11/27/08
- Running backs Steven Jackson of the Rams and Reggie Bush
of the Saints figure to return to their team's line-ups this
week and the questions is whether or not to put them in your
FF line-up. Jackson is returning from a strain quadriceps while
Bush is returning from a torn MCL. Jackson has already tried
and failed to return to the line-up and the Rams aren't going
to risk overusing him with their season already over. The Saints
however need a win to stay in the playoff hunt and while the
game can't be classified as must-win, they have more incentive
to give Bush a healthy dose of touches in a tough divisional
game against the Buccaneers. If you have decent options, Jackson
should be sat this week and Bush should be in your line-up,
especially in PPR leagues.
- So much for the theory that Texans rookie running back Steve
Slaton wouldn't be tough enough or big enough to handle a starting
job in the NFL. The 3rd round pick is averaging over 17 touches
a game and is on pace to finish with over 1,100 yards rushing
and 1,400 total yards, numbers that most teams would happy take
from their starting running back. Not to mention that Slaton
has played though chest and rib injuries and surprisingly has
done most of his damage on the ground and has only two games
where he has made more than four receptions. Other than the
Titans in week 14, Slaton has decent match-ups the rest of the
way. Plus, the team's main back-ups are banged up with Ahman
Green on injured reserve and Ryan Moats with an ankle injury,
leaving only Cecil Sapp who hasn't registered a carry yet this
season.
- Here's to Saints running back Deuce
McAllister for setting the team's record for most touchdowns
with 54 this week against the Packers. It was nice to see a
pro's pro eclipse Dalton Hiliard's record but the writing is
on the wall for McAllister's career in New Orleans. With Pierre
Thomas looking like a decent, younger and cheaper option
and McAllister facing a four-game suspension, he may have played
his last game for the team. If the suspension doesn't derail
McAllister's season, Thomas' effectiveness likely will and the
team has hedged its bets by picking up former Bronco Mike Bell,
who was given some mop up duty this week. If there's anything
available on your league's waiver wire, it's time to dump McAllister
rather than gamble on him staying in the line-up and receiving
significant playing time.
- Nice week for a number of quarterbacks this week with the
Patriots Matt Cassel, the Bills Trent Edwards and Chad Pennington
of the Dolphins all going over 30 points. Interestingly enough,
none of them are automatic starters so they all could have been
on the bench in a number of leagues. In my two main leagues,
Edwards was started in one league and Pennington in the other.
Of the three, Cassell has now posted three solid games in a
row and looks to be a quality starter for the rest of the season.
Edwards and Pennington had their first big games in a few weeks
and should be considered match-up plays.
- Joseph Addai owners take note that the Colts, who have struggled
along the offensive line for much of the season, received a
double dose of bad news this week. The team announced that starting
guard Ryan Lilja, who had been on the physically unable to perform
list with a knee injury, would not be placed on the active roster
this season. That was followed up with news that center Jeff
Saturday was out indefinitely with a strained calf muscle. The
interior of the line will now consist of Charlie Johnson, rookie
7th round pick Jamey Richard and rookie 2nd round pick Mike
Pollak. The schedule is favorable but the injury situation is
not.
- The Dolphins recently signed wide receiver Greg Camarillo
to a three-year, $6-million contract extension blew up on the
team when he suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament. The
modest size of the contract (among the lowest average salary
for a team's top player at the position) was a clear indication
that Camarillo wasn't considered a big time talent by the team.
Camarillo isn't a burner and this type of injury could significantly
impact his ability to create separation. Worse yet, the timing
of the injury likely will result in him missing at least half
of the 2009 season and the team's lackluster production at the
position will almost certainly result in them making upgrades
for next season. At this point, Camarillo isn't worthy of stashing
on your dynasty league roster.
- It's anybody's guess who in Miami benefits from Camarillo's
injury but the odds-on favorite to replace him in the starting
line-up is Davone Bess, who has flashed some decent playmaking
ability this season. Ernest Wilford will likely dress given
that Camarillo wasn't a contributor on special teams so the
team can now afford to have a back-up wide receiver who doesn't
contribute there. Look for Ted Ginn to get additional touches,
both on the ground and through the air.
