Waiver Wednesday: The Hot 8

If you needed another reason to read The Hot 8 every week, you got it last week when 6 of the players listed scored TD's and the future picks are already about to make an impact in week 4. This week we blend a couple obvious choices with a few players that NOBODY is considering...yet.


SHORT TERM HELP


1) Glen Coffee -- RB -- 49ers -- An absolute must have for this weeks matchup against the Rams. Chances are you will only be able to use Coffee for weeks #4 & 5 because Frank Gore should be back after the bye week. But the 49ers are committed to running the football and they have great faith in Coffee and his ability to produce. Coffee got on the fast track this summer by showing tremendous work ethic, pass catch ability, vision and blocking ability. You can expect a similar week from Coffee than you would Frank Gore this week and that is definitely worth a roster move now isn't it?


2) Aaron Brown -- RB -- Lions -- This guy had caught my eye each of the first two weeks of the regular season. All I could say as I watched was, "Who is that fast guy for Detroit?" and it was Brown who was cutting and slashing and showing great balance and speed in his limited time. Starting RB Kevin Smith injured his shoulder in last weeks win against Washington and is questionable at best for this week at Chicago. Sure Maurice Morris got the TD last week, but Brown is the one who will receive the bulk of the touches if Smith can't go. I have confidence that if Smith doesn't play, Brown will go off and have himself a breakout type of game this week.


3) Kyle Boller -- QB -- Rams -- By now everybody should know how I feel about Kyle Boller. As far back as June of this year I wrote that he was the best backup QB in the NFL and I stand behind that sentiment now. Now, just because Boller is a genuine talent doesn't mean he will instantly come in and dominate like he did last week. The QB is the most important part of any offense but he isn't the whole offense. The Rams lack talent along the offensive line especially without T Jason Smith and at WR without Laurent Robinson. Boller will eventually be the Rams starter even when Bulger comes back so this move could pay off both now and later on this season.


4) Randy McMichael -- TE -- Rams -- Kyle Boller will get the start in week 4 against the 49ers and that is great news for the entire Rams offense. Unfortunately, the 49ers defense is performing very well of late but Boller at least give the Rams a chance at moving the ball and scoring consistently. He is especially good for McMichael who is a quality TE but suffers from Marc Bulger's inability to throw to the middle of the field. Bulger just doesn't throw to TE's. Boller will rely heavily on McMichael this Sunday since the 49ers corners are playing so well. You can expect about 5+ catches, 75+ yards and possibly a score for McMichael in just about every game that Kyle Boller starts for the Rams.


ALL SEASON HELP


5) Chad Henne -- QB -- Dolphins -- Henne has got a big arm and will certainly be able to move the push the ball down the field better than the limp armed Chad Pennington. I see more of a payoff for Ted Ginn and Davone Bess actually, but Henne may be worth taking a shot on in deeper leagues. His physical skills are there. All he needs is to learn how NFL defenses work and how they will scheme against him and then make his adjustments. The test for Henne will be whether or not he is smart enough to become and hold a starting QB job at this level.


6) Kelly Washington -- WR -- Ravens -- I love what the Ravens are doing on offense. They appear to be a juggernaut with the perfect blend of high octane passing game of Al Saunders to go with a power running game lead by 3 multi-dimensional RB's. Washington is right in the middle of it all as he is a regular target of Joe Flacco and someone who will continue to produce solid numbers week in and week out. He missed practice on Wednesday with a tweaked groin but the team says it is nothing to worry about. Washington has a nice blend of size and speed that make him a tough one on one matchup for any cornerback. As long as Washington continues to catch the football he will receive more and more targets and continue to produce very solid WR2 type of numbers.


KEEP YOUR EYE ON


7) Jamaal Charles -- RB -- Chiefs -- The Chiefs schedule eventually gets better and so too should their offense. Charles is by far the most talented RB on the roster and has made an impact already in catching passes out of the backfield. The biggest issue Charles faces is holding onto the football something that could derail his career altogether at some point. But his speed is electrifying and his playmaking ability is desperately needed in the Chiefs backfield right now. He'll get his chance very soon and if he holds onto the ball, Charles could be in for a huge second half of this season.


8) Ruvell Martin -- WR -- Rams -- I have to admit that I used to LOVE NFL Europe. I though it was a fantastic breeding ground of young talent and it proved so by producing players like Kurt Warner, Jon Kitna, Shaun Hill, Jamal Robertson and Maurice Hicks among others. Martin was dominant in Europe and came back to the U.S. with renewed confidence at caught on with the Green Bay Packers where he's been for several years. Martin has decent speed and great size (6'4" 215 lbs) to go along with great hands. This is the perfect situation for him to come in and step up becoming the Rams go to WR. I expect that Martin eventually become the Rams starter opposite Donnie Avery and become a possession WR and frequent red zone target.




That is the Hot 8 for this week. What do you guys think?
Post your comments below or email me at thefantasyscout@gmail.com

Quick QB Repair

Week 3 in the NFL brought several changes to starting QB's around the league. Some were performance related and others due to injury. With the bye weeks coming up it is time to make sure you have coverage for when your every week starter is off and your backup has a bad matchup. Here are my evaluations on the new starting QB's next week.


Tampa Bay -- Byron Leftwich --> Josh Johnson

Despite failing to hold the starting job in Jacksonville and now losing it in Tampa Bay, Leftwich is actually a pretty decent passer. His biggest problem is his lack of mobility, something that haunted him as far back as the college level. He also becomes lazy with his throws, not finishing them off and thus allowing defenders to catch up to them and make plays on them.

Josh Johnson will give himself a better chance to avoid the pass rush by using his exceptional mobility. This should take some of the pressure off a under performing offensive line for the Bucs and also give their slow-footed WR's a bit more time to get open. Johnson is nowhere near as accurate as Leftwich, but he will be able to make plays with his feet as well as his arm and that is something the Bucs offense desperately needs.

With Antonio Bryant now back and Kevin Winslow playing well, Johnson should be able to post some average passing numbers and provide some extra fantasy points with his rushing yards and possibly a couple rushing TD's as well. There is an obvious tradeoff here but it was a move that had to be made in order for this offense to have any chance to succeeding.



Miami -- Chad Pennington --> Chad Henne


I have never been a fan of Chad Pennington's lollipop throws or below adequate arm strength. He is a very competitive player however and made up for his diminished skill set with grit and determination. But, that hasn't nor will it ever translate into fantasy success. You cannot score points in fantasy football with good vibes.

Enter Chad Henne, a big, strong kid with a big time arm who was being groomed for the starting QB role in 2010 anyways. Henne has the tools to be a good NFL QB, but he isn't the sharpest tool in the shed. He performs drills and makes throws like a star, but has trouble identifying and reading defensive packages which can be big trouble for a young QB. Head coach Tony Sparano and team president Bill Parcells both believe that Henne has what it takes to learn how to read a defense and check out of plays at the line of scrimmage. That will remain to be seen.

