy Football Search Draft Kit & Season Pass.***

***We've got many more sleepers, super-sleepers and busts as well as the deepest cheat sheets anywhere waiting to be printed out and taken to you draft.***

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RB Sleepers 2009

I've poured over and over the offseason work outs, training camp and the preseason and come up with my ultimate sleepers for 2009. I've broken them down by position and have included my special Super Sleepers as well. If you like what you see here, you will find even more in the Fantasy Football Search Draft Kit. Members can login anytime and have all the information you will ever need for the draft and all season long.


Running Backs
Ray Rice -- Baltimore -- This could turn out to be your biggest pick of the entire draft. Rice is entering his second season and will be the certain starter in Baltimore. Rice's selection by the Ravens out of Rutgers was no accident. He was selected to take over the LaDanian Tomlinson role in Cam Cameron's offense. Rice is an exceptional pass catcher and has great vision and speed. He could be a top 5 RB especially in PPR league formats. Last season the Ravens used a three man backfield to keep defenses guessing and their RB's fresh. This year they think that Rice can handle a much bigger workload and will give him plenty of touches in each and every game.
Chris "Beanie" Wells -- Arizona -- I cannot believe how lowly rated Wells is on most people draft boards right now. This guy is a prototypical NFL RB who has all the tools to be a star in the league. He will be running behind an always improving offensive line and will see very few 8-9 man fronts due to the incredible passing game the Cardinals possess with Kurt Warner, Larry Fitzgerald and Anquan Boldin. This will give Wells all the room he needs to run over or by a single defender and into the defensive secondary. He'll pass Tim Hightower on the depth chart by week 2 and score double digit TD's this season.
James Davis -- Cleveland -- A disappointing effort at the combine allowed Davis to slip to the Browns in the 6th round of the NFL draft this year. It turned out to be a blessing for both as Davis has been spectacular all summer long and is pushing veteran Jamal Lewis right out the door in Cleveland. I consider Davis already the starter despite Lewis still being on the roster at this moment. Davis is deceptive speed especially laterally which is very important for an NFL RB. His hands are also better than advertised, though Jerome Harrison will continue to get much of the third down work. The key for Davis is his blitz pickup, which is better than most scouting reports said and improving during training camp. Davis' name is starting to get hot of late and thus he's going a little earlier than he was a few weeks ago. I would take him ahead of guys like Larry Johnson, Cedric Benson and most definitely Jamal Lewis.
Super Sleeper
LeSean McCoy -- Philadelphia -- I would select McCoy even if I didn't have Brian Westbrook. That is because he is one of the few backups that I can say with all certainty will get at least 2 starts this season. Westbrook has a degenerative knee, whose protective tissue is totally gone and therefore takes a pounding on every play he sees. The knee will swell up constantly and eventually, he'll need a week or two to let it get right before being able to play. McCoy was drafted as the heir apparent to Westbrook in Philly and he hasn't disappointed. The kid can run inside, outside and is an exceptional pass catcher which is a must in the Andy Reid west coast offense. He'll put up good numbers this year and could find himself as the starter with one lockup of Westbrook's knee.
***This is just a taste of the insight that awaits you in our Fantasy Football Search Draft Kit & Season Pass.***

***We've got many more sleepers, super-sleepers and busts as well as the deepest cheat sheets anywhere waiting to be printed out and taken to you draft.***

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QB Sleepers 2009

I've poured over and over the offseason work outs, training camp and the preseason and come up with my ultimate sleepers for 2009. I've broken them down by position and have included my special Super Sleepers as well. If you like what you see here, you will find even more in the Fantasy Football Search Draft Kit. Members can login anytime and have all the information you will ever need for the draft and all season long.


Quarterbacks


Matt Schaub -- Houston -- I have ranked Schaub as high as the third QB overall but currently have him sixth just a tick behind Tony Romo. I would have him higher if not for his injury history and the "tweak" of his ankle last week. Schaub has a wealth of weapons at his disposal in Andre Johnson, Kevin Walter, Andre Davis, Steve Slaton and Owen Daniels. The offensive line has been overhauled by the great Alex Gibbs and will be improved once again this season. What I like more about Schaub is his ability to get outside the pocket and to run for first downs and even some occasional TD's. If he plays all 16 games, he'll finish at a top 5 fantasy QB. Even if he does get hurt, just make sure you have a quality backup in place like a Brett Favre or Matt Hasselbeck.