- Sayonara to Raiders wide receiver Javon Walker who was played
on injured reserve with an ankle injury this week. His contract
seemed ridiculous from the moment he was signed and he backed
it up, ending the season with 15 receptions for 196 yards and
a touchdown. Not bad for $13-million. Walker apparently has
an injury clause in his contract so this will be an interesting
situation to monitor in the off-season. The team will want him
healthy prior to the start of next season so they have the option
of releasing him and avoiding paying his 2009 salary. However,
reports indicate he has an option bonus due in March that is
injury guaranteed so his signing is likely to be worse than
the DeAngelo Hall fiasco. It says here that his time in Oakland
and likely the NFL is over.
- Eagles wide receiver Kevin
Curtis has had a quiet return to the line-up, posting just
21 receptions for 229 yards and a touchdown over the last five
weeks. However, he gets a leaky Cardinals secondary this week
that has given up the most touchdown passes in the league. He
might be good for a couple of long gainers this week.
- Another underperforming wide receiver who could be in line
for a good game is Torry
Holt of the Rams. Although he is on pace for the worst year
of his career, Holt gets the Dolphins 28th ranked pass defense
this week and the Rams figure to be behind early and throwing
it plenty. They have been outscored 123-13 in the first halves
of their last four games and their defense cannot stop the run.
If you have Ronnie
Brown, he is a must start and Ricky
Williams is definitely a solid option in flex leagues.
- After a hot start to the season with six touchdowns in his
first six games, Chris Chambers of the Chargers is now into
his routine disappearing act. He has just 129 yards receiving
over his last four games and hasn't found the end zone. On the
other hand, Vincent Jackson has touchdowns in four of the last
six games and has 401 yards receiving over that stretch and
Malcolm Floyd has 320 yards and three touchdowns over the same
stretch. Might be time to nail the consistently inconsistent
Chambers to your bench.
- Since returning from a broken foot four games ago, the Bucs
Joey Galloway has four catches for 60 yards and no touchdowns.
He has also been held without a catch for two straight weeks
and has yet to score this season. He's not worth keeping on
your roster.
- Bears rookie running back Matt Forte has had a tremendous
season but, although he has held up well despite being given
a huge workload, he is a rookie and there are some concerns
he will wear down. That being said, it's worth noting that Adrian
Peterson has taken over for Kevin Jones as Forte's main back-up.
Peterson has only had nine touches in two weeks with Jones on
the inactive list for both games and doesn't figure to have
much value unless Forte gets hurt. However, rookies do tend
to wear down so if you have Forte or if you need help at running
back and there isn't much available, Peterson is worth picking
up.
- The Redskins defense hasn't come up with many big plays this
year, playing more of a bend but don't break style but they
could struggle over the next couple of weeks. Middle linebacker
London Fletcher suffered a foot injury this week and the team
may be without defensive linemen Andre Carter, Kedric Golston
and Cornelius Griffin this week. Fletcher rarely misses a game
so it is anticipated he will find a way to play but all four
players are listed as questionable so they may be effective
even if they are active on game day. Strongside linebacker Marcus
Washington is also out so the prognosis for Washington's defense
isn't favorable.
- A pair of disappointing defensive players may have finally
turned the corner this week with strong performance. Bears defensive
end Mark Anderson has been missing in action for most of the
season but came up with five tackles and some decent pressure
on the quarterback in the team's win over the Rams this week.
Nonetheless, he has now gone 13 games without a sack and has
just a half a sack over his last 21 games. In Buffalo, 1st round
pick Leodis McKelvin had seen only sporadic playing time until
this week, when he picked off two passes and returned one for
a touchdown. With Jabari Greer injured and Ashton Youboty on
injured reserve, McKelvin will be in the starting line-up for
at least the next couple of weeks and will likely be targeted
by opposition offensive coordinators, given him plenty of opportunities
to make plays.
- Speaking of McKelvin, if you're in a league that uses kick
returners, you could do worse.
- Linebacker Mike Peterson's days in Jacksonville are numbered
and he has been benched in favor of Daryl Smith at middle linebacker.
Smith hasn't produced many big plays this year and the Jaguars
defense has struggled for the first time in years but he has
experience playing in the middle so his production should increase
with the transition.
- With Dewayne White out of the line-up, Lions defensive end
Corey Smith produced a nice game against the Buccaneers with
four tackles and two sacks.
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