The immediate impact for the Dolphins is that they will be able to go down field more often and with more authority now behind Chad Henne. I look for either Ted Ginn or Davone Bess to develop into a downfielt now and become a somewhat usable fantasy option.



Cleveland -- Brady Quinn --> Derek Anderson


Brady Quinn's development has taken a major hit since being drafted by the Browns. The team has not brought in any veteran players or specialty coaches to mentor Quinn as most teams with young franchise QB's do. The constant battle between Quinn and Derek Anderson has fractured the locker room, coaching staff and front office of the Browns completely. Eric Mangini is a lousy developer of talent and Quinn doesn't stand a chance as long as the two are together.

Derek Anderson had great success working with former offensive coordinator Rob Chudzinski and appeared on his way to being a star QB in the NFL but took a giant leap backward last season. Anderson is a streaky player who can make certain throws such as timing and crossing routes as good as anybody but then lacks accuracy on the more simple sideline routes. He is an enigma who is fully capable of racking up great fantasy numbers or fully imploding this season.

The Browns have a good offensive line and some playmakers such as Braylon Edwards, Josh Cribbs, James Davis and Jerome Harrison. If they can get some considtent QB play this could actually be an above average offense but so far that hasn't been seen this year. Eric Mangini is the most over rated head coach of all time and is not equipped to coach younger players.



St. Louis -- Marc Bulger --> Kyle Boller


This is one I called from the get go after watching the Rams QB drills in training camp with my own eyes this summer. The difference in skills between Bulger and Boller is staggering. Kyle Boller is a prototype NFL QB. He can make all the throws, has the instincts, the moxy and intelligence to be a starting QB in this league. Marc Bulger was a perfect timing route system QB because of his quick release and ability to lead a receiver. While that worked in the Mike Martz system, Bulger has failed and actually looked quite awful in trying to play in either Scott Linehan or Steve Spagnuolo's offensive scheme.

Bulger has what is being called a bruised rotator cuff and will likely miss at least 1-2 games. That will be all the time that players, coaches, fans and anybody else interested in the St. Louis Rams need to realize that Kyle Boller gives the team the best chance to win. Bulger makes a ton of money but will not be back with the Rams next season.

While I like Kyle Boller a great deal, he is left with nothing but scraps to work with here in St. Louis. Chances are he will find his own WR or TE who he is comfortable with. Randy McMichael is a sure bet to get increased looks with Boller at the helm. Losing Laurent Robinson for the season is a big loss. Donnie Avery is a solid downfield threat but they need to find somebody that will get open consistently and who can make plays especially in the red zone. Keenan Burton will get the first look but I believe Ruvel Martin is the guy to now own in St. Louis. Keep an eye on him and his progress with Boller of the next couple of weeks.





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Sunday Roundup

INJURIES

Marc Bulger -- QB -- Rams -- Right Shoulder
Frank Gore -- RB -- 49ers -- High Ankle Sprain
Kevin Smith -- RB -- Lions -- Shoulder
Laurent Robinson -- WR -- Rams -- Ankle/Lower Leg
Chad Pennington -- QB -- Dolphins -- Right Shoulder
Laurence Maroney -- RB -- Patriots -- Thigh/Quad
Peyton Hillis -- RB -- Broncos -- Head



BREAKOUTS

Kyle Boller -- QB -- Rams -- 16-31 164 Yards 2 TD's
Pierre Thomas -- RB -- Saints -- 14-126 Yards 2 TD's
Kevin Walter -- WR -- Texans -- 7-96 Yards 1 TD
Santana Moss -- WR -- Redskins -- 10-178 Yards 1 TD
Jason Campbell -- QB -- Redskins -- 27-41 340 Yards 2 TD's
Vernon Davis -- TE -- 49ers -- 7-96 Yards 2 TD's



DISAPPOINTMENTS

Drew Brees -- QB -- Saints -- 16-29 172 Yards 0 TD's
Eddie Royal -- WR -- Broncos -- 1-4 Yards
Thomas Jones -- RB -- Jets -- 14-20 Yards
James Davis -- RB -- Browns -- 5-10 Yards
Derrick Ward -- RB -- 5-2 Yards
Byron Leftwich -- 7-16 22 Yards
Terrell Owens -- 0 Catches



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Week 3 Starts & Sits

These aren't your ordinary fantasy picks right here folks. These are deep cuts, players other fantasy websites don't bother talking about but who can win you games when played correctly.


START


QB - David Garrard -- Jaguars -- Garrard started finding his groove late in week 2 and finally looked the part of an NFL QB. He found a real connection with Mike Sims-Walker down the stretch and that has continued into this week in practice I am told. The Jags will be throwing to score tomorrow and I am predicting Garrard throws at least 1 TD and runs for at least 1 more.


RB - LaDell Betts -- Redskins -- Clinton Portis is banged up but is looking like he will give it a go on a sore ankle. The Redskins are going to keep the ball on the ground all day Sunday and we're gonna see Betts get nearly as many carries and touches as Portis with the benefit of a short yardage TD against the lowly Lions.

WR - Lee Evans -- Bills -- Just when everybody is about to give up on him, Evans will score a long TD this week in a game that looks like it will be pretty high scoring. So many fantasy owners have been taking Evans in and out of their lineup this week that they are going to kick themselves when the results come in.


SIT

QB - Mark Sanchez -- Jets -- Nobody should be starting him anyways but that hasn't stopped nearly 40% of leagues from doing so anyways. Sanchez has managed the games well to be sure, but he lacks several components when it comes right down to it to be a starting fantasy QB's.

RB - Chris Johnson -- Titans -- It will be difficult for anybody to not start Johnson after a sensational game in week 2. But he is facing a tough Jets defense who is tough up the middle and has the speed to tackle sideline to sideline. I see Johnson falling back down to earth this week and letting so many fantasy owners down.

WR - Kelly Washington -- Ravens -- Washington is finally getting some real playing time and looks in his direction in recent weeks. Washington seems like he has won Joe Flacco's trust and may have a real good week this week. The Cleveland secondary is not very deep and can be exposed especially by great offensive minds like Al Saunders and Cam Cameron.




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Sunday's At Fantasy Football Search

PREGAME


As always, I recommend everybody tune in tomorrow morning for the Sunday Kickoff Edition of Fantasy Football Tonight. Ted "Hawkeye" Schuster and I will be breaking down each and every game complete with last minutes news, notes, reports from the sidelines, in-actives, weather conditions, who to start/sit and much, much more. We'll be LIVE starting at 11:30 AM EST (10:30 AM CDT) and going all the way until kickoff. Give us a call during the show at 347-215-9913 or email us at thefantasyscout@gmail.com and ask your questions or give us your take on what you expect to happen this week. Please go to an NFL Betting site to get the latest point spreads on each game.

DURING THE GAME

When the games come on hop on over to our Game Time Fantasy Chat right here on Fantasy Football Search. All of our fantasy writers will be chatting LIVE all afternoon while we watch the games and give you our take on what is going on as it happens. No matter what teams or players you want information on, with our Game Time Fantasy Chat you will never be considered out of market.


