Fantasy Football Info For Serious Players
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Top Players to Target This article tends to cover a long list of players at each position because we try to cover all the bases for those of you in leagues with 8 or 10 teams, those that use PPR scoring or even those larger leagues with 14+ teams. So, here's a list of players who are more likely to be available in your standard 12-team league. Again, your mileage may vary depending on the shark level of the owners in your league. The players listed are loosely ranked, but please refer to the weekly projections, cheatsheets, news blogger and other resources here at Football Guys to help you make the call on which players makes the most sense for your team.
Quarterback
Add Immediately (Impact potential)
Rivers is 33-of-46 for 343 yards and 2 TDs with no interceptions after his first two starts. Rivers has some nice spots on the schedule where he could be very useful. Consider him week 6 at San Francisco, week 7 at KC or week 8 vs St. Louis. The Chargers have too many weapons for Rivers not to be somewhat productive. At worst, he’s a top 20 fantasy QB the rest of the way. At best, he could be a potential starter in deeper leagues.
Just when it seemed like Brunell was on his way out, he responded with a great performance in week three against a suspect Texans defense. We expected him to be a decent play, but completing 24-of-27 for 261 yards and a TD is beyond decent. Some owners may have bailed on Brunell to snag one of the hot waiver wire options in the first two weeks. Brunell may not be consistently productive, but he should be a strong option off the bench in upcoming games against the Giants and Titans as your bye-week starter, much like he was this week.
Frye played admirably well against the incredibly tough Ravens defense this week. In what seemed like a nightmarish matchup for such a young starting QB, Frye surprised everyone completing 21-of-33 for 298 yards. He threw a pretty pass downfield to Braylon Edwards that resulted in a 58-yard TD play. He only turned the ball over once – an accomplishment against the Ravens. Frye has two blossoming playmakers (Braylon Edwards and Kellen Winslow), so there’s plenty of upside here. He’s run for three TDs already this year and he’s 57-of-93 for 674 yards with 2 TDs and five interceptions after three games. That also puts him anywhere from top 12 to top 16 in most leagues. Upcoming games where he may be worthwhile include next week at Oakland, week 8 vs NY Jets, week 13 vs KC and week 17 at Houston. Just consider that their run game is off the tracks and Frye just threw for almost 300 yards against the Ravens. That’s impressive for a young QB.
If you’re waiting for Grossman to fall back to Earth with a crash landing, then keep on waiting. He struggled at times against the Vikings this week, but he still produced useful numbers in the end. He completed 23-of-41 for 278 yards with a TD and two picks. After three games, Grossman has been a top 10 fantasy QB with 829 yards, 6 TDs and 3 interceptions. It’s questionable whether he can sustain that pace, but he might be a solid starter against the Cardinals in week 6, vs SF in week 8, vs Miami in week 9, at NYG and NYJ weeks 10 and 11 and then at home against Minnesota in week 12. That’s a long stretch of better than average matchups, so don’t be surprised at all if he does continue to produce – as long as he’s able to stay healthy.
As last year’s top overall draft pick, Alex Smith looks more like Eli Manning
than he does David Carr in his second season. He threw for 293 yards and a TD
this week against the Eagles. He was hit frequently and chased out of the pocket
regularly, yet he kept his cool and only turned the ball over once (fumble).
Smith ran for 39 yards on six runs and completed 27 of his 46 pass attempts.
He’s proving to be one of the best steals of the draft if you got him in the
last rounds. Otherwise, if he’s out there in smaller leagues, you might grab him
as a backup who could be a starter for your team if needed.
Kurt Warner's four turnovers were the primary difference in the Cardinals 16-14 home loss to the St. Louis Rams. It was enough to cause HC Denny Green to go with rookie Matt Leinart as the team's starter next week. Leinart is an excellent pickup if he remains the starter for the rest of the season. He will struggle as a rookie, but he could also put up some nice games along the way with the talent surrounding him.
