Week 8
10/28/06
- Bengals quarterback Carson
Palmer has struggled somewhat in 2006 after his breakout
year from a season ago. A closer look at the team's remaining
schedule indicates Palmer may have a difficult time getting
back to where he was in 2005, with two games left against the
Ravens and contests with the Falcons, Chargers and Broncos also
on tap. However, there are reasons for optimism. This Sunday
against the Falcons, the team will dress its top six skill position
players for the first time this season in Palmer, Rudi Johnson,
Chris Perry, Chad Johnson, T.J. Houshmanzadeh and Chris Henry.
All of which is to say it might be time to buy low on Palmer
in your FF leagues.
- Keeping with that theme, have a look around and see if Colts
running back Joseph
Addai might be available for trade. It can't be said the
2006 1st round pick has truly struggled this season, although
he did endure a rough start to the season, and the real reason
for his mediocre production results from Addai splitting carries
with Dominic Rhodes. However, Addai owners may be getting fed
up with the situation. Nonetheless, look for Addai to take on
a bigger role starting this Sunday against the Broncos. Not
only is Addai averaging 1.8 more yards per rush than Rhodes
and 1.4 yards more per reception, it's becoming clear that Addai
warrants more attention from opposing defenses than Rhodes.
Rhodes lacks Addai's ability to get outside the tackles and
execute the team's stretch play effectively and defenses can
play their safeties deep when Rhodes is in the game due to his
lack of game breaking speed, which takes something away from
the Colts passing game. The Broncos defense has been excellent
this season so it's foolish to predict a breakout game but certainly
it's time for Addai to assume a larger role in Indianapolis.
- The Texans offensive line has been bashed repeatedly during
the team's existence and for good measure, given they are regularly
near the league leaders in sacks allowed. However, perhaps the
unit is ready to turn things around. Last week, the Texans finished
with a season-high 134 yards rushing against the Jaguars. Better
yet, quarterback David Carr was only sacked once allowing the
Texans to record only their second two game stretch in their
existence of allowing one sack over two games. Sure, it's not
two straight trips to the playoffs or two consecutive 400-yard
passing days but it's something to build on.
- Keeping with the Texans, it's not unreasonable to conclude
it might be time to pick up Wali Lundy if you play in a dynasty
FF league. The rookie 6th round pick has had a roller coaster
season, earning the starting job when incumbent starter Domanick
Davis was placed on injured reserve, playing well enough for
the team to unload his competition at the position in Vernand
Morency, struggling and then watching the player Morency was
traded for (Samkon Gado) take his spot in the line-up on game
days and then stepping back into the line-up and rushing for
93 yards this past week. After watching Ron Dayne and Gado struggle
mightily to gain yards, Texans coach Gary Kubiak isn't likely
to take Lundy out of the starting line-up now that he's seen
that Lundy is likely the only one of the trio to provide some
explosiveness to the team's rushing attack. On top of that,
there's little concern that Davis will return to take over the
starting position in 2007, meaning Lundy has the balance of
the season to convince the team it doesn't need to expend a
high draft pick in the 2007 draft on the position. With politics
and appearances playing a large role in every coach's ability
to retain his job, Kubiak will certainly give Lundy every chance
to keep the position because he's the player who Kubiak can
claim he coached up to success, not Davis. Further still, with
Davis owed $3.3-million next season, $4.2-million in 2008 and
$4.6-million in 2009 and his injury history, he won't be back
with the team barring a major salary reduction.
- Jets defensive end Shaun Ellis has really regressed since
signing a long-term contract extension during he latter stages
of the 2004 season. Over his last 14 games, Ellis has recorded
only two sacks, both coming during the Jets loss to the Colts
this season. In fact, over the last two seasons, he has just
4.5 sacks. With the major money in the contract extension kicking
in next season and Ellis due $4.5-million and the veteran not
appearing to fit well into new Jets coach Eric Mangini's defensive
scheme, look for Ellis to be elsewhere in 2007.
- Falcons quarterback Michael Vick had never thrown three touchdown
passes in a game prior to this week's contest against the Steelers
and sure enough, the ever inconsistent one goes off for four
touchdown passes. And if that wasn't strange enough, the four
touchdown passes more than doubled his season total entering
the game, which was three over the team's first five games.
All of which is to say, the only thing Vick will ever deliver
on a consistent basis is excitement because it appears he will
never deliver consistent production in the passing game.
- Keeping with the Falcons, it might be time to dump them if
you play in a FF league where you start a defense. Despite playing
their last two games at home against the Giants and Steelers
and considering the Steelers played most of the game with backup
Charlie Batch at quarterback, there aren't many excuses for
a defense that gave up 897 yards and 65 points in those games.
With defensive end John
Abraham expected to miss three or four games, defensive
tackle Rod
Coleman struggling with a toe injury and defensive end Patrick
Kerney suffering hamstring problems this season, the team's
defensive unit may continue to struggle going forward.
- It might be time to give the Vikings some respect. Although
they appeared to have some issues on the offensive side of the
ball entering the season, those have been negated by quarterback
Brad Johnson's
ability to manage the game well and running back Chester
Taylor's strong production. The team's wide receivers have
been a disappointment but haven't had a major impact on the
team thus far. The Vikings defense has been unexpectedly strong
and has yet to give up 20 points in a game this season, having
given up 13 points twice, 16, 17 twice and 19. Further still,
the team displayed a killer instinct this past week against
the Seahawks, taking control when Matt Hasselbeck went out and
never looking back.
- Packers quarterback Brett
Favre has put up good numbers thus far in 2006 but the team's
passing offense may struggle to continue putting up good results
due to injury and suspension issues at the wide receiver position.
Back-up wide receiver Robert Ferguson was placed on injured
reserve with a Lisfranc foot injury while fellow back-up Koren
Robinson is out after being suspended for a full year by the
league. Standout rookie Greg Jennings is doubtful for this week's
game against the Cardinals with an ankle injury that may affect
him for a number of weeks, potentially leaving the team with
Ruvell
Martin and waiver wire pick-up Shaun
Bodiford at the number two and three wide receiver positions.
Both players went undrafted, with Martin failing to make his
way onto an NFL roster after leaving college in 2005 and Bodiford
unable to stay with the Lions this season. Their career combined
stats amount to two receptions for 25 yards by Martin. Packers
fans will recall Favre's struggles in 2004 and 2005 when the
team had to dress inexperienced players at the wide receiver
position. Of force, if Favre decides to go to his checkdowns
at tight end and running back, his play may not suffer as much
as it did during those previous periods.
- After starting off the season with a strong run defense,
the Lions have struggled in this area in recent weeks. The team
held the Seahawks, Bears and Packers in check to start the season
but have allowed more than 100-yards rushing in three of their
last four games, holding only the offensive line challenged
Bills under the century mark during that stretch.
- If you're looking for a potential late season pick-up in
an IDP league, look no further than Broncos defensive lineman
Elvis Dumervil. The rookie 4th round pick, previously known
mostly for getting stomped on by Marcus Vick, has five sacks
in his last two games. Dumervil was inactive for the first three
games of the season before dressing in the Broncos fourth game
against the Ravens. Since then he's come on strong and looks
to be a quality mid-round pick for the Broncos.
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