AFTER THE GAME


Join me right back here as I deliver my Sunday Roundup where I will go over everything that impressed me, depressed me, injuries, great performances, lost opportunities and everything else that I saw while watching the games. This is where you'll get a head start on next week by finding out which free agents are sure to be hot, what players will be gaining time next week and which ones will be losing time. If you miss any of the games on Sunday, this is where you should come to catch up on everything.



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Friday Injury Report

Friday Injury Report

Only fantasy relevant players listed. Status is that which is listed on the NFL's official injury report. Fantasy Football Search's notes are in parenthesis () next to the injury description.

OUT

Matt Hasselbeck -- Seahawks -- Broken Rib

Jamal Lewis -- Browns -- Hamstring

LaDanian Tomlinson -- Chargers -- Ankle

Donovan McNabb -- Eagles -- Broken Rib

Kevin Curtis -- Eagles -- Knee

Mike Bell -- Saints -- MCL Sprain

Lance Moore -- Saints -- Hamstring

Maurice Stovall -- Buccaneers -- Knee

Brandon Jackson -- Packers -- Ankle

QUESTIONABLE

Jerious Norwood -- Falcons -- Concussion (Very Doubtful)

Steve Breaston -- Cardinals -- Knee

Knowshon Moreno -- Broncos -- Groin

Wes Welker -- Patriots -- Knee Sprain

Randy Moss -- Patriots -- Back (Likely To Play)

Rob Bironas -- Titans -- Right Foot Sprain

Dwayne Bowe -- Chiefs -- Hamstring

Percy Harvin -- Vikings -- Severe Migranes

Clinton Portis -- Redskins -- Ankle Spurs

Phil Dawson -- Browns -- Calf

Brian Westbrook -- Eagles -- Swollen Ankle

DeSean Jackson -- Eagles -- Groin

Marion Barber -- Cowboys -- Quadriceps (Doubtful)

Antonio Bryant -- Buccaneers -- Fluid In Knee

Cadillac Williams -- Buccaneers -- Knee

Domenik Hixon -- Giants -- Knee

PROBABLE

Kevin Walter -- Texans -- Hamstring (Will Be Limited)

T.J. Houshmandzadeh -- Seahawks -- Back

Jason Campbell -- Redskins -- Foot

Frank Gore -- 49ers -- Ankle

Adrian Peterson -- Vikings -- Back

Cedric Benson -- Bengals -- Ankle

Chris Henry -- Bengals -- Thigh

Pierre Thomas -- Saints -- MCL Sprain

Mario Manningham -- Giants -- Shoulder

Anquan Boldin -- Cardinals -- Hamstring

Need any help with waiver pickups or lineup selection now that you know your players status for the week? Email me at thefantasyscout@gmail.com with any questions or concerns you may have.

The Hot 8 Expands: 16 Waiver Pickups For This Week And Beyond

That's right everybody, your favorite free agent advice column (hopefully!) was too packed with possibilities that I have doubled it in size just for this week! That means there are 16 players who are on the waiver wire in most fantasy leagues right now who I have on my radar as possible fantasy producers in the coming weeks. I even broke it down to the timeframe in which each player is likely to make an impact for you.


Please take a look at the full article and save it to your favorites if you like what you read. Every Wednesday during the season I will be providing at least 8 players who deserve roster consideration right now. All you have to do is sign up for a FREE Fantasy Football Search Season Pass to get The Hot 8 and many, many other great insider articles each and everyday all season long. Once you are a member, visit The Hot 8 page to read the full article.


In the meantime, here is a sampling of some of the 16 players I have in The Hot 8 this week. Please feel free to comment on each player if you like or don't like and recommend others that I may have missed.


THE HOT 8 SAMPLER


Johnny Knox -- WR -- Bears -- The speedy WR has gotten everybody's attention after two very productive games and establishing himself as one of Jay Cutler's favorite targets. Knox has very good top end speed to get behind a defense and with Cutler's big arm he can certainly do some damage. Don't let the small school or his late draft status fool you. Knox is a better WR already than Devin Hester, Rashied Davis or Earl Bennett. This is a WR that has breakout written all over him.



Kelly Washington -- WR -- Ravens -- Washington has bounced around the NFL for years, always displaying great speed but also sloppy route running and inconsistent hands. He had been tagged as a return man and hasn't had much of a chance being a receiver in awhile. But, he is one of those guys who is now in the perfect system for his skills and is desperately needed due to the lack of WR talent currently on the Ravens roster. Washington is a veteran who has the confidence of the coaching staff and his QB Joe Flacco. With passing game coordinator Al Saunder and offensive coordinator Cam Cameron drawing up plays, the Ravens are able to acutely run plays that are suitable for the talent they put on the field. Washington could explode and be an every week fantasy starter for an offense that everybody will want to have a part of by midseason.



Chris Brown -- RB -- Texans -- It is crazy how fast Steve Slaton is falling out of favor in Houston. Head coach Gary Kubiak has come out publicly twice now and thrown shots at Slaton. The latest outburst comes from Slaton's fumbling that began in training camp and continued into the season. Slaton has had issues with fumbling in the past and I doubt making public comments about it is going to help the young RB's confidence. Chris Brown is not a great RB by any stretch, but he is already the choice to carry the ball inside the 10 yard line and thus will hawk a fair share of TD's from Slaton anyways. But he could wind up stealing more carries or even the starting job unless Slaton starts playing better and fast.



Kyle Boller -- QB -- Rams -- Marc Bulger is done. It has always been my opinion that Bulger was a system QB whose quick release and timing accuracy was a perfect fit for Mike Martz system. He would be a perfect backup in Baltimore right now as a matter of fact. But for the Rams and for this season, Kyle Boller is a much better fit and could actually produce some solid numbers for an offense desperately in need of good decision making. Boller is good enough to be a starting QB in this league, do not be fooled by what happened to him in Baltimore. That was a mutiny by jealous players who did not think highly of Boller's high draft pick status and take charge attitude when he came to town. The Rams need a leader and someone who can deliver a pass on target and is not afraid to take a shot in the process. Boller will finish the season as the Rams starting QB.




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News & Notes 9/22

KUBIAK MAD AT SLATON


Houston head coach Gary Kubiak said publicly that he is upset with Steve Slation's fumbles so far this season and says the young RB can, "definitely run better." Slaton has fumbled three times in just 26 carries this season and is already losing time around the goal line to backup Chris Brown. Brown is a must own fantasy RB right now as Slaton is starting to lose favor already in Houston and will continue to do so until he plays better.


QB CHANGE IN KANSAS CITY?


Matt Cassel got alot of money to become the starting franchise QB in Kansas City but it seems the one year wonder is already losing favor from both coaches and teammates. Brodie Croyle's strong performance in week #1 and Tyler Thigpen's sensational end to the 2008 season has everybody in Kansas City thinking they can do without Tom Brady's former backup. Cassel played pretty poorly on Sunday against the Raiders but get the benefit of the doubt because he is still shaking off rust from a knee injury and the Chiefs offensive line was also awful.


