There you have it. Another whacky NFL Fantasy Football
week in the books and yet another week where everything
that I possibly imagined happening in my leagues
and probably yours happened, and if it could go
wrong for most fantasy experts, it DID go wrong.
Duante came back to earth, Moss was a bust, Mewelde
can't carry the team, Tiki, Ahmen, Alexander and
the Priest did what they're supposed to do. Rod
Smith and Plummer were out of this world, Harrison,
Wayne, and Manning all love each other again, and
TO....well TO does a pretty damn good impression
of Ray Ray's Chicken dance.
I know there are several people like me out there
who were depending on a good game from Eric Johnson
Sunday night, and were forced to watch that utter
garbage on ESPN. I sat through three quarters of
the most god-awful football on the planet, just
hoping that Ken Dorsey would eventually find his
wide-open TE. But no. Play after play after play
he looked completely away from Johnson, opting instead
to try to force it into a triple-covered Division
III receiver. On top of that I had to suffer through
the inane ramblings of the vaunted Sunday Night
crew, who were, from the coin-flip, at the point
of desperation trying to make this game sound interesting.
ABC and ESPN sure lined up a couple of snoozer night
games for us didn't they?? I'm praying for better
next week.
Add these Guys
RB Willis McGahee, BUF - No brainer.
Kid is clearly the best RB on that squad right now,
though I still have mad-respect (forgive the Stuart
Scott-ism) for Travis Henry. There is no reason
for the Bills to remove McGahee from the starting
lineup right now. If you have both McGahee and Henry
on your squad and you’re in a keeper league,
I suggest you hold on tight to both of them. I see
them both being starters somewhere in the NFL next
year.
RB Anthony Thomas, CHI - As of right now
the severity of Thomas Jones' injury is unclear
and Thomas had a very solid game this past weekend
filling in. I was always confused at the number
of times the Bears have shunned A-Train as he has
always performed well when he got the start so,
depending on the injury, the Bears could rest Jones
as much as needed and Thomas could see a significant
boost in carries.
WR Darius Watts, DEN - Watts was
listed on the Free Agent Forecasts’ preseason
list of players to watch. It’s taken him awhile
to become a factor in Denver’s offense, but
Watts is finally showing flashes of stardom. In
Sunday’s game against the Falcons, he was
a frequent target of Jake Plummer. Watts caught
one TD and almost snagged another but misjudged
Plummer’s throw. Acquire the rookie this week.
Denver has a cushy upcoming schedule that favors
the passing game. Watts can be used as a starter
in any one of Denver’s next three games.
RB Tyrone Wheatley, OAK - Wheatley
returned from injury this week and while he was
not spectacular, he was clearly more productive
than Amos Zereoue. With Fargas sidelined because
of injury, Wheatley makes a nice pickup as Oakland
has a softer schedule the next few weeks.
RB Mike Cloud, NYG - I think the
Giants have found their much needed short yardage
back. With Dayne deactivated last week Cloud was
spectacular in the red zone as well as in spelling
MVP candidate Tiki Barber. He was most productive
in garbage time but if you are desperate need of
a RB then you may get a few points from him on weekly
basis.
WR Joey Galloway, TB - Galloway
is almost ready to make his return from a bad groin
injury. He would almost certainly be a starter opposite
rookie Michael Clayton and as long as Griese is
playing well Galloway should have a handful of good
games to close the season.
TE Doug Jolley, OAK - Jolley has
quietly found the end zone twice the last two weeks
and with the inconsistency of tight ends this year
he's certainly worth a look, especially for those
of you still starting Boo Williams, Freddie Jones,
or Jeb Putzier.
QB Brian Griese, TB - Griese was
off the fantasy map at the start of the season but
is suddenly playing well in a starting role and
with Galloway possibly returning Griese has a decent
set of WRs to throw to. He makes a nice backup.
WR Jabar Gaffney, HOU - David
Carr has finally come into his own as a top ten
fantasy QB and with teams continuing to double the
outstanding Andre Johnson, I look for big games
from other Houston WRs. Early in the season it looked
like Derek Armstrong was going to be the WR to take
advantage of single coverage but lately it has been
Gaffney with the big games.
Not sure About These Guys???
QB Byron Leftwich, JAC - Jaguars
quarterback is out indefinitely after spraining
the lateral collateral ligament in his left knee
in last weekend's 20-6 loss to the Houston Texans.
What you do with him is your call. Just don't start
him till we find out more on this one. Big Blow
to Gary Coleman owners.
WR Drew Bennett, TEN - Bennett
has only caught one pass the last two games and
has a surprising number of drops. Things should
change with the return of McNair so hold onto him
until we see what he does then.