Add For Depth (Starter potential)
The Texans are 0-3 after three games, but David Carr is quietly producing some
solid numbers nevertheless. He completed 19-of-29 passes this week for 208 yards
with 2 TDs and one interception (and a lost fumble). After three games, Carr has
completed 59-of-82 for 635 yards with six TDs and one interception. It’s almost
unbelievable to say, but he’s been a top 10 to top 15 option during that span
using most standard scoring systems. He plays Tennessee twice, the Giants, Jets,
Raiders and Dolphins so there will be more good matchups where it would make
sense to use him as a backup for bye weeks.
Losman completed 22-of-38 for 328 yards with 1 TD and 1 interception against the Jets this week. He also ran for 14 yards and a TD. After three games, Losman has completed 48-of-79 for 575 yards with 2 TDs and one interception. He almost led the Bills to a win in New England and last week he led the Bills to a road win against the Dolphins. He’s not a reliable starter by any stretch, but he’s improving and he’ll face all three of his previous opponents again this year along with the Lions, Packers, Texans and Titans. Talk about an excellent schedule. If Losman stays upright through 16 games, don’t be surprised if he finishes as a top 15 fantasy QB given that schedule featuring so many soft opponents.
Chris Simms left the Bucs/Panthers game early in the fourth quarter after taking
several hits – including on one run where he dove for a TD. He was rushed to the
hospital after the game and his spleen was removed. Gradkowski replaced Simms
briefly in the game completing a pass for 16 yards. He’s just a rookie, but with
Simms out indefinitely, Gradkowski could be a surprise fantasy QB for the next
month or two, unless Jon Gruden switches gears and opts for Tim Rattay. The Bucs
have a bye week in week 4, so we’ll have to see what Gruden does with Simms
sidelined for what might be a couple of months. Grab Gradkowski now unless
Gruden says anything to the contrary in his Monday press conference.
Walter and the Raiders were on the bye this week. Aaron Brook is sidelined for
about 2-to-3 more weeks with a shoulder injury giving Walter an opportunity to
show his stuff. With the Raiders offensive line ailing and the Raiders looking
like a team straight out of the 60s, it might not be a great opportunity, but at
least he’s playing. Walter has a strong arm, but he lacks mobility. If he and
Randy Moss can get on track, then look out, but so far, neither have shown
enough to warrant much more than a flyer on Walter just to roll the dice.
Huard and the Chiefs were on the bye this week. Huard will be going back to the bench once Trent Green is able to return, but that’s still undecided. Last week, Huard fared slightly better than many expected on the road against a solid Broncos defense. He completed 17-of-23, but for only 133 yards. He could get the start again next week vs. San Francisco this coming week and the Chiefs have a decent matchup against Arizona the next week. Add for Later (Sleeper potential)
Rumors were floating around this week that Garrard could be dealt to another team seeking to use him as a starter. That team was rumored to be Tampa and that was before Chris Simms being hospitalized following the Bucs game. If Garrard became a starter for the Jags again (Leftwich gets hurt), or if he does elsewhere, he would have top 10 or top 15 value/potential.
The fever pitch surrounding Tony Romo died down quite a bit this week for two reasons. Bledsoe looked better and produced better results in week two and this week the Cowboys were on the bye. Don’t sleep on him though. Romo is a very capable QB should he rise to the starting job at any point. With the targets the Cowboys have, Romo could be a top 10 fantasy QB in that scenario. If you own Bledsoe, you’re running a huge risk by not having Romo on your roster yet.
Young didn’t see any action this week against the Dolphins as Kerry Collins started and went the distance in the 13-10 loss. The Titans are now 0-3 and showing no signs of getting better in the W/L column. Expect to see Young as either a starter or a more frequent contributor in the next few weeks. Kerry Collins produced decent numbers this week, for fantasy purposes, but he’s simply awful and Young is the team’s future. Once those Ls continue to rack up, Young will have the stage to show everyone what he can do on a full-time basis. Add for Insurance (Injury or bye week replacement)
Plummer can hear the footsteps in the background. They are Cutler’s and it’s
only a matter of time in the future before Cutler ascends to be the Broncos QB
of the future and present. As long as they win and Plummer doesn’t embarrass
himself too much, he’ll remain the starter. If Plummer gets hurt or benched at
some point, Cutler may not give him the job back.
