Looks like Matt Jones is going to play at least this week before he goes on suspension.  He’s been hot and has a pretty good match-up against the suck Bengals.  Cincinnati has officially the #8 passing defense in the league, but don’t let that fool you.  They’ve given up the second most passing TDs in the league this year, are among the bottom in sacks and interceptions and have the fifth highest opponent’s passer rating.  Teams are running all over the Bengals, they don’t need to throw the ball.  As this relates to Matt Jones, he’s picked up five catches or more in 6 of 7 games this season.  Even in the two games where Jones-Drew has gone over 100 yards, Matt Jones has 12 catches for 112 yards.  Jones gets his even when the Jags are running the ball, as they likely will this week. 

10/30/2008

Here’s a link to Raven coach Jim Harbaugh discussing the Suggs Package.  Getting Troy Smith in the game a running a few trick plays.  This isn’t going to help any specific fantasy numbers.  Smith won’t be worth picking up and starting as a QB if he’s in there for just a handful of plays a game; he had three carries for 13 yards and that 43 yard pass to Flacco.  What I do like is the general creativity it shows after so many years of seeing a pretty vanilla Baltimore offence.  Anything that gets the Ravens into the red zone more often gives McGahee, McClain, and Heap more red zone opportunities.

Looks like Steven Jackson is good to go this week as the Rams take on the Cards.  Arizona had been pretty sting against the run last year, but Jackson gets just about all the RB carries and is a pretty big part of the rush game, should have a solid fantasy performance.

Looks like Addai’s going to get action, but Coach Dungy advises that Rhodes will get in the game too.  Expect a 50/50 split I guess.

The Pats secondary is really banged up.  Marc Bulger torched them for 301 yards last week after not topping 184 yards in any of his previous five starts this season.  So what does this mean when up against Payton and his gang Sunday?  Pain.

Shawn Hill takes the reins in San Francisco.  Says here that he doesn’t have the big arm that Mike Martz likes and will more likely check down to the backs and tight end.   Could mean a pop for Vernon Davis who characteristically for a TE hasn’t been much of the Martz offence this season with only 16 catches.

If you’re into this sort of thing, the Cards just signed Stephen Spach.  Pronounced “Spock”.


10/25/2008

Santana Holmes will be deactivated for Sunday’s game for driving around with weed.  Nate Washington has been a hot pick up this week and will now start for the Steelers.  Washington could get you some numbers if you need a #3 WRs.

Willie Parker’s not going to play either.

Steven Jackson is a game time decision.  If he sits I wouldn’t bother with replacements; Antonio Pittman or Travis Minor.  Jackson was going to have a tough day against the Pats and I don’t see the second teamers doing much.

Deuce McAllister reportedly tested positive for the banned substance Bumetanide.  He’ll play this week, but could be suspended four weeks.  With Reggie Bush on the shelf, now’s the time to nab Aaron Stecker, he should get at least one or two games as the starter in the coming weeks.

The Ravens solved the Dolphins Single Wing formation last week.  The Ravens D is also pretty good against the run, so may the Fins will give it one more shot.  If the not-so-stingy Buffalo D can contain it, this might be the end of the fun.  Ronnie Brown is still a good fantasy option, but don’t look for him to remove his facemask anytime soon.

Matt Hasselbeck’s out again this week.  Seahawks have been a fantasy disaster with Charlie Fry at the helm.  I’d go ahead and sit everybody here.

10/22/2008

Ryan Torain might get his shot for the Broncos after the bye week.  If you have the roster space and the appetite for risk, he might be worth a pick-up this week before the rest of your league gets wise.

Larry Johnson will be benched again this Sunday.  His replacements really had nothing agasint Tennessee; Kolby Smith and Jamaal Charles combined for 37 yards on 13 carries.  The bright spot was that Charles got 4 catches for 26 yards.  You’d think that Thigpen will have to resort to dump offs and other short stuff, Charles might have a little-little bit of fantasy value if you are incredibly desperate for a RB AND your league scores a point per reception.

