Dynasty Implications - Week 5

Posted 10/6 by Jeff Tefertiller, Exclusive for Footballguys.com

This will be a weekly feature looking at the dynasty implications from some of the events of the week's games. We will look at the happenings of the weekend and identify some winners and losers in dynasty leagues. The focus will be on the players that are not elite, nor top players having big games this week. You do not need me to tell you to trade for Adrian Peterson or Drew Brees when they have a big game.

Rookie Matt Stafford left in the second half with a knee injury. He had a subluxation of his knee cap, meaning a dislocation, and the knee was popped back in. Daunte Culpepper replaced the rookie and would start in week five if Stafford cannot play. He might miss a week or two. But, the injury overshadows a decent showing for the rookie passer.

Chad Henne was efficient in his first start. The former Wolverine completed 14 of 22 passes for 115 yards and a touchdown. He added 14 more on the ground. It was good to see Henne orchestrate a win against a division opponent. The Dolphins employed a conservative gameplan with the new quarterback under center. With the way the Dolphins use the "Wildcat" offense, the potential is limited in the short term for the second-year thrower. Miami does not have many weapons at the receiver position to help Henne with some big plays.

Josh Johnson started for the Buccaneers this week against the Washington Redskins. The Redskins did not respect him as a passer. Johnson completed just 13 of 22 passes for 106 yards. He tossed a touchdown to Antonio Bryant and threw an interception. Johnson's athleticism led to 41 rushing yards. It was the only saving grace for fantasy owners gutsy enough to start him in his first NFL start. Talk is that rookie Josh Freeman has not dedicated himself to the playbook, leaving Johnson an extended leash. We should still see Freeman later in the season.

Trent Edwards is who I thought he was. He is a less than average NFL quarterback, overrated by fantasy owners hoping big things with the addition of Terrell Owens. Edwards is averaging less than 200 yards per passing a game, to go with five touchdowns and five interceptions. These are not good numbers through four games. Plus, as the cold weather approaches, the Bills will become even more conservative on offense. He is a player to sell after a decent game. Hopefully, your fantasy hopes are not pinned to Edwards.

Derek Anderson started the game this Sunday against the Bengals after replacing Brady Quinn in the second half last week. He started slow, but seemed to pick up steam as the game progressed. Anderson leaned on rookie Mohamed Massaquoi for the big play. Anderson finished the game with 269 passing yards a score and a pick. He added another touchdown on the ground. This was a decent game, numbers-wise, for the new Browns passer. He will throw the ball down the field much more than Brady Quinn. This will lead to greater production and more turnovers.

What will the Titans do at quarterback? The team is 0-4 and Kerry Collins is not a young man. The problem is that the team released Patrick Ramsey, and Vince Young is still not an option at this time. In preseason, Young did not look like the same player he was as a rookie, full of confidence, looking to make a play. Young should see playing time later in the season when Tennessee is eliminated from the playoff chase. The Titans will look to address the position next season.

Jason Campbell was expected to have a big game against the porous Buccaneer defense, but disappointment started early on in the game. A whopping two completions in the entire first half is ridiculous. The Redskin run game is not good and the team needs the starting passer to step up and he has yet to do so. Yes, the Redskins got the win, but it was against the Buccaneers and was not pretty. Fans were booing loudly against Campbell in the second quarter after he bounced a pass off the official's head. This was after throwing two picks earlier in the half. Expect Todd Collins to make an appearance even though coach Zorn said he had no plans of replacing his quarterback. The big play to Santana Moss saved Campbell and the Redskins once again. Opposing teams will begin to focus even more on Moss, making Randle El or Kelly beat them.

Kyle Boller filled in for the injured Marc Bulger this week. He did not play well, only throwing for 104 yards. The Rams turned the ball over too often and could not establish any rhythm on offense. This is not good for Boller's chances of being an option for the future. The Rams are a team without a quarterback-of-the-future .... the present.

I realize that the Giants are a great defense, but Matt Cassel totaled a whopping four yards on one completion in the first quarter. The Chiefs did not throw it much in the first half, and Cassel did not look confident with the strong New York pass rush invading his pocket. Yes, his statistics were padded in garbage time, but it is not a good sign for a passer many think is a franchise quarterback. It did not help that Dwayne Bowe was slowed with a hamstring injury. Cassel is definitely not a player to acquire in dynasty leagues, and may be one to sell. Coach Todd Haley remarked how the Chief offense is one without an identity. This is true. They can neither run nor pass with efficiency.