Vick always seems to miss a game or three each year. He’s running the ball as
much as ever, so he remains a potential target and injury risk. Schaub is a
quality backup for NFL purposes and possibly a future starter in the league.
Regardless of your league’s format, Schaub has some value. He’s worth a handcuff
to Vick if you can swing it. Otherwise, he’s worth stashing in dynasty leagues
hoping he’ll get pried away from the Falcons for a starting gig in 2007.
Jon Kitna is putting up good numbers in Mike Martz’ offense so far, but he’s
taking some punishment and he’s not able to extend plays the way a more mobile
QB like McCown is able to do. McCown could emerge at some point this season –
either by injury or coach’s decision. The Lions are not winning, but they are
starting to show signs of a productive passing game, so McCown would certainly
be of interest if he becomes the starter for the Lions.
Marc Bulger has a hard time playing all 16 weeks in the past couple seasons.
Frerotte is the primary backup and he’s familiar with Scott Linehan’s offense,
so if Bulger goes down, then Frerotte would have top 15 value/potential. If you
have Bulger and can afford to handcuff him, you might consider doing so.
If you have Culpepper and another solid QB for a tandem, you might consider
locking up Harrington to secure the “Miami QB”. That’s not saying much, but the
Dolphins have some weapons. If Culpepper doesn’t get back on track, or if he
gets hurt, Harrington would be Miami’s quarterback. Running Back Add Immediately (Impact potential) The following is a list of several talented rookie RBs that may be available in smaller leagues, but your mileage will vary and we suspect that many of these players were either drafted or scooped up immediately in normal 12-team leagues or similar. If not, get them while you can.
Nobody expected Addai to produce big numbers against the Jags tough defense, especially with only six touches. He ran three times for 15 yards and he caught three passes for 13 yards in the Colts 21-14 win. Addai is expected to take on a larger role as the season wears on. Current starter, Dominic Rhodes carried 14 times this week for 48 yards. His hold on the job is tenuous with the talented Addai already splitting time with him.
Drew was all over the place in this week’s game against the Colts. He led the Jaguars in rushing and receiving. He ran for 103 yards on 13 carries and he caught four passes for 32 yards with a 7-yard TD catch in the 4th quarter. He also returned 4 kickoffs for 109 yards (27.2 yard average). If Fred Taylor gets hurt, Jones-Drew has the potential to be a top 20 fantasy back or better. He would probably split carries with LaBrandon Toefield, but he would be productive.
Corey Dillon went to the sidelines of last night’s game with a hand injury as Maroney took the reigns against a stout Broncos run defense. Maroney didn’t enjoy much success running the ball (12 carries, 18 yards) but he added five catches for 61 yards. Dillon’s injury doesn’t appear to be serious, but if you’re in a smaller league and you can still get Maroney; then don’t pass go, don’t wait for $200 – just go get him. Maroney has the size, speed and overall skills to be a top flight back in the NFL and if he gets a bigger opportunity because of an injury to Dillon, then his value will be even higher.
Last week, Norwood broke off a 33-yard run and he totaled 57 yards on 10 touches. If Dunn gets hurt, Norwood could be a top 10 fantasy back. He may only be available in 8 or 10 team leagues, but without question, grab him if he’s still out there.
Frank Gore fumbled at the goal line again this week, possibly costing himself the goal-line job moving forward. Rookie Michael Robinson stepped into that role later in the game scoring twice from 1-yard out. Robinson ran five times for 29 yards, so his other three attempts went for 27 yards. He ran strong, breaking tackles and getting positive yards after the first contact each time. He can catch the ball well, too. If Gore gets hurt, Robinson could have more value than current back Maurice Hicks. Robinson could catch more passes and score more TDs, but Hicks might get more carries. In the end, Robinson could be Gore’s backup or even successor if Gore doesn’t stay healthy or productive.
A week after Williams served notice to all fantasy owners with a strong performance, he disappeared against the Bucs running just four times for -1 yard and no catches. Don’t be fooled by this game though. Williams is an excellent prospect who could easily emerge as the Panthers featured back sooner rather than later, especially if DeShaun Foster gets hurt. Foster ran 20 times for 82 yards this week and he caught three passes for 7 yards, but lost a fumble, too. Expect Williams to serve as a change-of-pace back as long as Foster continues to produce. If Foster slips, Williams will be there to seize the opportunity. In smaller leagues, Williams might still be there. However, in 99% of standard 12-team leagues both of the Panther RBs were probably selected in the draft.
