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Steppin' Up Steppin Down
Week 7
10/20/06

Quarterbacks

Steppin' Up

Philip Rivers, SD: With the loss of Drew Brees to the New Orleans Saints via free agency, Rivers was a bit of question mark heading into the season as San Diego's starting quarterback. In Week 1 he threw just 11 times. With LaDainian Tomlinson and Michael Turner manning the Chargers backfield, it was expected we would see his number of attempts limited throughout the season. Instead, Rivers has attempted 30 or more passes in 3 of his last 4 games, throwing for more than 230 yards per contest. He has at least 1 touchdown pass in each game and is completing 68.6% of his passes on the season. With games against the Chiefs, Rams, Browns and Bengals in the next 4 weeks, expect him to keep his touchdown streak alive and continue his 200 plus yard outings.

Drew Brees, NO: The addition of Brees in the offseason, along with a number of other moves, has given new life to the Saints franchise after suffering through a 3-13 season last year. Seventh round draft pick Marques Colston has provided Brees with a big target in the end zone, while number two overall pick Reggie Bush gives him a dangerous receiving threat out of the backfield. Credit should also be given to Sean Payton, who was hired as head coach following Jim Haslett's six-year tenure. These changes have helped get Brees off to a great start. The Saints QB has completed 66.8% of his passes and averaged 253 yards per game. Following this week's bye, he has a few difficult match-ups against the Ravens and Steelers, but he should prove a valuable fantasy starter in games against the Buccaneers, Bengals,and 49ers.

Steppin' Down

Jake Plummer, DEN: A borderline fantasy starter over the past two seasons, Plummer is off to a terrible start with the Broncos this year. He has thrown for less than 175 yards in 4 of their 5 games to date, completing only 53.1%of his passes. The one-time Cardinal is also struggling to find his targets in the end zone, throwing just 3 touchdown passes to 5 interceptions on the season. Following his 11 of 18, 102-yard performance against the Raiders last week, it can't even be advised to start Plummer against favorable opponents.

Running Backs

Steppin' Up

Travis Henry, TEN: Six weeks into the season, it appears we have our answer as to who will be the Titans' primary ball carrier. Chris Brown began the year as Tennessee's starting tailback, but has quickly worked himself into Jeff Fisher's doghouse.In the last 2 weeks, Henry has carried 51 times for 301 yards (5.9 YPC) and 1 touchdown. LenDale White, who missed last week's game due to illness, may continue getting 8-12 carries per contest when the Titans return to action, but expect Henry to handle the majority of carries the rest of the way. White may see more chances as once the Titans are eliminated from playoff contention. It's still unlikely they would bench a productive Henry simply to take a look at what they'll have in the future with White.

Carnell "Cadillac" Williams, TB: Through the first three games of the season, Williams was averaging just 35.6 yards a game for a total of 107 yards on 42 carries (2.5 YPC). When Chris Simms was hospitalized with a ruptured spleen following a Week 3 loss to the Panthers, Jon Gruden was forced to go with rookie sixth round pick Bruce Gradkowski as his starting quarterback. There was little reason to expect Williams would turn things around. However, he has carried 39 times for 205 yards, raising his YPC to a respectable 3.9 on the season. While Williams may not live up to the expectations placed upon him at the start of the year, owners that used a first round pick on the "Cadillac" can at least expect him to perform as a reliable #2 RB the rest of the way.

Steppin' Down

Ron Dayne, HOU: Not that anyone was expecting much from Dayne this year, but when he took over as Houston's starting tailback in Week 2, there was reason to believe he'd have value as a 3rd or 4th fantasy back on your roster. In his four starts with the Texans, Dayne hasn't impressed and is in jeopardy of losing his starting role. Even if he were to retain his position atop the depth chart, there's little reason to hold onto him, as indicated by his 2.9 yard average on 57 carries this season with 0 touchdowns. At this point, it appears either Wali Lundy or Samkon Gado will emerge as the more valuable ball carrier in the Texans backfield.