Derrick Ward missed the game against the New York Giants this week with a knee injury. The team used Cadillac Williams as the primary rusher in the void. Both of these backs are players to sell as quickly as possible. The offensive line is not opening holes and the opposing defenses do not respect Josh Johnson as a passer. It is difficult to imagine this situation getting any better. Plus Josh Johnson's rushing ability might hinder the running stats for the backs.

Willie Parker did not play against the San Diego Chargers. Rashard Mendenhall started in his stead. Mendenhall played great , scoring twice in the first half alone. He ran hard and ran well. This was the best we have seen from the second-year pro. He amassed almost 200 total yards in the game. Mendenhall also picked up the blitz well, which will endear him to the coaching staff. He split time with Mewelde Moore with Moore used manly in passing situations. This pair of backups give the Steelers hope for the future. There is speculation about the makeup of the backfield once Parker returns. This could be a committee.

Darren McFadden continues to disappoint. This time it was against the league-worst rush defense of the Houston Texans. He was considered a fantasy RB2 in preseason, but six carries for -3 yards makes him unstartable until further notice. Making matters worse, McFadden tore his meniscus and will be out of action for 2-4 weeks. In addition. Justin Fargas was the tailback for stretches of the second half, and was the team's leading rusher. Things are not looking good for the former Razorback. Sell him if you can in dynasty leagues.

Kevin Smith practiced Thursday and Friday and was a game time decision. He did play and scored twice, even though there was little room to run against the tough Bear defense. The second-year pro tallied only 30 rushing yards on 19 carries. The Lions meet the Steelers next week, which will be another big test for the gimpy shoulder. Smith is trying to play through the injury. This game against the Bears showed us that no other Lion running back is a viable option unless Smith is held out of action for an extended period of time. Also, next week will be interesting if Daunte Culpepper starts for the injured Matthew Stafford.

In his first game back from suspension, Marshawn Lynch split time this week with Fred Jackson. He looked strong and it was a good sign that he was worked into the lineup early in the first quarter. The Bills will revert to being a running team as the weather turns cold. The large role in his first game back is good news for Lynch. Even with the Bills likely employing a committee, Lynch will have a big role. He is a player to buy low if you can in dynasty leagues.

Pierre Thomas looked strong against a stout Jet rush defense. It appears he is back to full strength after the knee injury. Thomas was awesome the second half of last season and seems to be picking up where he left off. This will be an interesting situation when Mike Bell gets healthy. Thomas is the more talented back. But, let's remember the talk this offseason of the Saints wanting a bigger back to augment Thomas and Bush. Bell could be that guy. The Saints are blessed to have so much talent in the backfield. But, for fantasy owners, it might be a big headache.

Glen Coffee played in place of Frank Gore and totaled 105 yards. He was effective against a poor St. Louis Rams defense. Coffee is establishing himself as the backup to Gore and will only be a fantasy factor as long as the veteran back is out of the lineup. But, there is a huge difference in the talent levels between the two backs. Gore might have accumulated 150 or 200 rushing yards against the lowly Ram defense.

Correll Buckhalter has been playing great so far in this young season. He was having a good game with 92 total yards on only eleven touches before leaving the contest with an ankle injury. The injury is not thought to be serious. Dynasty owners do not want to hear this, but Buckhalter has actually outplayed the high profile rookie, Knowshon Moreno, so far this season before the injury.

James Davis was placed on injured reserve this week with the shoulder injury he sustained in the one-car accident a few weeks ago. Jamal Lewis did not play against the Bengals, either. He is still nursing a hamstring injury. Jerome Harrison was the primary back. He played very well, amassing 121 rushing yards against the Bengal defense. Harrison's backup was rookie Chris Jennings out of Arizona. Jennings is a bigger back, making a good complement to Harrison. Keep an eye on Lewis' injury. If it lingers, Harrison and Jennings might be the two backs to own in Cleveland. Lewis is on the downhill slide of his career. The Browns may want to see what they have in Harrison this season since this is the last year he is under contract with the team.

Bernard Scott gave the Bengals a spark in the second half. His speed is a good complement to the plodding style of Cedric Benson. Scott ran the ball six times for 41 yards. He is a player to watch and see how the Bengals will utilize his speed.