Add For Depth (Starter potential)
Dayne got the starting nod this week for the Texans against the Washington Redskins. He ran 14 times for 58 yards and caught one pass for 13 yards. He also converted a 2 point conversion in his only rush attempt near the goal line. Dayne was a disappointment in New York and Denver, so don’t be surprised if Samkon Gado supplants him at some point for the starting job in Houston. However, in the short term, he was the Texans primary back this week and figures to be in that same role next week against Miami.
Reuben Droughns did not play this week allowing Jason Wright and Jerome Harrison
an opportunity to shine. Wright handled the bulk of the rushing duties carrying
15 times for 31 yards, Harrison carried twice for 1 yard and each back caught
one pass. The Ravens did a great job in limiting the Browns production as might
be expected, but if Droughns is sidelined for any reason moving forward, then
Harrison and Wright both deserve some attention on the waiver wire. Harrison has
more special skills, but Wright knows the offense and is perhaps better equipped
to handle the role of being the primary back in Droughns’ absence. In the end,
we expect Harrison to be more productive, but Wright remains #2 on the depth
chart right now.
Late last week, Ahman Green tweaked his hamstring in practice and was a last minute addition to the injury report. All of that worry turned out to be nothing, however, as Green started against the Lions, but it was a reminder that Green has not played a full season in a few years. If he goes down, both of these backs would have some definite value. Morency came over to Green Bay in a trade that sent Samkon Gado packing to the Texans. Morency is a shifty back who could emerge as the primary backup to Green. However, right now that role goes to Noah Herron, a second year back out of Northwestern with good receiving skills. He can also play some fullback. Long term, both of these backs are worth a roster spot, especially in larger leagues or those that are PPR scoring.
Henry got the start this week with Chris Brown inactive. He ran 21 times for 60 yards and caught two balls for 10 yards. If Brown is active next week, then he’ll probably resume his starting role, but keep an eye on Brown’s status as Henry has value as his short-term handcuff. Long-term, Henry and Brown could both end up taking a back seat to the Titans’ first round draft pick LenDale White.
Smith was banged up heading into this game, but he still managed to carry three
times for eight yards and catch two balls for 12 yards. He passed Mike Anderson
on the depth chart so he should be of interest to all Jamal Lewis owners. He
adds more value in PPR leagues, perhaps, since he’s proving to be a reliable
target out of the backfield for McNair when spelling Lewis.
Buckhalter continues to produce in a limited role as the Eagles #2 back behind
starter Brian Westbrook. Buckhalter ran for 16 yards on five carries and he
caught two balls for 25 yards against the 49ers. Westbrook has been limited in
practice over the past couple of weeks because of swelling in his knee. That
just adds to the potential value and allure of Buckhalter as “must have”
handcuff if you’re a Westbrook owner.
Gado is still coming up to speed in Houston, but the coaching staff seems pleased with his abilities and it would be a surprise if he doesn’t either wind up sharing the load with Ron Dayne or if he doesn’t overtake him for the starting job. Wali Lundy’s 15 minutes seem to be over, so look for Dayne and then probably Gado to be the feature backs moving forward barring injury.
Add for Later (Sleeper potential)
Calhoun is the Lions primary backup to Kevin Jones, but Shawn Bryson remains in that mix and would ultimately limit some of Calhoun’s production because he is such a good receiver out of the backfield and he’s deceptively fast for a back his size. Calhoun is a bit smaller, but also very quick and has great hands. If Jones gets hurt, look for Calhoun to pick up the Lion’s share of those touches with Bryson spelling him as a change of pace and also getting some touches as a fullback.
Davenport was signed recently by the Steelers with the hopes that he might be able to fulfill the “Jerome Bettis role”. Davenport definitely has the size to get the job done, but we’ll see if he can stay healthy long enough to deliver the goods. Verron Haynes is the primary backup right now, but look for Davenport to gradually emerge and take some touches away from Haynes moving forward. If Davenport pans out, it could cost Duce Staley his roster spot on the team.