Wide Receivers

Steppin' Up

Joey Galloway, TB: Coming off a career year in 2005, there were high expectations placed upon Galloway entering the 2006 season. After a Week 1 performance in which he recorded zero receptions, many were prepared to quickly write him off and look elsewhere for help at the wide receiver position. In Week 2, Galloway pulled a 180, catching 9 passes for 167 yards and following it up with his first touchdown reception in Week 3. Bruce Gradkowski took over for an injured Chris Simms in Week 5 and made a quick connection with Galloway. In Gradkowski's two starts, Galloway has caught 11 passes for 177 yards and 1 touchdown--bringing his season totals to 21 receptions, 346 yards and 2 touchdowns. As long as Galloway remains injury free, expect him to continue his solid production. Value him as a mid-to-lower level #2 receiver in fantasy leagues.

Deion Branch, SEA: It took awhile, but Branch finally delivered for fantasy owners that took the risk of drafting him. After a holdout over a contract dispute with the Patriots that lasted one week into the regular season Branch finally made his first start since joining the Seahawks. He delivered with 6 receptions for 76 yards and 2 touchdowns against the Rams. While Darrell Jackson will continue to function as Hasselbeck's primary target in Seattle, you can expect Branch to continue getting 4-6 receptions on a weekly basis now that he has supplanted Nate Burleson in the starting line-up.

Steppin' Down

Troy Williamson, MIN: With 10 receptions for 179 yards the first two weeks of the season, Williamson was well on his way to climbing the ranks among wide receivers this year. In the 3 games since then, he caught just 8 passes for 77 yards and is yet to score a touchdown in any game. While it isn't time to bail on the second year receiver, his lack of production in recent weeks is a concern. For the time being, consider him a low end #3 fantasy receiver. If you have better options on your bench, don't be reluctant to start them until we see Williamson produce again within the Vikings offense.

Tight Ends

Steppin' Up

Randy McMichael, MIA: After a slow start to the season in which McMichael recorded 6 receptions for 59 yards in 3 games, he has picked up his play as of late and become a frequent target of QB Joey Harrington. In Harrington's two starts, McMichael has 14 receptions for 156 yards, but he has yet to reach the end zone. His 18 of 24 receptions and 210 of his 269 total yards for the season have come in the last three outings. Now that McMichael is once again being incorporated into the Dolphins offense, consider him a must start on a weekly basis.

Alex Smith, TB: Smith has been on a hot streak lately recording 12 receptions for 98 yards and 2 touchdowns in his last three games. While most of that yardage came in Week Three's game against the Panthers, he has still been a frequent target of Buccaneers rookie QB, Bruce Gradkowski. Unless Smith is going to record touchdowns every week, he'll need to begin gaining more yards on his receptions before he can be considered a solid starter at the position. For the time being, he is a solid back-up that could produce as starter as the season progresses. Consider trading for him if you are weak at the TE position.

Chris Cooley, WAS: Like McMichael, Cooley is another tight end that lacked in production over the first three weeks of the season. In Washington's last 3 games however, he has 10 receptions for 138 yards and 1 touchdown. Playing in Al Saunders system, it was only a matter of time before Cooley would be better utilized within the offense. While he may disappear at times throughout the season, Cooley should be considered a lower lever starter at TE in fantasy leagues for the remainder of the season.

Steppin' Down

Heath Miller, PIT: Coming off an impressive rookie campaign in which he scored 6 touchdowns and caught 39 balls for 459 yards, Miller was expected to be a value pick and build upon those numbers this season. He produced in Week 1, catching 3 balls for 101 yards and a touchdown, but he's been miserable since. In the Steelers 4 games since then, Miller has just 7 receptions for 83 yards and no touchdowns. He may become a frequent red zone target for QB Ben Roethlisberger as the season progresses, but for the time being he is an unreliable starter and is best used as a #2 TE in fantasy leagues.