THE HOT 8


Tomorrow night I will be posting The Hot 8, my weekly waiver wire article right here on Fantasy Football Search. This week there are so many good players on my radar that I may have to expand the list to 10 or even 12. The one thing I notice about the players that are mostly on the waiver wire is that there are a ton of WR's. I could do an entire article just on which receivers to pick up this week.

Last week I told you to go out and pickup Pierre Garcon and/or Laurent Robinson. If you did so then I am sure you are happy with me and anxious to read the next edition of The Hot 8. But if you ignored my advice last week don't stand pat for too long. There are good players still available in most leagues and it is crucial to make the necessary moves at this point in the season.


BILLS LOST TWO TE'S


The Buffalo Bills got bad news today concerning their top 2 TE's. Derek Schouman has been placed on injured reserve with a knee injury and Derek Fine will most likely miss time due to a hamstring injury. That leaves just rookie Shawn Nelson by himself atop the depth chart. Nelson is not worthy of a fantasy roster spot just yet but keep an eye on him anyway.


ALSO OUT THIS WEEK

Matt Hasselbeck -- Broken Rib
Marion Barber -- Quad Injury
Troy Williamson -- Torn Labrum
Mike Bell -- MCL Sprain



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Monday Roundup

The injury to Seahawks QB Matt Hasselbeck has turned out to be a fractured rib. There is conflicting reports on whether or not Hasselbeck will be able to go against the Bears in week 3. The fact of the matter is that Hasselbeck was hospitalized with the broken rib and this type of injury is very painful. Hasselbeck has not been one to play while in much pain and therefore it is doubtful that he goes this week against Chicago. Even if by some miraculous recovery he does suit up this week, he will be one hit away from taking another half a game off and therefore screwing fantasy owners who may depend on him.


Jaguars WR and preseason phenom Troy Williamson is likely out for the season with a torn labrum in his shoulder. Williamson suffered the injury in Sunday's game against the Cardinals and gave way to Mike Sims-Walker who stepped up big for the Jags. Drop Williamson and take a shot on Sims-Walker for the rest of the year.


And speaking of the Jags WR situation, there might be a chance that former Jacksonville WR Reggie Williams makes a return somewhere in the NFL after being reinstated today after serving a two game suspension. He would make perfect sense in Jacksonville but a lot of healing would have to be done before that deal is struck.


Mike Bell has been diagnosed with a sprained MCL. Again, there are conflicting reports on the severity of this sprain and the recovery can vary dramatically. We'll have to wait until Friday for any sort of clarification on Bell's status but it is likely that he won't suit up in week 3. Pierre Thomas figures to finally be healthy and a central piece of the Saints offense this week.


The Saints are also watching the progress of Lance Moore who left week 2 after aggravating his hamstring. Moore has been slow to get going since having offseason shoulder surgery. He's been dealing with the same hamstring injury for several weeks so this is cause for concern. Let's cool it on Moore until he proves that he can not only stay on the field but become a part of the high octane Saints offense once again.


Chaz Schilens will not be back for the Raiders in week 3. He is making progress but the team is going slowly with him after getting quality performances from Louis Murphy and Zach Miller. Look for Schilens to be a game time decision for week 4.


The Cowboys are saying that RB Marion Barber is day-to-day with the quad injury that cut short a sure touchdown run late in Sunday's game against the Giants. My sources however, tell me that Barber is scheduled to have a battery of tests on on Tuesday to see the full extent of the injury. The Cowboys are far more fearful about Barber's injury then they are letting on.


Brian Westbrook now has swelling on his surgically repaired right ankle. This in addition to his degenerative knee and makes for a sure fire loss of playing time for the #1 RB. If you own Westbrook, you absolutely must acquire LeSean McCoy as he is becoming more and more valuable with every swollen part of Westbrook.


DeSean Jackson is day to day with a groin injury. Speaking of speedy Eagles WR's...what the heck has happened to Jeremy Maclin?




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The Problem With Darren Sproles

Just some words of caution to all of you out there who are salivating over the apparent death of LaDanian Tomlinson. Darren Sproles is 5'6" and 170 lbs. He is fast, got great change of direction and breakaway speed and can catch the ball like a wide receiver. But he will never, ever be a full time feature NFL RB.

His body just cannot handle a constant pounding that would be distributed with 20+ carries and several catches each and every game. It doesn't matter how tough mentally or physically he might be, it is just nature that that body type doesn't hold up under such stress. This is why you see little known college players and junior college players enter the NFL and get drafted higher than Heisman Trophy candidates. An NFL RB must have the body type to be able to handle a weekly beating and keep on ticking.

Sproles will always be the San Diego third down and chage of pace RB. No matter if LT is healthy, injured, 30 years old or retired. If LT can't go this week, you will see Michael Bennett get at least half if not more of the carries than Sproles gets. That is not to say Sproles will be worthless in fantasy if LT doesn't play. But I have spoken with and heard from many of you who believe Sproles will step in and be the next LaDanian Tomlinson and that is where I just have to cut it off.

LT is a little guy himself. But he is still 3-4 inches taller and 30 lbs heavier then Sproles and even LT's body gets beaten down after a few real good hits like he sustained Monday night. So keep your expectations in check as far as Sproles is concerned. Now would be a fantastic time to trade him in fact. There is surely somebody in your league who will buy into the hype that is this mini RB and swap you a pretty decent WR or TE for him.



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Colts To Sign Hank Baskett

Fantasy Football Search sources have indicated that the Indianapolis Colts intend to sign former Eagles WR Hank Baskett today.

Anthony Gonzalez will be out a minimum of six weeks which will give Pierre Garcon plenty of opportunities to post some real good weeks coming up. Baskett could also make a low impact once he learns the Colts offense and Peyton Manning's complicated hand audible signals.

Waiver Pickups & New Injuries

Every week during the season I will be posting The Hot 8 which contains my top 8 waiver wire pickups. These are not your obvious, Donovan McNabb got hurt so go and pickup Kevin Kolb, Jeff Garcia or Michael Vick. No, sir. I'll uncover and explain in detail which players are on the cusp of breaking out in a big way. These are the pickups that win championships and you'll get them well before anybody else in your league even knows about them.

Of course, The Hot 8 is just for those who purchased our Season Pass ($10) which includes our game time fantasy blogs, weekly start 'em and sit 'em, pass target report, early morning in-active report, detailed weather report, goal line touch counts, strength of schedules, weekly statistical projections and so much more. Here is a sample of the kind of in depth information and analysis that is contained inside The Hot 8:


Pierre Garcon -- WR -- Colts -- With Anthony Gonzalez being out for a minimum of 6 weeks, it will be Garcon who steps into the #2 WR role for the Colts. Austin Collie is best suited for the slot and thus that is where he will stay. Garcon actually allows Peyton Manning some more flexibility in ball placement as he's a bigger and stronger WR than Gonzalez. This will give the team more red zone options as well. Garcon is experienced in the system and Manning is comfortable with him. He is the must have player right now in just about every fantasy football league.