Moore is healthy again, for now anyway, and he’s working as the Vikings #2 back again. Ciatrick Fason has been inactive the past two weeks (injured) leaving Artose Pinner as the #3 for now, but Fason will regain that spot when he’s healthy and Moore is the proper handcuff to Chester Taylor if you don’t have him.
Washington produced 77 total yards this week. He caught two balls for 52 yards (one was a 47-yard play) and he ran seven times for 25 yards. Kevan Barlow started and ran 12 times, but Washington’s seven carries were the most after Barlow and Cedric Houston carried twice for 10 yards, one was a 5-yard TD run. Houston and Washington could emerge in bigger roles if Barlow doesn’t work out. Washington is a better receiver and has more big play potential, but Houston seems to be a better fit as the main runner on 1st and 2nd downs. None of the Jets backs are emerging so far, but Washington definitely made a few big plays in this week’s game so he bears watching.
Chris Brown was inactive this week, but Travis Henry got the start and not LenDale White. As the Titans eventually fall out of the playoff picture in the next month, look for White to get more and more playing time. The Titans may turn over the reigns to both rookies and let them gain experience.
Add for Insurance (Injury or bye week replacement)
Shaun Alexander is out for at least the next two weeks with a cracked bone in his left foot. Morris will replace Alexander as the starter. "The actual time of his rehab, we can't even determine at this point," HC Mike Holmgren said. "I don't think it will be real lengthy, but it is what it is. Now, he just has to stay off of it and let it heal up." If you don't own Alexander, there may not be much of a motive to pickup Morris. Morris probably won't be very productive against the stingy Bears defense next week. The Seahawks are on the bye the following week. If Alexander doesn't return by then, Morris could get a shot against the Rams and Vikings in weeks 7 and 8.
Davis is coming up to speed with the Rams offense and slowly he’s getting back into playing shape after signing on the eve of the regular season and not going through training camp. He’s the important handcuff to Steven Jackson, but he would likely split duties with Tony Fisher in the event that Jackson misses any length of time. Fisher is better suited to third down duty while Davis would likely be the primary ball carrier. Davis would probably get the nod near the goal line, too.
Frank Gore left the game early this week with an abdominal injury, and Maurice Hicks was the first off the bench, but he quickly gave way to rookie Michael Robinson (who scored on two 1-yard TD plunges and generally ran with great power). Hicks has been the #2 back on the depth chart, but Robinson has two roles that would likely swing the balance of fantasy value his way. After Gore fumbled at the goal line for the 2nd time this year, Robinson may have won that job going forward and he may also be the team’s third down back in Gore’s absence. That means Hicks could still be the primary runner on 1st and 2nd downs, but Robinson may have more value in the short-term, and especially the long-term.
Watson is the primary backup to Rudi Johnson until Chris Perry comes off the PUP list – assuming he does at some point between weeks 6 and 9. Watson ran for 35 yards on three attempts this week and he caught a pass for 9 yards. The Bengals are using him as more of a third down capacity now as that fits his skills best. Keep an eye on
Bryson caught a 37-yard TD reception for the Lions first offensive TD this season. If you’re in a deeper league or a PPR league, or if you are required to start a fullback, then Bryson could have some added value. He may be eligible at FB and he’s a great sleeper in those other formats because of his ability to catch the football.
Vickers had a 29-yard catch this week. With Droughns banged up, there’s talk of Vickers becoming the Browns short-yard and goal line back. If Droughns were to miss a few games, Vickers may get a share of the workload along with Jerome Harrison, who would be the expected starter, and Jason Wright, who is currently listed as No. 2 on the depth chart. Wright is the main carrier with Droughns out, but Harrison is the player with the most talent and upside of the three.