Trent Edwards -- Buffalo -- This is a risky one. Edwards is now playing in a pass heavy system that has spread offensive tendencies as well as a quick no huddle tempo. Factor in WR's Terrell Owens, Lee Evans and pass catching threat Fred Jackson and you have some great weapons at his disposal. The scary thing to be is still head coach Dick Jauron. There isn't a more vanilla human being in the NFL or quite possibly the world. The training camp and preseason is a great start but I just don't know if Jauron will go back to his safe, Mr. Rogers like style of football. If the system stays in place, Edwards numbers will surprise everybody when all is said and done.



SUPER-SLEEPER

Matt Leinart -- Arizona -- I cannot even begin to state the dramatic differences in Matt Leinart from one year ago to the present day. He is a different human being with the same NFL type talent. He's re-committed himself to football and is more focused on his career now than in going out at night and cruising chicks. He has become a good father to his son Cole and made amends with the boys Mother after a messy child support battle. Leinart took up mixed-martial arts in the offseason, working out hard with among others Jay Glazer of Fox Sports. Leinart got noticeably stronger both physically and mentally and improved his quickness and endurance as well. He is literally a new man. Most importantly, he has the eye of the tiger now something everybody who's seen a Cardinals practice this summer can attest. Warner is old, slow and has several nagging injuries including a hip pointer and a weak tendon in his throwing thumb. Warner will miss time this year and when Leinart gets another chance I don't think that he will ever give it back up.


***This is just a taste of the insight that awaits you in our Fantasy Football Search Draft Kit & Season Pass.***

***We've got many more sleepers, super-sleepers and busts as well as the deepest cheat sheets anywhere waiting to be printed out and taken to you draft.***

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BREAKING NEWS: Bucs Fire Jagodzinski

In a stunning move this morning, we're received a press release that Tampa Bay Buccaneers offensive coordinator Jeff Jagodzinski has been dismissed.

Quarterbacks coach Greg Olson (gulp!) has been promoted to the post and takes over immediately. Olson has been a quality QB coach around the league but was horrible as the offensive coordinator in St. Louis a few years ago.

Speculation on why Jagodzinski was let go centers around a conflict he and head coach Raheem Morris had concerning Byron Leftwich. Jags wasn't on board with the move evidently and preferred a QB who could get outside the pocket. You may remember that Jagodzinski is the former Boston College head coach who got dismissed from his post after he failed to remove his name from the New York Jets empty head coaching spot this winter. I would expect Jags to catch on somewhere and fast, possibly back with his former team in Cincinnati where he established himself as a top passing game coach.

The Buccaneers were growing more and more into a running team anyways, which isn't Jagodzinski's style in the least. Leftwich may have just been the cherry on top of this sundae. Expect the Bucs to run the ball 60%+ this season as they try to be a ball control, wear you down type of offense.



For an even more detailed report on this story and for more live coverage including the WR workout in Tennessee, Vicks meeting with Goodell and the Vikings QB trade talk. Subscribe to our Fantasy Football Search Season Pass.

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Wednesday, September 02, 2009

News & Notes 9/2

ON THE BLOCK

Last night I told you about one WR that was being courted by another team, that being Brandon Marshall by the Jets. Today it has been the lead news story on every other sports information outlet and thus is why you will always get the best fantasy football information here first.

On a much smaller scale, there is another WR whose name is being tossed around again and again by NFL GM's and head coaches and that is Reggie Brown. The Eagles are almost certainly going to cut Brown loose by this Saturday but they have come to realize there is a nifty little market for his services and so they are planning on taking full advantage of that while they can. So far the teams that are confirmed to be interested are the Rams, Dolphins, Ravens and Redskins. I can say with certainty that both the Jets and the Bears are also somewhat interested but apparently have other priorities right now. Meanwhile the team that should be making a play for some kind of WR, the Buccaneers seem likely to stand pat. Expect Philly to get whatever they can for Brown in the next couple of days.


ALSO ON THE MENU...

In all my talks around the league, another WR that many teams are salivating for is the Texans Jacoby Jones. For whatever reason, the Texans just don't like Jones' laid back attitude despite his above average natural ability. His lack of preparation and participation in off-season activities has not sat well with the coaching staff and he appears as though he will be a roster casualty on final cut down day. I've heard from at least 12 teams that would consider taking a shot on Jones if he were to be released. This is a guy who could go to a new team and get a fire lit under him that helps him realize his full potential. The kid is a playmaker, but needs to show the determination that he wants to be a superior WR. It doesn't look like that is going to happen in Houston for him so a change of scenery may be for the best.