Jared Cook -- TE -- Titans -- Cook is an exceptional athlete. He has great size, speed and can catch anything thrown his way. After dealing with a sprained ankle the past few weeks, Cook will be back this week to fill in for Bo Scaife. With a strong performance this week, Cook could solidify his status as the Titans starting TE of both now and the future. His presence give the Titans another legitimate downfield option next to Justin Gage and Kenny Britt. This offense is now chalk full of playmakers at nearly every position. It is very possible that Cook winds up among the top 3 or 4 TE's in the NFL this season. He is that good.


Laurent Robinson -- WR -- Rams -- Robinson is the Rams best receiver. For whatever that is worth, don't underestimate what he could bring to your team. He will be an every week producer especially in PPR leagues. I think that once Kyle Boller takes over for Marc Bulger, the entire St. Louis offense will improve. Robinson is still available in nearly 75% of fantasy leagues but should be owned ahead of many bigger name players such as Chris Chambers, Santana Moss and Ted Ginn.


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NEW INJURIES REPORTED TODAY


It was told today that Kurt Warner suffered a stinger in his neck/shoulder on Sunday which severely limited him from airing the ball out downfield. This explains all of the catches by Tim Hightower on dump offs even while the Cardinals were playing from behind. He is supposed to be fine, but it is really just a matter of time before he crumbles and Matt Leinart is inserted to the lead role.


Desean Jackson tweaked his groin and not in a good way during the Eagles blowout win over the Panthers on Sunday. Jackson did not practice today but is aiming to be a limited participant on Thursday and be a full go by Friday.


Limas Sweed injured his foot during practice drills this morning and had to be helped off of the field by teammates and trainers. I have yet to receive any news on X-rays or an MRI that was performed this afternoon on Sweed but should know more by tomorrow. If Sweed misses any time it would really jeopardize his chances at ever climbing to the #3 WR role in Pittsburgh.



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Quick Hits 9/15

Just a couple random things before I call it a night. If you want all of latest news, notes and updates in long form listen a replay of Fantasy Football Tonight -- The Tuesday Show where Ryan Hallam and myself. Subscribe to the feed or download us on iTunes and hear our shows 5 days a week.

• The Giants claimed RB Gartrell Johnson off of waivers from San Diego today. The Giants are getting themselves a pretty decent player to pad their depth while the Chargers really screwed up with this move. They had wanted to sneak Johnson onto their practice squad, but a good young RB is hard for teams to pass up especially at this early point in the season.
• Speaking of San Diego, LaDanian Tomlinson sprained his ankle in last night's win over the Raiders and is very questionable to play against the Ravens this week. If he can't go, Darren Sproles and Michael Bennett will fill in LT's shoes.
• The Eagles placed RT Shawn Andrews on injured reserve, ending his season before it began. Andrews has been suffering from back issues all summer long. However, Andrews has some major personal demons that he needs to exercise before he can come back to playing football and being depended on again.
• The Eagles also released WR Hank Baskett, better known as the guy who stole Kendra away from that old walking STD Hugh Hefner.
• The Eagles also went ahead and declined an option in Brian Westbrook's contract that would have kept Westbrook in Philly through 2013. This was an obvious decision but the timing of it all is alarming. We all know that Westbrook has a degenerative knee and that he can only stand so much of a pounding these days. I would almost expect LeSean McCoy to be a primary RB in Philadelphia next season.
• Patriots LB Jerod Mayo has been diagnosed with a sprained MCL in his right knee and could miss more than half the season. It is a grade III sprain and thus it will take quite awhile for him to get back onto the field.

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News & Notes 9/14

GONE, BABY GONE

Word out of Indianapolis is that WR Anthony Gonzalez will miss much if not all of the season. The Colts are suddenly shy about disclosing information this year but the team is meeting with several medical people after receiving disappointing MRI results of Gonzalez's knee. I will update this story when more details become available.


The Bears officially placed MLB Brian Urlacher on injured reserve, ending his 2009 season after one game. This is a big hit to the Bears defense as Urlacher was a force in creating turnovers and always among the league leaders in tackles. Hunter Hillenmeyer takes over the MLB spot and warrants minimal fantasy consideration.


Panthers backup QB Josh McCown has also been placed on IR with knee and ankle injuries. His contract expires after this season so he is officially done with the Panthers and possibly in the NFL.


Jaguars DE Reggie Heyward will miss the season as well after suffering a destruction of his left shin. The bone is shattered so badly that this may end Heywards career altogether. The Jags may wind up moving DT John Henderson over at times especially in running situations.


The Bengals must be satisfied with Cedric Benson and Bernard Scott as the team released third string RB DeDe Dorsey today. Doresy is a decent RB who can catch the ball well out of the backfield. He will get a look somewhere else this season but won't get much if any playing time anywhere else.


Fourth round draft pick RB Gartrell Johnson was released by the Chargers today, just hours before their first game of the season. The team hopes to land Johnson on their practice squad instead of using up a roster spot for him.



SIGNED, SEALED & DELIVERED

QB A.J. Feeley had his pick of going back to Philadelphia and be either Kevin Kolb or Michael Vick's backup for a few weeks or going to Carolina and be the backup and eventually challenge the struggling Jake Delhomme. Feeley chose wisely and signed with the Panthers today. It will take him a few weeks to learn the offense, but he honestly could be the starting QB in Carolina once he does.


The Eagles then decided to bring back Jeff Garcia as insurance in case Kevin Kolb has to start more than one week. There is speculation that Garcia could step in and start instead of Kolb this week, but that will remain to be seen. It is interesting that A.J. Feeley got the better of the two jobs and not Garcia.


Former Vikings WR Bobby Wade was signed by the Chiefs today. Why? No idea really other than the Chiefs are desperate for players on the offensive side of the ball and are confusing activity with accomplishment here.



INJURY UPDATES

Pierre Thomas says he plans on playing in week 2 and will practice by the end of the week.


Steve Breaston aggravated his PCL sprain during pregame warmups yesterday and was thus ruled in-active at the last possible minute. Breaston is still hurting today I am hearing and his status for week 2 is up in the air at this time.


Despite the Lisfranc scares last night and this morning it appears Giants rookie WR Hakeem Nicks got off easy with only a sprain of a ligament on the top of his foot. The timetable for his return is 2-3 weeks but could easily be a bit longer considering the nature of this injury.



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Bills at Patriots In-Actives

The following players have been ruled IN-ACTIVE for tonight's game:



BILLS

TE Derek Fine
LB Ashlee Palmer
DL Chris Ellis
CB Drayton Florence
CB Ellis Lankster
QB Gibran Hamdan
OT Kirk Chambers
WR Steve Johnson


Note: No surprises here. There won't be many surprises in Buffalo as long as Dick Jaruon is running the show.

PATRIOTS

WR Julian Edelman
G Dan Connolly
RB BenJarvus Green-Ellis
OL Rich Ohrnberger
DL Myron Pryor
OG Kendall Simmons
S Matthew Slater
CB Terrance Wheatley


Note: I guess Green-Ellis isn't a threat for carries despite his effort in the final preseason game.