Wide Receiver Add Immediately (Impact potential)
Clayton had a solid game this week catching eight balls for 74 yards against Cleveland. He was targeted 11 times by Steve McNair. Prior to this week, he had just three catches for 48 yards. Clayton may have been drafted, and then cut by an impatient owner in your league. Clayton has upside considering that he caught 44 passes for 471 yards and 2 TDs last year as a rookie. He’s polished for a young receiver, so with Mason opposite him and Heap worrying safeties, Clayton will see a lot of single coverage and good matchups the rest of the way.
Henry broke out this week starting for T.J. Houshmandzadeh. It didn’t seem to matter as both receivers caught two TDs from Carson Palmer in the Bengals road win against rival Pittsburgh. Henry finished with five catches for 69 yards on 9 targets. Last week, he caught five passes for 113 yards on 12 targets. He faces a likely suspension for at least four games at some point this year, but with T.J. Houshmandzadeh and Chad Johnson being limited recently, Henry’s stepped up and produced for the Bengals. He’s a great short-term play as long as he continues to be used in the same role. Housh returned this week, but Henry still started. He’s an explosive player with big play potential who is extremely producing in the red zone.
Toomer caught another TD this week giving him three in the last two weeks. He caught three passes for 29 yards against the Seahawks. Last week, Toomer exploded for 12 receptions and 137 yards (2 TDs). Toomer may be available in smaller leagues, but not most 12 teamers. If you have him on your roster, consider moving him as his value has likely peaked. Toomer is a solid veteran WR with one of the league’s best young QBs to get him the ball, but he may be the Giants 4th best target on most days – behind Tiki Barber, Plaxico Burress and Jeremy Shockey.
Williams only caught two passes for 8 yards against the Colts as Byron Leftwich struggled to move the Jags through the air this week. . He was much more productive in the first two games catching 14 passes for 142 yards with one TD. Add For Depth (Starter potential)
Battle didn’t make an impact in this week’s game until it was garbage time. He finished with two catches for 17 yards. Alex Smith is developing nicely as the 49ers QB giving Battle and Antonio Bryant a good, young QB to get them the football. Both we quiet this week against the Eagles. Last week, Battle caught three balls for 78 yards on six targets.
Booker produced 54 yards this week – 18 yards on a reverse. He’s averaging around 50 yards a game through the first three weeks. He may have a few breakout games during the season, but he’s no threat to displace Chris Chambers as the team’s top receiver. He could be useful during the bye weeks as a flex, WR3 or WR4.
Davis caught a 24-yard TD pass with 1:53 left in the game to lift the Bears to a 19-16 win over the Minnesota Vikings. Davis won the starting job in training camp, but he didn’t produce anything noteworthy in the first two games, outside of a 31-yard reception last week. Davis finished with three catches for 48 yards on five targets this week. He and Bernard Berrian may both wind up being productive, but Berrian certainly has out-produced him in each of the first three games.
Furrey caught three balls for 38 yards against the Packers on Sunday. Last week, Furrey passed Corey Bradford on the depth chart and had a strong performance against the Bears, catching six balls for 67 yard (mostly in the first half). Furrey was targeted eight times in each of the last two games. The Lions should continue throwing the ball as long as Mike Martz is calling the plays, so Furrey will have value as long as he remains in the lineup.
Deion Branch is gone and Chad Jackson was inactive this week. That set the stage for Gabriel, who made a very nice 8-yard TD catch in the 4th quarter against Denver. He caught 6 balls for 65 yards. Look for Gabriel’s role to grow. The Patriots will probably put him and rookie Chad Jackson on the fast track with Branch out of the way. Last week, Jackson caught a 13-yard TD pass from Tom Brady and finished with two catches for 42 yards - all in the first half. Look for these two to emerge as Brady’s top targets next to Ben Watson. Troy Brown (4-41-0) is old reliable, but he lacks the upside these two offer and Reche Caldwell (3-46-0 this week) will likely fade into a supporting role. Brown could remain a viable option in PPR leagues, but don’t expect much more than his 4-to-5 catches and 40-to-50 yards.