SLEEPER ALERT

A guy that I haven't heard a thing about all summer long recently surfaced in a discussion with a fellow blogger in Seattle. Justin Forsett was on his was to a prime role with the Seahawks last year after being a standout during training camp but quickly fell out of favor and was released after the first week. He bounced around on the Colts and then the Seahawks practice squads before getting another shot this summer. New head coach Jim Mora has been impressed with the diminutive Forsett. Mora is envisioning a role for Forsett much like Warrick Dunn held for the Falcons a couple years ago. He will catch some passes out of the backfield and get some carries on draws and stuff like that. Ultimately, Forsett could be a useful flex player for fantasy teams as he will accumulate some solid all purpose yardage and for leagues that reward for return yards he will be even more valuable.


DEPTH CHART BUZZ

Sammy Morris has fallen behind BenJarvus Green-Ellis on the Patriots depth chart at least for the time being, making him a risk to be left off the final 53 man roster. Head coach Bill Belichick likes Morris a great deal, but he's been out of camp nearly all summer long with an undisclosed injury. He is back now but is wearing a non-contact jersey meaning he is still not real close to 100%. If Morris gets cut, it makes Laurence Maroney and Fred Taylor both more valuable in my mind and worthy of late round consideration.


MATT JONES TO FINALLY GET A SHOT?

The Tennessee Titans will work out free agent WR Matt Jones tomorrow morning. Jones name is hot once again now that more teams are aware of exactly what they have or don't have at the WR position. It is very possible that Jones signs a contract with Tennessee by tomorrow afternoon. The Titans are hurting at receiver with Nate Washington still not recovered from a nasty hamstring injury, Kenny Britt dinged up a bit and Justin Gage not impressing thus far. If Jones finally gets a deal done, does that mean Marvin Harrison is next?



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Mike Bowser joins Fantasy Football Search!

That's right guys, Mike Bowser from Fantasy Football Xtreme has joined forces with Fantasy Football Search! Mike Bowser brings 20+ years of fantasy football experience to to the team of gurus and has already been doing podcasts with FFS for three seasons now.

Mike Bowser brings his successful pre-season and weekly projections to the site throughout the 2009 season. View Bowser's pre-season projections here at http://www.fantasyfootballsearch.com/mike_bowser_projections.asp

If you'd like to get Mike's weekly point projections, purchase our season pass subscription for only $10 at http://www.fantasyfootballsearch.com/preregister.asp.

If that isn't enough Mike Bowser for you, join him and AJ Pelletier every Wednesday at 10pm EST for the Fantasy Football Tonight podcast on Blog Talk Radio.

Tuesday, September 01, 2009

Fantasy Football Tonight 9/1

INJURED

Matt Schaub had precautionary X-rays on his injured ankle today but they turned out negative. It turns out that Schaub's ankle is fine and he is already out of the protective boot that he wore after the game yesterday. He will be ready to go in week 1.

The mystery of Kyle Orton's finger laceration has been solved. Orton actually suffered a dislocated his finger as the bone punctured through his skin at the knuckle. The Broncos training staff had to pop the finger back into place right on the field and thus their reasoning for Orton's laceration story. It is very likely that Orton is not going to be ready to go by the start of the regular season. If Orton cannot go, it will be rookie Tom Brandstater starting for the Broncos in week 1.

Jonathen Stewart went through a battery of tests last week to determine the exact severity of his achilles tendon injury. It is not clear if Stewart's pain is coming from the achilles, ankle or heel. Stewart was back at Panthers camp on Tuesday which was a good sign. DeAngelo Williams is the clear #1 RB with Stewart and rookie Mike Goodson vying for the backup job to start the season.


NOW STARTING

Troy Williamson has officially won the starting job opposite Torry Holt. Williamson has been outstanding this summer. He still has the size and speed that made him the 7th overall pick in 2005 but has finally put in the work necessary to deserve a starting role. He is a decent #3 WR in fantasy leagues this year.

The Dolphins are going with rookie Brian Hartline as their #2 WR to start the season. This move will allow both Ted Ginn and Davone Bess to switch out time as the slot receiver where they are more useful and better suited.


OTHER MOVES


Chiefs placed WR Devard Dariling on injured reserve, ending his season.

The Chiefs also put RB Kolby Smith on the PUP list, meaning that he will not be eligible to play in at least the first 7 regular season games.

Busy day in Kansas City as the Chiefs also released WR Amani Toomer from his 1 year contract he signed just a few weeks ago. It looks like the Chiefs are going to be after some WR help as teams begin making their final cuts in the next couple of weeks. They have left themselves incredibly thin at the position as of now.