Sammy Morris didn’t practice Wednesday and the Pats are mum as usual about his busted knee.  BenJarvus Green-Ellis is a hot pick-up this week and should get some quality fantasy numbers against the Rams if he’s the starter.  Nab him if you need help, but watch Morris’ condition as the week progresses.

A self centered plea to Detroit area readers.  6,000 tickets remain for the Lions/Redskins game.  DO NOT BUY THEM!  Let’s keep this game blacked out.  There are five games I would rather watch than the weekly Lions suck-fest.

Kansas City put Damon Huard and Brodie Croyle on IR.  Not a good time to be a Chiefs fan or a Bowe and/or Gonzalez owner.  A mini-bio about new starter Tyler Thigpen.  Tyler was drafted in the seventh round from Coastal Carolina.  Thigpen, a high school running back, was the first QB in the history of Coastal Carolina as they added football to the sports program in 2003.  He’s not very good and you don’t want him on your fantasy football team

10/20/2008

Mike Nolan is out in San Francisco; Mike Singletary seems to be the man.  From the fantasy perspective, I don’t see how this will change the offensive side of the ball much this season.  The Martz system is pretty set in stone; J.T. O’Sullivan may be on his way out but wasn't doing much for you anyway, Gore will get his and no WR emerged.  If anything you’d think that Singletary could instill some of his bad-ass-ness on the 49ers bottom of the pack defense.

I didn’t see the Ravens game this week-end, Mike Preston from the Baltimore Sun did and is kind of hatin on Willis McGahee, even though he got his first solid fantasy day of the year.

Reggie Bush is out three to four weeks with a busted knee.  Deuce McAllister is owned in most leagues and you’re probably going to start him (as I will).  When Bush missed the last four games of last season, the Saints continued to throw the ball the running backs with good results.   Looking at those box scores, New Orleans didn’t platoon RBs Aaron Stecker and Pierre Thomas.  Stecker got the bulk of the carries and Thomas was used as a receiver.  McAllister's been the choice over Stecker this season and I'd think that will continue; McAllister getting the carries, Thomas getting the receptions.

10/17/2008

Looks like Romo’s going to give it a shot.  From a fantasy perspective, I see the narrative this way.  Romo starts, Cowboys put up a big early lead against suck St Louis, Brad Johnson comes in and hands the ball off for 2 and a-half quarters.  8/14 100-some yard day for Romo.  But I’ve been wrong before.

I find it odd that the Google places Fantasy Football ads on the Women Against Fantasy Sports web site, you?

Larry Johnson has been suspended.  Kolby Smith gets the start with rookie Jamaal Charles getting time.  Smith put up 466 yards and two TD’s starting 5 games in place of Johnson last year, but the Chiefs are horny for Charles.  Don’t be suprized if both get decent PT.  Tennessee’s rush D is #13 in the league but they held Jacksonville to 33 yards and Adrian Peterson to 80.  You have to be in pretty dire straits to depend on either this week-end.

The Chargers love this guy Malcom Floyd.  Dude went for 3/75 and a TD last week.  Says here that he’ll get more time if Chambers doesn’t play.   Watch the situation as kick-off approaches and if you’re real desperate for a bye-weeker, this might be a play.

10/16/2008

Joseph Addai’s out two to four weeks.  Mike Hart was put on IR so Dominic Rhodes is the man for Indianapolis.   Expect him to do pretty well against the Pack this week, but probably won’t have much of a game the following week against Tennessee.

Reggie Bush missed practice Wednesday but is expected to play Sunday.  Willie Parker aggravated his knee injury and might not be able to go against the Bengals.  Mewelde Moore had a solid day replacing Parker, getting 116 total yards.  He’ll be a decent back up again if necessary.

Here’s the Chargers schedule for their big trip to London next week.  They get a day to hack around town on the 21st.  Plenty to do in London next Tuesday.  Abba the Show.  Kaiser Chiefs.  Queen + Paul Rodgers.  Roseanne Barr.