Henderson caught a 26-yard touchdown last week. He was targeted six times, catching three balls for 51 yards – all during the first half. Henderson is currently the Saints #3 WR. He could re-emerge as a starter if he continues to produce, but rookie Marques Colston is performing well and will probably remain the starter barring injury. Henderson is a dangerous deep threat because of his top-flight speed. Add for Later (Sleeper potential)
It would be surprising if Jackson’s role doesn’t increase as the season wears on. Last week, he caught a 12-yard TD. Jackson is a huge target with above average speed. He had a great offseason and he’s only going to get better. He’s definitely worth a roster for now and he remains a nice sleeper, especially if McCardell or Parker gets hurt.
Laveranues Coles hasn’t missed a start due to injury in several years, but he’s battling a calf injury and McCareins stands to gain some value if Coles is forced to leave any games or if he’s held out. McCareins would take Coles’ spot in the lineup if either takes place.
The Bills passing game finally showed some signs of life this week against the Jets. Parrish broke things open early with a 51-yard TD catch on the second play of the game. He was targeted four times catching all four for 104 yards. It’s tough to predict much success for Parrish – or any of the other Bills WRs save for Lee Evans – but his role could increase and Losman is looking better, too. Add for Insurance (Injury or bye week replacement)
Carter moved into the starting lineup on Sunday after HC Tom Coughlin removed Plaxico Burress from the game because of lingering back problems. Carter ended up with three catches for 43 yards and a 25-yard TD catch. He has good size and great speed, but he will likely go back to being the Giants #3 WR. Carter made some plays, but he also blew a potential TD by not catching a pass. If Plaxico is out again, then Carter is worth a strong look. On the other hand, if Sinorice Moss ever gets past his hamstring issues, then he could emerge as the team’s #3 receiver and push Carter for playing time.
Johnson has the playmaking ability to break a big one on any given week. This week he caught a 54-yard pass, but he was only targeted twice. Last week, he scored on his only catch – a 40-yarder. Kurt Warner is comfortable with Johnson and he’s made at least one big play in all three games this year. If his role grows due to injury, he could provide an impact as a waiver wire pickup. Keep an eye on
He’s back. Hakim is back with the Lions and he’s back in Mike Martz’s system. He signed before the second week and with just a couple of practices under his belt, Hakim was activated for the game keeping Mike Williams inactive for the second straight week. Corey Bradford is on the fade, Williams can’t get himself out of the doghouse and the Lions are running with Mike Furrey in the starting lineup. Hakim is playing outside, for now, so his value hinges on two things for the moment. Can he surpass Mike Furrey to emerge as a starter opposite Roy Williams? Will Martz eventually move him inside, where he enjoyed his most success as a Ram, or will Martz stick with Eddie Drummond?
Brandon Stokley missed this week’s game against Jacksonville. Moorehead served as the #3 WR in Stokley’s place.
The Packers are throwing the dice with Robinson. He’ll be suspended at some point, likely this year, but the Packers will own his contractual rights when he returns. His window of opportunity is closing as a dynasty prospect, but he could play enough in the short-term to add some value in deeper leagues. Don’t expect him to start ahead of Greg Jennings, but he could work his way onto the field as a 3rd/4th receiver and the Packers will probably be throwing plenty.
Tyree caught five balls for 72 yards and a TD, all of which came with the Giants offense playing catch-up. Unless Burress, Toomer or Carter get hurt, Tyree’s role will remain limited. He’s probably not picking up at this point, unless you are in a really deep league and it’s slim pickings.
Tight End
Add Immediately (Impact potential)
Johnson caught seven passes for 87 yards against the Eagles, including a 15-yard TD catch in the 4th quarter. He was targeted 11 times. Vernon Davis did not catch a pass on three targets before leaving the game with a broken leg. Davis will miss at least a month, potentially making Johnson a very productive player as the 49ers starting TE. He was productive in previous years, when healthy, so if he’s available snag him immediately.
Daniels caught a 1-yard TD pass this week. It was his only catch. Last week, the rookie caught his first NFL touchdown against the Colts – a 33-yard reception from David Carr in the fourth quarter. He had four catches for 45 yards in that game. In Gary Kubiak’s offense, he and Mark Bruener are likely to catch a few more TDs on play-action fakes and on bootlegs or waggle plays. The Broncos were always good for 3 to 5 of those each year and the same should hold true in Houston. Daniels may not be consistent as a rookie, but he’s talented and he could emerge as a more consistent option down the road.