The Lions claimed QB Kevin O'Connell off of waivers from New England. O'Connell will be brought in as a project and has no fantasy value whatsoever at this point.

The 49ers released veteran QB Damon Huard. Dan Marino once called Huard the smartest player he ever played with. Now Huard will be calling Marino..for a job.



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2009 Fantasy Football Search Draft Guide

Introduction

It's time to evolve as a fantasy football league member. It's time to stop wasting hour upon hour studying your possible first round selections. It's time to ditch the automatic running back selections in rounds 1 & 2. It's time to win. There are so many myths and bad information out there for fantasy football players it has just gotten insane. One of my favorite myths is the third year wide receiver theory. This idea is so ridiculous that it can't even be considered a rational thought. Sure some receivers break out in their third season in the NFL but some break out in their first. Some will break out in their second year, some will never break out at all. You see, theories like this are just gimmicks thought up by people who want to sell magazines or get their name in a newspaper as a fantasy football "expert". We want our readers to become educated, productive and successful fantasy football players who will be secure enough to ignore all of the "tips" and "tricks" they see splashed across a glossy magazine or brightly colored website. Thus, every year I put together a little Draft Guide of my own where I squash silly gimmicks like the third year wide receiver, the running back only first round and quarterback platoon theory. Inside this Draft Guide I'll explain what you need to do to prepare for your draft, target the players you want and succeed in building the team that will win you a championship this year.

I. Preparation

A. The goal is to win. If you are serious about competing in your fantasy football league then it is in your best interest to prepare yourself accordingly. Sure, most of us join these leagues to have fun and make the NFL season more exciting but deep down all of us would like to win. Many leagues are collecting extra funds nowadays to buy shiny metal championship trophies, plaques and other awards that make it that much easier to say "na-na, na-na-na!" at the end of the year. Entering each season prepared instantly gives you a leg up on the guy who casually saunters into the draft carrying a notebook and the local newspapers "fantasy advice" section. These are the guys who run out of players after the tenth round and start picking all of the local teams special teams and practice squad guys. Don't be that guy!

1) Begin your pre-draft preparation no later than August 1st. The NFL season usually begins the first week of September and thus most fantasy drafts are held between August 15th-September 2nd. Starting early will give you more time to put together a draft strategy, talk to your buddies about their plans and decide whether to buy some state of the art drafting software or put together your own draft book. The more you pay attention to the goings on of NFL training camp the more likely you are to know all of the latest injuries, retirements, suspensions and demotions around the league. For members of the Fantasy Football Search War Room, read my Training Camp Blog. In there I've kept up with all position battles, little known injuries, depth chart changes and the overall appearance of players, coaches and teams during camp. If you find yourself unprepared for the draft, all it takes is a username, password and $10 to catch up instantly with printable cheat-sheets, rookie reports, free agent assignments and everything else you could possibly need in the Fantasy Football Search Draft Kit.

2) Get some outside help. In today's day and age a few dollars can bring you a wealth of information. Make your life easier by spending the $10-20 and subscribe to one of the dozens of fantasy football websites out there. If you are reading this then chances are you recognize that for a simple $10 you can be locked into all the latest news, injuries and fantasy football information you can handle for the entire 2009 season with the Fantasy Football Search Draft Kit. Wise move my friend because that $10 got you into every NFL teams training camp practice, trainers room and team meetings. Not to mention printable cheat-sheets, coaching breakdowns, free agent advice, weather reports and much, much more.

3) Your draft book. More and more fantasy guys are making use of technology and bringing a laptop to the draft. While this is a great tool to have make sure that your draft site is equipped with both power outlets (do not rely on batteries!!) and wi-fi compatibility. If you can't get online then the laptop becomes just a fancy notebook and if your draft runs long and your battery is drained then all of your work will be useless. I suggest putting together a hard copy draft book inside of a three ringed binder or specialized folder. Inside you should have multiple copies of Fantasy Football Search's updated cheat-sheets for each position as well as NFL team's bye weeks, strength of schedule, your leagues rules including scoring system, keeper lists (if necessary) and a roster sheet to record all of your picks. If your league does not use a draft board or some sort of record of all picks then it is advised that you also have your own draft recap form inside of your draft book. If you are accustomed to using a specific draft program on your laptop then by all means use it but make sure you have all of the information listed here available to you as well as an adequate power supply.