10/15/2008

Just a quick word on the Roy Williams trade.  From a fantasy perspective, I don't see a lot of winners here.  Calvin Johnson will be the #1 guy in Detroit now for whatever it's worth.  He'll have a good week here and there (he's a "start" this week).  In the bigger picture somehow the Lions managed to get worse today trading a talented receiver and putting their starting QB in Jon Kitna on the IR, even if he was the least injured dude to go on IR since Martin Gramatica.  They put Dan Orlovski at the helm so getting Johnson the ball on a regular basis will be a struggle.  It will take Williams a couple weeks to get it together in a new offence, but I see him as the #3 option in the passing offence behind TO and Witten.  If anything, this move might take a little coverage away from TO.

10/12/2008

Jon Kitna’s out.  Don’t expect any of your Lion fantasy players to have a good day.  Minnesota D should be big, and I’d see this game getting ugly early; Peterson will be strong and I wouldn’t be surprised if Chester Taylor got a decent amount of action.

Roddy White is questionable after the head knock he suffered this week.  White got more that 50% of WR receptions for Atlanta so far this season.  Not a good situation for a rookie QB like Ryan to miss his favorite target.  I don’t see Michael Jenkins, Brian Finneran or Harry Douglas putting together a great fantasy day against the tough Bears defense.  Update (10:40am) - Fox Sports says that White will play.

Here are the official internet rumors (not for the squeamish) on Kellen Winslow’s undisclosed illness.  If this is true, I doubt he plays Monday.

10/10/2008

Marques Colston practiced Wednesday and Thursday and has a shot at playing this week.  Watch this one, the Saints passing attack hasn’t suffered with Colston out of the line-up; they’re still #1 in the league in passing.  I don’t see them rushing Colston back, if he is active Sunday, I’d expect him to see limited action.

My man from the Baltimore Sun is a Roundtable reader.  As we discussed earlier this week, expect the Ravens to pound the run against the #32 rated Colts defense.  Willis McGahee is an official “start” in Start ‘Em/Sit ‘Em, you’re not in bad shape with McClain either.

More dish about Ced Benson.  AP makes good points about Benson’s between the tackle ability that Chris Perry lacks.

Matt Jones could be suspended for his recent drug charges.  If you’re a jerk, you can trade him now to someone who doesn’t know the situation.

Kellen Winslow missed Thursday practice with an undisclosed illness.  He’s the Browns leading receiver so far, but with an unimpressive 19/170/1 though four games.  I don't see this week as a break out game for the Browns or they're fantasy dudes.  For Winslow, keep your eyes on the situation as it develops this week-end.

Check out our new bros at Fighting Chance Fantasy.  Solid fantasy insight, a creepy pix of Al Davis and advice on your fantasy baseball team.   Most importantly, these dudes have class, supporting the Jimmy V Foundation for cancer research.  The Roundtable donated some ad revenue and we’ll encourage you to check ‘em out and do the same…..

10/9/2008

Jeff Garcia looks to start Sunday, remember him?  He threw seven of his seventeen passes to Antonio Bryant when he came in as a sub last week, more than 40%.  Does that mean anything?  I don’t know, but it could mean he’s not resorting to the check down receivers as much as Griese.

Selvin Young’s not going to play this week.  The Broncos have been splitting RB carries pretty much three ways with Pittman getting the goal line and short yardage stuff, but it might not be such a bad fantasy scene if Denver is reduced to 2 backs.  Jacksonville’s middle of the road in rush defense gives up 107 yards a game.  If you need a RB this week, Pittman may be able to give you 50 yards and a TD.

Roddy White hurt his head and left practice.  Whether this is a concussion, or just a lump is still to be seen, but caution and keep your eye on the situation as the week progresses.

Mike Preston of the Baltimore Sun calls for a three RB attack against the Colts this week.  This is not backed up by any quotes or reporting from the Ravens staff, but vibes like these should be frowned upon by the fantasy community.

Fired GM, slumping attendance, Ford stock cheaper than a gallon of gas.  Things are tough for the Lions and adding some insult to 51 years of injury; Jon Kitna and Dan Orlovksy are damaged.  Could leave Drew Stanton at the helm this week against the Vikings.  If you have any Vikings, start them.  Pick up Leif Erikson, Fran Tarkington, the dude that blows that horn, whoever, they will score big points this week.

