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Wager On Football's Fantasy Football expert stops
by every week to give you the lowdown on Fantasy Football.
Fantasy insight is invaluable when it comes to gaining
knowledge about the one thing that consumes so many
of us die hard football fans for six months every
year. So Listen Up!!
I'm still In Shock
By: David
Bachman Fantasy Football Editor 9/22/04
I'm changing up the routine this week. I wasn't inspired
enough to write a big essay so I'm going to do some
additional fantasy analysis. Listen Carefully, I'm
only going to say this once.
Many NFL players have spent the entire preseason
refining their games, while others are simply not
going to improve, and might even see their performances
fall off. After two weeks, it's apparent that a few
players are ready to burst into or regain prominence,
while some others are about to recede into statistical
anonymity. Here's a look at players who are about
to see their values jump higher or drop out of sight.
Kevin Jones: He hasn't quite had
his breakout game yet, but it's going to come very
shortly. Jones runs well in short spaces and is quick
in traffic. Jones is reading his blockers quicker
every week and is making obvious positive strides
as a pass-catching back.
Rudi Johnson: Johnson has actually
looked sleeker so far this year, and he has battled
hard for yardage against two formidable defensive
lines (Jets, Dolphins) in the first two games. You're
going to see much more of the Rudi that exploded onto
the scene last year very soon. Peter Warrick: Injuries
have held him back so far. Once he rounds into top
form, though, Warrick is going to be a regular playmaker
for Carson Palmer. The two have quickly developed
a very good on-field relationship
Steven Jackson: Marshall Faulk
suffered a minor knee injury in Week Two, and it's
clear he's not planting and cutting with great confidence.
Jackson should get a chance to get in the lineup in
the near future, and when he does, look out. He's
a terrific downhill runner with great balance who
will be a major load for any defense to handle.
Lee Suggs: If he makes his return
from a neck injury this week, look out. Suggs is clearly
a missing link in the Cleveland offense. William Green
has still been running tentatively at times, and Suggs
is a much more determined runner than Green. Suggs
hits the holes with more authority and battles better
for the tough yards.
Jerry Porter: QB Rich Gannon has
been spreading the ball around, but soon he's going
to have to lock onto his most talented target. Porter
is still adjusting to a more prominent role in the
offense, but he's going to start making most of the
important catches for Gannon. The Raiders can't expect
a whole lot more from Ronald Curry and Doug Gabriel.
Darrell Jackson: He has been a big
disappointment so far, but he'll rebound to his past
form very quickly. Look for Jackson to shine at home
against San Francisco this week as Seattle's offense
truly begins to open up for the first time this year.
Chris Baker: He is quickly developing
into a reliable target for Chad Pennington, who will
rarely waste a chance to get him the ball when he
is open. Baker is going to become a very important
receiver for Pennington on third downs and near the
goal line as the year goes on.
Ron Dayne: It seems like he gets
off a good run once every dozen carries or so, but
it's not going to be enough for fantasy owners to
keep him around for much longer. He had a promising
preseason, yet he might not do much more than score
the occasional TD this year. He'll make some timely
plays for the Giants, but it won't be enough to help
fantasy teams.
T.J. Duckett: You must worry when
Warrick Dunn starts getting goal-line carries. Duckett
saw more action in Week Two, but only because Dunn
left the game with an injury. As long as Dunn stays
healthy, he's looking too comfortable in the West
Coast offense to sit for Duckett at all right now
Travis Henry: Although Willis McGahee
has done nothing yet to establish himself as a real
threat to Henry during the regular season, Henry has
not done much to reassert himself either. Henry is
beginning to look incapable of finding the end zone
often anymore, and he's starting to look like he's
only going to post mediocre numbers every week.
Onterrio Smith: He blew a big chance
to make a major mark on the Minnesota offense when
he rushed for only 28 yards on Monday night and didn't
challenge the Philadelphia defense. With his suspension
looming anytime soon, Smith is in great danger of
losing any momentum he used to propel himself into
the spotlight before Week 2.
Plaxico Burress: New rules against
contact haven't helped him at all. Burress still isn't
getting open often enough or making important catches.
With the Steelers now turning to rookie Ben Roethlisberger,
Burress' chances of shaking off the classic underachiever
label are not very good.
Darius Watts: He is starting to
look like Denver's version of "Mr. August."
Watts has followed up a promising preseason with a
very quiet beginning to the year. Inconsistency was
an an evident trait even before the season began,
so don't think you'll be able to depend on Watts anytime
soon.
Justin Gage: He has only one catch
in his first two games, and while Rex Grossman does
like to spread the ball around, he's not looking for
Gage at all. At best, you'll get some occasional TD
catches out of Gage, but he might not be truly useful
until 2005.
Donald Driver: He is not confirming
that his disappointing 2003 season was not a fluke.
Driver is making a few tough grabs for Brett Favre
here and there, but he's not a playmaking threat anymore.
It's time to stop hoping he will become a big-play
man again.
Marcus Robinson, WR, Minnesota Vikings:
Every week, a different receiver seems to play well,
or least respectably, alongside Randy Moss. This time,
it's Robinson's turn. He'll be facing his former team,
the Bears, who have been weakened by injuries in the
secondary. Daunte Culpepper likes the idea of having
another big target like Robinson in the red zone.
This week, he will get him the ball for at least one
short score, even if he continues to distribute the
ball well among his secondary receivers. Don't depend
on Robinson on a regular basis, but he's a good play
against his former team at home.
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