WR Peerless Price, ATL - This
guy just plain confuses me? Now you see him now
you don't. I'd recommend you have him on your bench
but not start unless he gets a good matchup, or
Vick figures out what he wants to do in that offense.
TE Boo Williams, NO - Boo was
one of the players I was wrong about this pre-season
as I rated him a top 10 TE overall. His inability
to block has kept him off the field and Brooks just
seems to be looking elsewhere.
RB Kevan Barlow, SF - I said it
in the preseason: the reason why so many people
flocked to get Barlow is the reason why he will
suck – he’s the only guy in SF’s
offense. Granted, since the preseason Eric Johnson
has come out of nowhere to be a stud, but Sunday
night pretty much proved his production is hit-and-miss
depending on which poor schlep is playing QB. For
the most part, Barlow has had no help and might
as well have a big neon arrow pointing to his helmet
as soon as he breaks out of the huddle.
WR Jerry Rice, SEA - Has fizzled
with low productivity and an ankle injury. Do not
expect much from here on out.
Running Back Review (I'm ignoring
the obvious STUDS)
Moving On Up
Domanick Davis (HOU) – Against
a formidable Jacksonville front seven, Davis got
the yeoman’s share of carries (22) gaining
56 yards rushing while also hauling in five passes
for 39 yards, all the while remaining injury free,
which has been difficult for him this season. This
Sunday he heads to Denver, which has yielded an
average of 164 yards rushing to opponents in their
last two games, both losses.
Willis McGahee (BUF) – Travis
Henry, we hardly knew ye’. Ending months of
speculation, McGahee has finally wrested the starting
running back position from Henry after his second
100 yard rushing performance in three games, running
for 102 yards on 30 carries with two touchdowns
in Buffalo’s 38-14 victory over the Cardinals.
The 38 points scored was their highest single game
output of the year and many in the Bills organization
attribute that to McGahee energizing the running
attack. Buffalo hosts the Jets this week.
Jerome Bettis (PIT) –Bettis
has experienced a surprising rebirth in Steel Town
with the arrival of free agent running back Duce
Staley in the off-season. Staley, along with a rejuvenated
offensive line, has jump-started the Pittsburgh
ground attack and Bettis has become a prime beneficiary
in his role as the short yardage/ goal line specialist.
Bettis’ eight rushing touchdowns place him
second in the NFL behind only Priest Holmes. He
also added 65 yards rushing on 15 carries in the
Steelers victory over New England last week.
Mike Cloud (NYG) – In 12
or more team leagues that emphasize touchdowns,
Cloud could prove to be useful down the stretch
this season. His nine carry, 55 yard performance
in the Giants blow out road win over the Vikings
was also punctuated with two short touchdown runs.
Coughlin’s futile attempts to will Ron Dayne
into a power complement to Tiki Barber seemed to
have come to an end with the emergence of Cloud
as Dayne was a healthy scratch for the first time
all season.
Sliding Back
Mewelde Moore (MIN) – Moore
’s worst game as a pro couldn’t have
come at a worse time for the rookie from Tulane.
His mental error led to an early Vikings turnover
when he failed to pounce on a dropped lateral pass
in the eventual 34-13 loss to the Giants. He also
incurred a sprained ankle and mild concussion on
his way to 29 yards rushing on eight carries. Also
working against him, Michael Bennett seems to be
finding his groove as evidenced by his late touchdown
run against New York and Tice favorite Onterrio
Smith returns from his suspension this week.
Amos Zereoue (OAK) – In
the last three weeks, with Kerry Collins and the
passing game collapsing and Tyrone Wheatley sitting
due to injury, Amos Zereoue stood at opportunities
door and refused to open it. His disappearance last
week, carrying six times for negative one yard in
the Raiders 42-14 loss in San Diego combined with
Tyrone Wheatley’s four carries for 23 yards
and a touchdown confirmed his return trip to the
bench and part time duty behind Wheatley.
Thomas Jones (CHI)— After
an exciting three week start to the season, Jones
lost Rex Grossman for the season forcing the Bears
offense into a one dimensional quagmire. Still Jones
persevered and fought hard to put up respectable
numbers against Tampa Bay and Washington and looked
prime to play well against San Francisco on Sunday
night only to leave the game after the first few
snaps with a foot sprain that looks to keep him
out of this week’s game against the Giants.
Kevan Barlow (SF) -- Hard to believe,
after eight weeks in, that Barlow was a trendy preseason
pick to be the next fantasy superstar back after
his late season spurt in 2003. But the preseason
hypesters didn’t factor on the loss of Jeff
Garcia and Terrell Owens and subsequent replacement
of Tim Rattay / Ken Dorsey and Brandon Lloyd would
take such a toll on the injury-plagued Barlow. With
injuries along the offensive line and numerous tough
defenses remaining on the schedule, there seems
to be no light at the end of the tunnel either.