Kicker Beat: Martin Gramatica misses potential game winning field goals in consecutive weeks and is placed on IR with a mean case of suckitis.  You might want to take a stab at Taylor Mehlhaff.

10/8/2008

Matt Schaub will start this week against Miami.  The Dolphins have held; Favre, Rivers and Cassel under 200 yards passing this year, so you might want to look at different QB if you have the luxury.

Brodie Croyle’s back at the helm for Kansas City.  Not that that matters after the bye week against Tennessee.  If you find yourself starting him, you should pack it up and get ready for fantasy basketball.

The Green Bay Press-Gazette notes that the Pack has been soft against the run since their rash of defensive injuries.  Looks good this week for Seattle rushers Julius Jones and T.J. Duckett.

Justin Fargas thinks he’ll be back for Oakland this week-end.  This muddies the RB waters for the Raiders, new coach, three headed running back monster, going against a New Orleans defense that’s been unusually tough against the run lately. 

Brian Westbrook injury watch, this time two broken ribs and this article says it’s unlikely he’ll play.

10/5/2008 - Later

The results of the first Roundtable "Who do I Start?" poll was; 16 votes for Trent Edwards, 6 for Ben Roethlisberger.  See, this isn't as easy as is looks.

10/4/2008

Sorry readers, took Thursday Night/Friday Morning off for a little personal biz and debate watching.  Playing catch up today, but we're chock full a hard hitting fantasy football information….

Puppies own Derek Anderson.

As I called it, the Chargers have studied the Dolphins “Wildcat” offence.  Will it work again?  Will the next set of trick plays involve Ricky Williams?  Will the Dolphins not bother?

If I was as Brian Westbrook owner, this article describing him as a “likely participant” would make me feel queasy.

Deion Branch will start for the Seahawks.  No WR has more than 5 catches in a game this season for Seattle, but Branch was solid in games he made it to last season.  Go ahead and start ‘em this week.

If the Lions weren’t the worst team in the history of organized sport, this Detroit News article about an expanded passing game might lead you to think about Jon Kitna and Roy Williams as fantasy contributors. 

10/2/2008

Willis McGahee looked in pretty bad shape coming off the field against the Steelers.  Limited practice, but described with sore ribs.  Don’t be fooled by the box score, in the 60 some minutes he’s been healthy, he’s gotten the bulk of the Raven’s carries. 

Rashard Mendenhall is out for the year.  If you want to handcuff Willie Parker, go for Najeh Davenport over Mewelde Moore.  After the emergency start this week, Moore will continue to be just the third down back.

I’d bet that Aaron Rodgers plays this week-end, but look for a ton of run against the Falcon’s weak run D.  Start Ryan Grant fo shizzle and Brandon Jackson if your desperate for a bye week replacement.

Anquan Boldin has a fractured sinus.  That one’s new to me and sounds pretty bad.  You never want to break a bone in your head.  But they’re still saying he has a chance to play this week-end.  I doubt it.  Breaston’s your man, for at least one week.

The Roundtable's made another friend in the blogosphere.  Welcome to Hatty Waiver Wire Guru.  Dude's got some good insight and posts vids of himself.  Brave man.  I'd prefer you don't know what I look like. 

10/1/2008

Kiffin, out!  Replaced by O Line coach Tom Cable who's only other head coaching experience was a 11-35 run with the University of Idaho.  Nice.

Bengals sign Cedric Benson.  Not much here, guessing this was a move to sure up the back-up situation behind Chris Perry.

Joe Klopfenstein takes over as Rams TE.  Great.  And oh yeah, looks like Bulger's back too.  Also, great.  I've been telling myself all season that the Rams are going to throw to the TE more with O Corrdinator Al Saunders, the man that made Kellen Winslow and Tony Gonzalez famous, but it never happend with McMichael.  Bulger's going to have to prove he can get it together before he has any fantasy value.