Add For Depth (Starter potential)
Baker caught his 2nd TD of the year against the Bills this week. He had three catches for 15 yards (four targets). Baker could be a decent TE2/TE3, depending on your league format. He’s not starter-quality but he can catch well and the Jets passing game should continue to be productive enough for him to be a solid bye week option if you still need one.
Wrighster caught four balls this week for 25 yards (eight targets). He caught three balls for 20 yards in week one; three balls for 30 yards in week two. Marcedes Lewis will probably emerge at some point as the better player, but for the interim Wrighster is getting it done on a consistent basis. He could be a decent bye week fill-in if your other options are poor. Add for Later (Sleeper potential)
Neither of the Colts backup TEs caught a pass this week against the Jaguars.
Utecht was targeted once, Fletcher not at all. Dallas Clark, the starter, caught
a 30-yard TD and he was targeted four times. The Colts will typically use two or
three tight ends each game. Last week, Fletcher caught a 15-yard TD and Utecht
had a 26-yard reception. In the event of an injury to Clark, both players would
have more value in because they are targeted around the red zone frequently.
Todd Heap injured his ankle while stretching at home on Friday night. He was added to the injury report questionable as questionable raising the optimism for those following Wilcox, but it never materialized. Heap played and caught a TD among five passes for 36 yards. Wilcox caught one pass for 10 yards. Heap was targeted 11 times, Wilcox once. If Heap gets hurt, Wilcox could see many targets and be a worthy spot starter.
Add for Next Year (Dynasty potential)
Scaife continues to produce whenever he’s given a chance. He caught two balls for 41 yards this week, one of which was a 27-yard TD. He was targeted three times. Last week, Scaife caught three passes for 53 yards, most of which was the result of garbage-time. Scaife benefits from Erron Kinney’s absence. Until then, Scaife should continue to be a decent reach/sleeper as a backup for spot duty. Looking into the future, Scaife could emerge as an excellent bookend to Ben Troupe giving the Titans two strong options if Kinney leaves.
The Raiders were on the bye this week, but don’t forget about this converted receiver. Last week, Williams had a 28-yard reception. Courtney Anderson remains the team’s starter, but the Raiders are using their tight ends more this year than in the past. Williams just might produce solid numbers if his role increases and if the Raiders don’t start to run the ball a little better – they’ll have to keep passing. Keep an eye on
Bergen didn’t catch a pass nor was he targeted this week by Kurt Warner. He remains the starter, but he’s being pushed by rookie Leonard Pope, who is more talented and ultimately the long-term starter for the Cardinals. Still, Bergen can catch the ball well and he should continue to see time along with Pope. The Cardinals figure to throw the ball enough, so keep him in mind in deeper leagues that require TEs.
Pope was targeted just once this week and that pass was intercepted, but he’s a
kid to keep your eyes on as he develops into the Cardinals long-term starter.
He’s vying for playing time with Adam Bergen for now, but Pope could emerge as a
solid option for Warner/Leinart in the red zone considering that he’s a nice
target at 6’ 8”. Defense Add Immediately (Impact potential)
The Bengals sacked Ben Roethlisberger three times and intercepted him three times this past week. They may be available in some leagues and they have one of the best ball hawking secondaries in the league. If you need a bye week defense for week 6 (at Tampa), then consider the Bengals. If not, they have a good schedule in weeks 11 thru 14 - at New Orleans, at Cleveland, Baltimore and Oakland.
The Eagles are at home vs. Green Bay this week and next week vs. Dallas, so they could be worth a look if they are available. Other weeks where they might have special interest include week the next two weeks (at NO, at TB) and then week 11 at home vs. Tennessee. They are without DE Jevon Kearse, but should still be a viable option because of their aggressive nature.
Antoine Winfield scored on an interception return for the Vikings this week (vs the Bears). They lost DE Erasmus James last week to a season-ending knee injury, but they might have more value this week at Buffalo, week 5 vs Detroit, week 10 vs Green Bay and then weeks 13 thru 16 (fantasy playoffs) – at Chicago, at Detroit, vs NYJ and at GB.
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