Sunday Night Roundup

So much has happened..so much has been learned since the early games got going today. We've seen major injuries, big surprises, disappointments and of course some fluky never seen before plays all of which is why Sunday football is so great. In case you missed anything, here are the highlights:


INJURIES

The day got off to a horrible start for the Indianapolis Colts as WR Anthony Gonzalez went down in a non-contact manner with a knee injury. Gonzalez needed to be carried off of the field and eventually took a cart to the locker room in what was a terrible scene. Late word on Gonzalez is he's only got a MCL sprain at this time, however it is a grade 2 sprain which is significant. A diagnosis of MCL sprain, especially a grade 2 can mean anything from 2 weeks to an entire season lost for the young receiver. We'll know more tomorrow but for now start scouring the waiver wire for free agent WR's if indeed you own Gonzalez.

The Philadelphia Eagles defense and special teams took a 7 point deficit and turned it into a laugher for the Eagles. Except nobody was laughing after QB Donovan McNabb got landed on while in the endzone after a short TD run late in the game. McNabb suffered a broken rib of all things and will miss at least 1 game that we know of until further tests are done. Kevin Kolb will lead the Eagles next week against the high octane New Orleans Saints. Michael Vick will not replace McNabb once he is officially reinstated so please don't waste a waiver move this week on that. Only if McNabb is out 4+ weeks will Vick have any chance at leading the Eagles and right now that seems unlikely.

In other QB news, Panthers backup QB Josh McCown will be out a long time after tearing up his knee after he replaced the ineffective Jake Delhomme this afternoon. This one looked real bad and it is very possible that McCown will not be back this season. Look for the Panthers to address this situation early next week.

Giants rookie WR Hakeem Nicks was carted off the field after suffering a injury to his foot. Nicks was in good spirits after the game but his leg was in a protective boot and he was using crutches to get around. I have spoken to a Giants representative who told me the team is fearing this injury may be a Lisfranc fracture which is to the top of the foot where Nicks has much swelling and pain right now. If it is Lisfranc, Nicks won't be back anytime soon and would probably miss the rest of the season. Stay tuned...

Andre Davis got the start for the Texans today after Kevin Walter was made in-active due to a hamstring injury he's been dealing with of late. Davis had a couple of drops early on in the game before suffering a concussion that knocked him out (literally!) for the remainder to today's game. He will be evaluated later in the week and will be questionable for next week.

Giants third string RB Danny Ware is likely out for the season after dislocating his elbow during a special teams play in the first quarter.

Tony Romo said after the game today that he injured his ankle before halftime of today's game against Tampa Bay. Maybe Tony just wants some sympathy cause he didn't look injured while he dismantled the Bucs defense in the second half. He will be fine.


GOOD

Adrian Peterson -- 25-180 Yards - 3 TD's Rushing
Drew Brees -- 26-34 358 Yards - 6 TD's Passing
Tony Romo -- 16-27 353 Yards - 3 TD's Passing
Thomas Jones -- 20-107 Yards - 2 TD's Rushing
Reggie Wayne -- 10-162 Yards - 1 TD Receiving
John Carlson -- 6-95 Yards - 2 TD's Receiving


BAD

Jake Delhomme -- 7-17 73 Yards - 4 Interceptions
Larry Johnson -- 11-20 Yards Rushing
David Garrard -- 14-28 122 Yards Passing
Ronnie Brown -- 10-43 Yards Rushing
Steve Slaton -- 9-17 Yards Rushing
Steve Smith -- 3-21 Yards Receiving


IMPRESSIVE

Jonathen Stewart was far more involved than I would have thought today after sitting out much of training camp with an achilles tendon injury. Stewart was the goal line back for the Panthers today, even though he failed on four attempts from within the 10 yard line. Still, it was nice to seem him out there so often running hard and looking like he will contribute good things all season long.

The Saints were thin at RB going into today's game but got a great performance out of third string RB Mike Bell. Much will be made of Drew Brees and the Saints passing game and rightfully so. But, it was Bell who kept the Lions defense off balance all afternoon by running hard on both inside and outside runs. With Pierre Thomas out and Reggie Bush dealing with a nagging knee, Bell may continue to see time for this very productive offense.

Cadillac Williams lived up to his name this afternoon. Coming off major knee surgeries the past two season, there was no way I thought that Cadillac would show such explosiveness and big play potential at any point this year. I am still highly skeptical for his chances the rest of the way, but for me this was the most surprising performance of week 1.


DISAPPOINTING

Matt Schaub didn't record 100 yards passing until the fourth quarter of today's loss to the Jets. Though I remain high on Schaub, the performance of the Texans offensive line today was flat out unacceptable and quite shocking. Schaub got comfortable later on as he finally found Andre Johnson a couple of times late but by that time the game was out of reach. Steve Slaton and the running game will have to improve too for Schaub to have the passing lanes and opportunities downfield that he needs.

The Bengals offense did not look nearly as bad as the stats or the final score would indicate. But the disappearance of Chris Henry was surprising to me today. Henry made a real nice catch on the first drive of the game but was silent the rest of the day. I strongly believe that Carson Palmer needs to find Henry more often downfield for the Bengals offense to put points on the board. Henry will be fine but this was definitely not a good start for the emerging star.


QUICK NOTES

Kyle Orton's final numbers were far better than he actually was today. In fact, Orton was downright awful all day long. The 87 yard touchdown was actually a terrible throw that was tipped up and just happened to fall into Brandon Stokley's waiting arms. He was horrible and is not startable next week whatsoever.

James Davis played but clearly wasn't cleared for a full complement of carries today. Jamal Lewis did pretty good but don't get off track here. This is still Davis' job eventually and Lewis is just keeping the seat warm.

Jay Cutler was bad, but his receivers were even worse. Cutler will produce fantasy numbers this year but if your league takes away for interceptions, he loses quite a bit of value.

Please don't read too much into Percy Harvin's TD this afternoon. Harvin is being used mostly in a gimmick type role right now and while that is all well and good, it just doesn't provide steady fantasy points. Harvin is a very good draft and follow player but is not an everyweek starter.

Earnest Graham only got 1 carry today. The Buccaneers will run even more in the coming weeks but I just don't see much value in Graham right now or anytime soon.

Look for Jeff Garcia to get some offers this week as contracts are no longer guaranteed for veterans like Garcia if not on a roster in week 1. I have heard that a few teams will be contacting Garcia as early as Monday morning in hopes of landing him as their backup QB. You can probably add the Panthers to that mix as well after Jake Delhomme's performance and the loss of backup Josh McCown to a knee injury.




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Donovan McNabb Breaks Rib

Comcast Sports Net in Philadelphia is reporting that Donovan McNabb has a broken rib suffered in today's game against the Panthers. McNabb was injured while scrambling to the endzone and getting landed on hard by a Carolina defender. His legs instantly kicked out in pain and he was down for all of a commercial break. It was obvious that he was in pain and that the injury was serious in nature.