9/30/2008

The Rams give Scott Linehan the boot.  Defensive coordinator Jim Haslet takes over.  From a fantasy perspective; this week will tell If Haslet goes back to Marc Bulger.  Steven Jackson owners (i.e. me) shouldn’t worry.  I’d imagine O Coordinator Al Saunders will be given the keys to the offence and you’ll see Jackson continue to be a running and receiving threat.  Jackson has an astonishing 95% of RB carries and leads the team in receptions and receiving yards (20/211).  Holt has been sub-par and will likely to be so.  Look for Saunders to go back to his roots and get the ball to Randy McMichael.   After the bye this week, the Rams have Washington, Dallas and New England.

So if you dropped Deuce McAllister like I did, you might want to pick him back up.  Don’t see him getting 20 carries every week, but could be affective and looks to be getting the goal line carries.

Brian Westbrook didn’t play Sunday and it’s possible he won’t play this week either.  Buckhalter preformed well fantasy wise against a good Chicago defense, getting 90 total yards and a TD.

9/27/2008

Jerry Porter will finally see the field for the Jags.  Matt Jones has been the #1 WR so far this season and this same article quotes O Coordinator Dirk Koetter needing to 'find better ways to use Jones”.  Porter may emerge as the deep threat for David Garrard, like Devery Henderson, getting two or three shots down the field a game, but not turning in that 6-8 catch performance.

Willis McGahee seems to be in good shape after an eye injury last week.  At the time he left the in the third quarter last Sunday, he had 14 carries, 65 yards and a TD.  Le’Ron McClain had 3 carries, 22 yards, Ray Rice, 2 carries, no yards.  So McGahee had 74% of running back carries before he went out, right about where you want your #1 fantasy back and about the same percentage as Marion Barber, Marshawn Lynch and Adrian Peterson. 

Fun fact in this Chicago Sun Times Brandon Lloyd profile.  Lloyd had just the ninth 100-yard receiving game in Lovie Smith’s five year tenure as Bears coach.  So for all y’all that picked him up, I wouldn’t expect this kind of performance every week.

Start Brian Westbrook at your own peril this week-end.  More shocking; McNabb’s favorite movie of all time, “The Fish that Saved Pittsburgh”.


9/26/2008

Raise your hand if you picked up Le’Ron McClain.  Sorry you had to hear this from me, but he didn’t practice Thursday.

I had argued for years that the Lions should have cut the crap and just direct snapped the ball to Barry Sanders every play from scrimmage.  10+ years on the rest of the league is catching on.  McFadden takes ‘em for Oakland.  You may have seen Ronnie Brown last week.  Now Jerious Norwood might get in the act.

Roscoe Parrish is out 4-6.  Look for rook James Hardy to take over as the Bills #3WR.  Not worth much from a fantasy perspective.  3-4 receptions a game at most.

Darren McFadden is at three-quarters speed with his turf toe injury, but is still expected to start.  Michael Bush owners, pissed.

9/25/2008

31 - 84

Rashard Mendenhall starts with Willie Parker out the next two weeks.  He’ll have a tough test against the Ravens.  Steelers backs managed only 90 yards on 34 carries in the game that mattered vs Baltimore last year (Pittsburgh went with the reserves in the meaningless week seventeen match-up).   The Steelers have Jacksonville the following week, then the bye.  I don’t know if you’d count on Mendenhall for much fantasy production.

The quarterback wheel is turning in Kansas City and St Louis.  Wouldn't put much fantasy value here.  Derek Anderson is still at the helm, for now.

The Giants suspend Plaxico Burress for “violating team rules”, Giants on the bye this week, Burress to miss the week five game against Seattle.  The telling line in this Newsday article to me is; “a last straw sort of thing”.  Doesn’t sound good for Plax owners.  Might be time to think about the other Steve Smith as Burress’ short, if not long term replacement.

Brian Westbrook isn’t practicing and has a “strained” ankle.  Hope he’s not as bad off as this woman.  I know that if he had nightly news jerks laughing at him, he’d kick their ass.

9/23/2008

Don’t know what to make of the Ravens RB situation after Sunday.  Ron Rice didn’t see much time.  McGahee got the ball more when the game was still competitive and got a 5 yard TD.  Le’Ron McClain got the ball when it was time to kill the clock in the fourth quarter and in two goal line TD situations.  Coach Harbaugh likes the situation so add this to the growing list of teams that go with multiple backs.