II. Day Of Draft

A. Take it seriously. Get ready for the draft the same way you would an important meeting at work or a first date with the hot waitress from Chili's. Get some sleep the night before, don't go out all night and roll up to the draft hung-over. You might as well just write a check straight to the commissioner and drop it in his mail box at that point. There are certain details you must keep in mind in order to have the best draft possible.

1) Don't drink at the draft. At least not until you land Ryan Grant in the fifth round or Chris Henry in the ninth. Every year there is a guy or two that shows up intoxicated or starts pounding as soon as they arrive. Again, don't be that guy. Even if the draft is at your house wait until the draft is almost over before you start dull your senses. Remember you will be paying for any mistakes you make all season so stay focused on the prize.

2) Arrive early. Unless the draft host is also holding a family birthday party or baptism prior to the draft show up at least fifteen minutes before the posted draft start time. If it's cool with the host then get there a half-hour or full hour prior to the draft. Help the poor guy get things ready or at least save him from his wife's lecture on how the house better be clean when she gets home. As soon as you arrive claim the best available seat or at least where you will be most comfortable. If that nice leather recliner with drink holder right in front of the draft board is open put your draft book, bottle of water or even your dirty sweat socks on it to claim it as your own. The more comfortable you are the easier it will be to stomach the drunk guy in his Seahawk jersey asking if Shaun Alexander has been taken yet.

3) Rank enough players. If you are in a twelve team league and are drafting sixteen rounds then 192 players will be chosen in this draft. Don't show up with your top 150 and say you will wing it from there. In most twelve team leagues it is a good idea to have a minimum, yes minimum of 250 players rated in your draft book.

III. Early Rounds (#1-3)

A. Safety first. I am not here to tell you exactly who you should draft and when. Every draft is different, every league is different and each of us are different as well. What I will tell you is to grab impact players early. Meaning players who have proven or are sure to be this season every week fantasy starters. Make sure you consult our Season Pass also to give you an idea of how certain players will fit on your team. These early picks are not for guessing on players or for taking that stud rookie running back who you just know will be getting all the carries soon. There is a time and place for that kind of thinking during a draft, the first three rounds though are not that time.

1) Do not take a running back. Ok, do take a running back if you can grab Adrian Peterson, Michael Turner, LaDanian Tomlinson or another top end back. But, do not worry about having to take a running back in the first round. If you have a middle pick (6-10) and can land a Larry Fitzgerald or Calvin Johnson do it. Sure Chris Johnson and Steven Jackson are quality backs but you get much more value taking the top quarterback or wide receiver then in taking the sixth or seventh rated running back. If you miss out on a top back in the first round do not immediately feel obligated to take the best available running back in the second round either. In fact, in drafts where most teams load up on running backs in the first two rounds you can build a team around the best quarterback and wide receivers around. Then make up for the lack of a back later in the draft when everybody else is taking middle of the line receivers who they may or may not start every week depending on the matchup. This is my going against the grain philosophy that has paid off time and time again. Get top shelf players with your first few picks not just the best running backs on the board.

2) No running back by committee early. If you do wish to fill your running back spot early do so by taking a guy who'll get the majority of his teams carries and most importantly the goal line carries. This means no Reggie Bush, Julius Jones or Knowshon Moreno. Let the other guys in your league suffer with these guys all season and decide when to start them and when to not. If you want to fill your running back positions early take a Frank Gore or Brandon Jacobs. These guys won't get many long TD runs but they will get the ball 20+ times per game and don't have anybody lurking over their shoulder when it comes goal line time. Yes Donald Brown has a chance to be a breakaway type RB, but he will be brought around slowly and has Joseph Addai ahead of him on the depth chart. Don't begin your draft by guaranteeing yourself headaches all season long.

IV. Middle Rounds (#4-10)

A. Swing for the fences. These rounds are for taking the players that you are really high on entering the season. Do you like the improvements the Lions have made? Grab a Kevin Smith or even Bryant Johnson at some point . Do you like the new passing scheme in Denver? Eddie Royal and Jabar Gaffney are sure to benefit the most there if you are correct. You will want to secure your regular starting lineups in these rounds as well.

1) Take a tight end. If you league requires you to start a tight end every week then you should grab a top one in the fourth or fifth round. The goal here is to beat your opponent to the punch. If you have to start one every week and are in a twelve team or more league then having an Jason Witten or Greg Olsen is a big advantage. If your league counts tight ends as the same as wide receivers then taking an Antonio Gates, Tony Gonzalez or Kellen Winslow will provide you more upside then a middle of the road wide receiver like Chris Chambers or Derrick Mason. Tight ends can provide a great value when drafted in the middle rounds.