Kevin Kolb will be the Eagles starter if McNabb cannot go next week. For all the Michael Vick people out there remember that he is out until week 3 on suspension and probably will need some time after that to get ready. By that time, McNabb may be back already so cool your jets on the Vick waiver claims this week.

James Davis Taken To Hospital After Car Accident

Cleveland Browns rookie RB James Davis was involved in a one-car accident early Saturday morning while on his way to the teams practice facility. Davis suffered a head injury that now leaves his status for tomorrow's game against the Vikings up in the air. He was taken from the scene to a local hospital where he remained for several hours before being discharged just over an hour ago.

According to Tom Withers, a local writer for the AP the accident was a minor one and nobody else was involved. The injury to Davis' head is still unknown at this time though there is speculation that he was bandaged and possibly stitched during his visit to the ER.

If Davis can't go, Jamal Lewis will get a full load of carries against a potent Vikings run defense. Still, Lewis would become usable at that point as a low level #2 or #3 RB. James Harrison is also injured suffering from a hamstring injury and is questionable to play as well.

We'll have all the up to date information and status of Davis, Harrison and Lewis on the Sunday Morning edition of Fantasy Football Tonight beginning tomorrow morning at 11:30 AM EST.

Friday Night Injury Report

NFC

North

Chicago Bears

Devin Aromashodu -- WR -- Quad -- QUESTIONABLE

Detroit Lions

Drew Stanton -- QB -- Knee -- DOUBTFUL

Jason Hanson -- K -- Knee -- PROBABLE

Dennis Northcutt -- WR -- Hand -- PROBABLE

Green Bay Packers

Brandon Jackson -- RB -- Ankle -- DOUBTFUL

B.J. Raji -- DT -- Ankle -- QUESTIONABLE

Minnesota Vikings

Bernard Berrian -- WR -- Hamstring -- QUESTIONABLE

East

Dallas Cowboys

No significant injuries

New York Giants

Aaron Ross -- CB -- Hamstring -- OUT

Kevin Dockery -- CB -- Hamstring -- QUESTIONABLE

Philadelphia Eagles

Shawn Andrews -- OT -- Back -- OUT

Brian Westbrook -- RB -- Knee -- PROBABLE

Kevin Curtis -- WR -- Knee -- PROBABLE

Washington Redskins

Carlos Rogers -- CB -- Calf -- PROBABLE

Mike Williams -- OT -- Ankle -- PROBABLE

South

Atlanta Falcons

William Moore -- SS -- Hamstring -- OUT

John Abraham -- DE -- Knee -- PROBABLE

Jerious Norwood -- RB -- Knee -- PROBABLE

Carolina Panthers

Jonathen Stewart -- RB -- Knee -- PROBABLE

Chris Harris -- S -- Knee -- QUESTIONABLE

New Orleans Saints

Pierre Thomas -- RB -- Knee -- OUT

Jamaal Brown -- OT -- Hernia -- OUT

Jeremy Shockey -- TE -- Ankle -- PROBABLE

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Antonio Bryant -- WR -- Knee -- PROBABLE

Michael Clayton -- WR -- Hamstring -- PROBABLE

West

Arizona Cardinals

Anquan Boldin -- WR -- Hamstring -- QUESTIONABLE

Early Doucet -- WR -- Ribs -- QUESTIONABLE

Steve Breaston -- WR -- Knee -- PROBABLE

St.Louis Rams

Marc Bulger -- QB -- Finger -- PROBABLE

San Francisco 49'ers

Ahmad Brooks -- LB -- Knee -- OUT

Brandon Jones -- WR -- Shoulder -- OUT

Seattle Seahawks

Walter Jones -- OT -- Knee -- OUT

Chris Spencer -- C -- Quad -- OUT

Deion Branch -- WR -- Hamstring -- QUESTIONABLE

AFC

East

Buffalo Bills

Monday Night

Miami Dolphins

Vontae Davis -- CB -- Knee -- PROBABLE

New England Patriots

Monday Night

New York Jets

Kellen Clemens -- QB -- Arm -- PROBABLE

Shonn Greene -- RB -- Ribs -- PROBABLE

Dustin Keller -- TE -- Toe -- PROBABLE

North

Baltimore Ravens

L.J. Smith -- TE -- Hamstring -- DOUBTFUL

Cincinnati Bengals

Andre Smith -- OT -- Foot -- OUT

Chris Henry -- WR -- Thigh -- PROBABLE

Roy Williams -- S -- Thigh -- PROBABLE

Carson Palmer -- QB -- Ankle -- PROBABLE

Cleveland Browns

Rex Hadnot -- OG -- Knee -- OUT

Cedric Peerman -- RB -- Thigh -- DOUBTFUL

Jerome Harrison -- RB -- Knee -- QUESTIONABLE

Shaun Rogers -- DT -- Foot -- QUESTIONABLE

Steve Heiden -- TE -- Knee -- PROBABLE

Pittsburgh Steelers

Already Played.

South

Houston Texans

Eugene Wilson -- CB -- Knee -- OUT

Jacques Reeves -- CB -- Leg -- OUT

Kevin Walter -- WR -- Hamstring -- QUESTIONABLE

Matt Schaub -- QB -- Ankle -- PROBABLE

Indianapolis Colts

Bob Sanders -- S -- Knee -- OUT

Jacksonville Jaguars

Zach Miller -- TE -- Knee -- OUT

Tra Thomas -- OT -- Back -- PROBABLE

Tennessee Titans

Already Played.

West

Denver Broncos

Jabar Gaffney -- WR -- Finger -- QUESTIONABLE

Knowshon Moreno -- RB -- Knee -- QUESTIONABLE

Kyle Orton -- QB -- Finger -- QUESTIONABLE

Chris Simms -- QB -- Ankle -- QUESTIONABLE

Kansas City Chiefs

Matt Cassel -- QB -- Knee -- QUESTIONABLE

Terrance Copper -- WR -- Hamstring -- QUESTIONABLE

Oakland Raiders

Monday Night

San Diego Chargers

Monday Night

News & Notes 9/10

STEELERS/TITANS RECAP

Troy Polamalu left the game just before halftime with what is now being called a sprained MCL in his left knee. Postgame comments by Mike Tomlin suggest the injury could be more serious even and the NFL Network is reporting that Polamalu is out 3-6 weeks.

Though we had to suffer through a very boring first half, tonight's season opener went down to the wire and eventually overtime before the Steelers prevailed 13-10.

Some fantasy notes worth mentioning about this game. Neither Willie Parker or Rashard Mendenhall contributed anything to the Steelers offense tonight. Mendenhall was nowhere to be found for most of the game. Parker vanished after a very slow start and gave way to MeWelde Moore as the game was on the line. Moore was an effective runner and pass catcher and will no doubt be a hot pickup probably before next week. I wouldn't promote that move quite yet, though it is very disappointing for owners of Parker or Mendenhall.

Rookie WR Kenny Britt looked good in his first NFL game catching 4-85 yards including a big 57 yard catch and run to set up the Titans lone TD of the game. Britt definitely helps out Kerry Collins and the Titans passing game. He gives them another big target who can make tough plays in coverage.