Brian Westbrook plays coy about his sprained ankle.  Two words fantasy players: Correll Buckhalter.

QB controversy in Cleveland and it may not be warranted.  Derek Anderson hasn’t impressed this year, but the Browns have had a ton of injuries.  Going up against the Bengals might be what Anderson need to get it together, but watch out for Brady Quinn.  Usually first rounders get a chance to stink before a team gives up on them.

Marion Barber got 28 carries against the Pack, Felix Jones 6, but if Jones keeps busting 60 yarders, you have to think he’ll get more PT.

9/21/2008

You might want to hold off on the Anthony Gonzalez hype.  The Indy Star reports that he’s still the #3 even though he had a big game last week.

Armando Salguero of the Miami Herald as some good insights on why Ted Ginn hasn’t done much this season.  Where you on draft day!?!?!

9/19/2008

So this is the minutia that fantasy football lowers us to, and I’m paraphrasing from this Pittsburgh Post-Gazette article.  Elias Sports Bureau changed scoring on a play in the Browns/Steelers game.  They took a sack away from the Browns defense and credited Roethlisberger with a competition and a reception on this play (about thirty seconds into this NFL Network highlight) after Ben threw the ball into the back of his lineman, made the catch and got tackled.  Yahoo!, Sportsline nor ESPN make no mention of this change as of Thursday night, so you might want to bang on your commissioner and get your rightful reception from Big Ben or on the other side get that Browns sack taken away or subtract Roethisberger's negative receiving yards to your opponents score.

Here comes the second article this week that says Chad Henne won’t be the starter anytime soon (here’s the first).  I say that means he’ll be starting shortly.

9/18/2008

The Colts need to get their running game together. When you really consider Addai’s season last year ; he just barely got to 1,000, didn’t have a carry more than 23 yards and ran for under 80 yards in 9 of the 15 games he played in. Addai got his TD’s but none were longer than 14 yards. The passing game set up his TDs. So this is not something new, the Colts running was good, not great last year, but Peyton missing training camp looks to have hurt the Colt passing attack, exposing an average running game for what it was.

Roethlisberger shoulder is still injured, to what degree seems to be a matter of discussion. See for yourself. If you’re a Roethlisberger owner, keep your eyes on the situation. Yours truly is on Team Big Ben so keep it tuned to the Roundtable for updates through the week.

Tomlinson's big toe is getting some rest. You probably drafted him first and some tool nabed Sproles before you could in later rounds.

9/17/2008

Santana Moss could return punts. Good if your fantasy league gives you PR yards and he might bust for a touchdown. He could also get killed.

Roy Williams tells the Detroit Free Press he doesn’t own himself on his fantasy football team. He actually does still own himself in the ESPN Sportscenter League, but didn’t take the time to drop Brady, bench Colston or McGahee week two.

You heard Kregg Lumpkin’s name here first, now the media’s catching on.

9/12/2008

Brian Griese starts ahead of Jeff Garcia.  Garcia claims he’s physically ready to go.  I’ve never understood how Garcia constantly gets pushed aside after putting up decent numbers; but Pro Football Talk reports that Gruden and Garcia are ready to “kill” each other.  With Brady and Young going down, JaMarcus Russell and Marc Bulger stinking up the joint, Griese might be worth something to your fantasy football team.

Todd Archer of the Dallas Morning News is a Roundtable reader, or he also noticed the Eagles tendency to go to Brian Westbrook more when the Eagles play the Cowboys.  Sit DeSean Jackson.

According to the Miami Herald, Ronnie Brown could be moving ahead of Ricky Williams in the Dolphins pecking order.  This would be quite the bait and switch for fantasy football owners.  Indications were that Williams was going to be the man.  Williams got more of the ball against the Jets; 10 carries, 4 receptions versus 6 carries/3receptions for Brown.  I’m not dropping Williams from my fantasy team yet.  According a very professional looking doctor’s web site, NFL players who suffer torn ACLs (like Brown did in ’07) come back at only two-thirds of their performance level before the injury. 

Willis McGahee could be splitting time.  Another platoon situation?  AAARRRRGGHHHH!!!!!!