2) Protect your assets. If you wind up taking Brian Westbrook or DeAngelo Williams in the early rounds, now is the time to make darn sure that you insure him with LeSean McCoy or Jonathen Stewart. The Eagles offense is a running back's dream especially in a PPR league format and the Panthers can run at will against most opponents. If Westbrook goes down you can bet that McCoy will put up above average to good fantasy numbers. There are certain situations around the NFL where it almost doesn't matter who the player is they are still going to produce. This is commonly referred to as "handcuffing" and is an important fantasy tool. If you take Frank Gore, be sure to grab Glen Coffee as well to protect yourself because you never know what can happen on the waiver wire. Just because a quality fantasy player goes down does not mean his backup will not produce just as well. Remember, Michael Turner, Frank Gore and Brian Westbrook were all at one time backups to quality fantasy producers.

V. Late Rounds (#11-20)

A. The later rounds are where we separate the men from the boys. It is how fantasy football champions are made. Many fantasy players lose interest in the late rounds. They gather up all of the local teams players, guys who went to college close bye and random has-beens from across the league. The fact of the matter is that the late rounds in a draft are just as important if not more so then the first couple rounds. Anybody can get a quality player in the first or second round but what happens when those players go down? The waiver wire is usually pretty slim pickings especially in larger leagues so making use of the late rounds of a draft is absolutely essential.

1) Bye week replacements. Hopefully you have done a good job in juggling your projected starters with their bye weeks but it is mandatory to back these players up now. Do not draft six players with the same bye week and think that it is only one week and you'll magically survive one down week. Fantasy champions do not have down weeks. Every week is important and thus it is important to have quality players on your bench who can step up during your starters bye weeks.

2) Go young. The best fantasy football players are the ones who can tell you all you need to know about that running back Cleveland took in the sixth round. The NFL draft should be on every fantasy owners to-do list each off-season. There are players every year who come into the league as nobodies and wind up being waiver wire gold late in the season. Don't let these players be on the waiver wire, draft them. Sure, most young players are not given starting jobs right out of training camp. But starters get injured, benched, suspended or cut throughout the season so understand that at some point these young players will get their chance to shine. And if you can evaluate talent or have a membership to Fantasy Football Search then you should be able to stash a few of tomorrow's studs at the end of your draft.

3) Always calculate upside. Use the draft to acquire as many players that if given an opportunity will produce. So many times owners will take players like Jake Delhomme, Jamal Lewis and Santana Moss. But what are any of these guys actually capable of? Even if the rest of the league fell apart and they were the only players left standing their overall fantasy value would be minimal. After you have assured yourself of no bye week letdowns it is time to draft some players with big time upside. Look for guys who are in new systems that suit their skills. Take a backup that nobody has ever heard of but has a top notch offensive line in front of him. Some wide receivers become big time fantasy producers just because they are a frequent red zone target. Then of course you have your goal line specialty running backs like LenDale White and LaDell Betts. Don't just fill out the end of your draft with random slot receivers who play only in passing situations or in non spread formation offenses. Instead, take the rookies who are impressing the coaches in practice and are just waiting for their opportunity to come.

4) Warm weather kickers. Since many owners wait until the late rounds before even considering to take a kicker, keep certain facts in mind when making your selection. In September and October the weather across the country is pretty mild with minimal distractions. However, as we get into the months of November and December there is significant changes in both temperature and precipitation in many NFL venues. When deciding between kickers always factor in what type of climate he will do most of his kicking in. If you are trying to choose between Robbie Gould who kicks in the windy city of Chicago or Neil Rackers who will kick in the friendly dry desert air? You may want to go with Rackers as you know he won't leave you scrambling for a replacement if a blizzard comes to town. Kickers who play in the AFC and NFC South and West divisions have a much easier time late in the season then kickers who play with outdoor cold weather teams. Don't underestimate kickers, you need their steady points each week to build a winner.

VI. Summary

Whether its money or pride you play for it is always worthwhile to win. The most important advice and most common mistake I see year in and year out is fantasy owners who give up. It usually happens as soon as one of their starters goes down with a knee injury and somebody else has the backup. All of a sudden they stop posting messages then eventually stop setting lineups. I don't care if it's fantasy football or life in general by throwing in the towel you are missing out on what could have been a glorious comeback. Stay the course my friends. If you follow these draft rules and pay close attention to Fantasy Football Search all season long you'll be contending at the end of the season guaranteed. Best of luck to all of you in the 2009 season!!