As good as Britt was, it is still obvious that Kerry Collins favorite target is Justin Gage. Gage collected 7-78 yards and a 14 yard TD reception tonight. He was the target in many of the Titans third down plays and whenever Collins needed a play, he went to Gage.



ADDED TO INJURY REPORT

Brian Westbrook was suspiciously added to the Eagles injury report this afternoon. Though everybody around the team claims there is nothing to worry about, it should be noted that Westbrook will most likely be on the injured list all season long. His knee is in bad shape and he'll eventually need to take a game or two off during the season and thus why LeSean McCoy is a valuable handcuff.

In Cincinnati, Chris Henry was held out of practice due to a upper thigh injury suffered in a morning workout. Henry was unavailable for comment and the team didn't discuss is status much other than to say he didn't practice. Henry is still probable at this point but that can be updated depending how he feels on Friday. Henry is a big time sleeper and a must start in my opinion this week depending how his thigh heals in the next few days.



RAMS WORKOUT A RB

There was a DeShaun Foster sighting at Rams camp today as the team continues to explore all options for improving their backup RB spot. The team is just not happy with Antonio Pittman, Kenneth Darby or current backup Samkon Gado. No contract was offered so Foster continues to be one of the better free agent RB's on the open market.




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Join Our Game Time Chat -- LIVE

Wanna chat with our gurus during tonight's game? Just click on this link and read what our experts have to say about the opening game of the 2009 season.

Don't forget every Sunday we will have at least one of our experts watching every game and chatting LIVE right here with you all day long. If you want to know what is going on in a game that is not in your market, join our chat and ask us anything!!


http://www.fantasyfootballsearch.com/draftkit/gametime_blogs.asp

Titans & Steelers Inactives

Just a reminder that we will be posting the inactives for every team before every game all season long. If you want to know if Nate Washington, Jared Cook or Lawrence Timmons are playing in tonight's game, all you have to do is login to your Fantasy Football Search Season Pass and find out immediately before anybody else.

Of course this is just a small part of what you get with your Fantasy Football Search Season Pass, but just think of how great it will be to know if your guys are playing or not EARLY on Sunday morning instead of having to wait to just before kickoff? You can set your lineup with ease and relax now before the games while your buddies scour the pregame shows and internet for the answers you already know.

Here is a sample of what you'll get before every NFL game this season:




Tennessee Titans:


TE - Jared Cook
RB - Chris Henry
CB - Ryan Mouton
WR -Lavelle Hawkins
DT - Sen'Derrick Marks
DE - Dave Ball
OL - Troy Kropog

NOTE: Nate Washington is playing and is expected to see regular time as Tennessee's slot WR.



Pittsburgh Steelers:


LB - Lawrence Timmons
QB - Dennis Dixon
WR - Shaun McDonald
OG - Kraig Urbik
OT - Tony Hillis
DE - Nick Eason
CB - Joe Burnett
CB - Keiwan Ratliff

2009 Busts

So much hype. Every year, there are players that are given an unsolicited free pass into the first round or two of fantasy drafts. It seems that so much emphasis is put on what players did last year that it causes certain players to be drafted way higher than they should be based on what their prognosis is for this season. After all, we are drafting for this years fantasy points, not last years or a careers worth, right? With all of this in mind, here is my bust list for 2009. Leave your comments below and tell me what you think.


Quarterbacks

Tom Brady -- Patriots -- I just do not understand the fascination with Brady? He set an NFL record for TD passes in 2007 with 50 but other than that he's been a slightly above average fantasy QB. I expect Brady to produce solid numbers, but for a QB to be taken in the first or second round he should be expected to throw for at least 4000+ yards and 30+ TD's. Factor in Brady's major knee reconstruction, losses along the offensive line and the loss of pass happy offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels and the picture gets even more cloudy for me. Tom Brady will throw for 3500+ yards and 25-30 TD's this season. Those numbers along with his injury risk does not make him worthy of a top pick. I rate him around 5 overall for QB's and wouldn't be surprised if 8-10 QB's have better seasons than Brady this year. So, while I believe his numbers will be that of a quality QB, his average draft positions for those numbers makes Tom Brady a bust in my book.


Brett Favre -- Vikings -- He is 40 years old and playing with a partially torn rotator cuff and coming off of biceps surgery. Sure, Favre is a first ballot hall of famer, but that will do little for your fantasy team this year. I am certain that Favre's consecutive game streak ends at some point this year and that Sage Rosenfels will outperform him in the games that he starts. If Favre is your backup fantasy QB, your are OK. But if you are counting on him to lead your squad to a championship, you are going to be really disappointed.



Running Backs

Chris Johnson -- Titans -- Don't get me wrong, I love Johnson's speed, lateral quickness and vision but I think he is in for a disappointing sophomore season. This is just a gut call on my part but one that has some reasoning behind it. The Titans offensive line is old and has been banged up all offseason long. Kevin Mawae is finally back but fresh off another surgery and without any practice time at all. I am not sure if the entire running game will falter for the Titans or whether LenDale White just has a breakout season, but the big leap that many are expecting for Chris Johnson isn't going to happen.


Clinton Portis -- Redskins -- Portis is absolutely hated by the Redskins coaching staff. There is so much animosity there that I doubt that we get 4 weeks into the season without a major blowup out of Portis. Then we have to acknowledge that he will be running behind the worst offensive line in the NFL or at least this side of Seattle. There won't be much running room, scoring opportunities or harmony in Washington this season and thus you should avoid Portis like the plague.



Wide Receivers

Terrell Owens -- Bills -- Owens was looking like a nice undervalued player up until Turk Schonert was fired from his offensive coordinator position with the Bills a week ago. Now, Dick Jauron will once again be involved in the offense and that can mean only one thing. The Bills are now a running team! After an entire offseason spent implementing a spread offensive no huddle system and acquiring the talent in which to run the system the team now decides to hand the reigns back to the most vanilla coach in the NFL. The Bills offense just took a major hit and went from being a sleeper system to one that you should avoid.


Antonio Bryant -- Buccaneers -- Anybody who thinks that Bryant will post similar numbers to what he did last season is either wearing rose colored glasses or just plain delusional. Bryant is a good WR, but he is the only weapon at all in Tampa Bay this year and will see a ton of double and triple teams this season. He is also coming back from knee surgery this summer and will be catching passes from Byron Leftwich this season. He will not come close to last years numbers and is another guy who could blow up at any minute and thus is a risk to anyone who drafts him.


Lance Moore -- Saints -- Everything Moore did in 2008 you can pretty much write into Robert Meachem's column for the 2009 season. Moore is an ideal slot receiver and that is exactly where he will play the majority of the time this season. He'll get some receptions, but won't come close to the 10 TD's that he had last season. With a healthy Reggie Bush, Marques Colston and Jeremy Shockey, the Saints will be able to use more options than they did last year when Moore produced his greatest season ever. It won't happen again so grab Meachem but stay away from Lance Moore.



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