I know it was against the Kansas City Chiefs, but Steve Smith looked awesome for the Giants once again. He had 50 receiving yards and two touchdowns with just a minute and a half gone in the second quarter. For the first half, Smith caught seven of Eli Manning's ten completions for 84 yards and the two scores. What a first half. He finished the game with eleven receptions for 134 yards and the touchdowns. Smith has more receptions, with 34, of any receiver in Giants in history through four games. He has earned the trust of Eli Manning and will continue to see a large amount of pass targets. Smith is known for running impeccable routes, and rightly so. The Giants know how to move the ball down the field, and Smith is a clutch receiver. He is very expensive in dynasty leagues, and for good reason. In PPR (Points Per Reception) leagues, Smith is an elite receiver. It appears as though Smith's role in the offense is here to stay.

Mike Sims-Walker has solidified his role as the primary wide receiver in Jacksonville. He has now enjoyed three consecutive big fantasy weeks. Sims-Walker is a prime player to target in dynasty leagues if you can get him at a good price. Some may think he is a fluke. But, Sims-Walker is a very good receiver. The only worry is injury. The talent is there. He led the Jaguars with seven receptions for 91 yards and two touchdowns. With Torry Holt just a shade of what he used to be, Sims-Walker is the Jacksonville receiver to own. Also, rookie Mike Thomas was second on the team in receptions with five. He was playing out of the slot mostly. Thomas might be a player to watch as the Jaguars expend his role in the offense.

Chicago Bears saw their two speedy receivers, Devin Hester and Johnny Knox, leave the game early with injuries. Neither injury is expected to be serious. The Bears were in control against the Lions, and the team is off this coming week, so there was little reason for either to go back into the game ... even if healthy. This is a situation to monitor for Jay Cutler owners as well. Hester and Knox are the only big play receivers in Chicago.

Wes Welker has been slowed by the knee injury for a few weeks. There was much speculation about the mystery injury. He has missed enough time that fantasy owners should be worried. Against the Ravens, Welker was not back to full speed, but was still effective. He did catch six passes for 48 yards. The good news is that Welker should be safe to start next week. If the Welker owner in your dynasty league is impatient, make him an offer. He should be good to go in week five and for the future. The game Sunday did answer some questions about his knee.

Andre Caldwell had a couple of big games in weeks one and three. He amassed over 50 receiving yards in each of those games. In week four against the Cleveland Browns, Caldwell split time with Laveranues Coles. He will continue to garner a larger role in the Bengal passing game with both Coles and Chris Henry disappointing. Caldwell is only in his second year in the league and is still learning the position. He could be a productive possession receiver in the mold of T.J. Houshmandzadeh.

Donnie Avery is healed from the foot injury. He now suffers from poor play at the quarterback position. With a poor statistical line, he is a player to acquire for the future. It may be next season before you get a payoff, but Avery is a playmaker for the Rams. Just do not expect much in 2009.

Mario Manningham has cooled off after a fast start to the season. He caught just one of his six first-half targets. On that one catch, he bobbled it a few times. Hakeem Nicks is now back from his foot injury and could replace the former Michigan Wolverine. While Manningham has quickness and playmaking ability, it is inconsistency and frequent drops that might lead to a decrease in playing time.

Mohamed Massaquoi played well with Derek Anderson under center. He was targeted deep several times against the Cincinnati Bengals. Anderson's strong arm is a welcome sight for the rookie from Georgia. Massaquoi was beating the strong coverage of Leon Hall, who has held top receivers in check this season. Massaquoi has seemed to earn the trust of Anderson as the game went along. Braylon Edwards was seeing double teams on the other side, so Anderson targeted the rookie often. He finished the game with eight receptions for 148 yards and even had a touchdown overturned. Massaquoi was a second round pick from Georgia so the team saw something they liked on film from college. He is definitely a prospect to watch with Anderson now at quarterback.

Ted Ginn was out of the lineup for most of the week four game against the Buffalo Bills, only touching the ball twice, one carry and one reception. Whether it was due to the hard-running gameplan this week or the myriad of dropped passes the past couple of games, Ginn was on the sidelines watching rookie Brian Hartline for most of the game. This is definitely something to watch. The coaches are saying it was a "planned rotation of receivers", but that is not a good sign. Coaches do not sit players who are performing well.

Do not look now, but rookie Kenny Britt is emerging in Tennessee. His 102 receiving yards, most coming in "catch up mode", led the Titans against the Jaguars. With the Titans now 0-4, they will continue to give the youngster a long look. The only downside is if or when Vince Young gets to play with the Titans out of the playoff chase later in the season.

Those in deep dynasty leagues, keep an eye on New York Giants tight end Travis Beckum. His receiving skills are excellent. Beckum was rated highly as a Junior before being injured for much of his Senior season. He made a great over the shoulder grab late in the first quarter against the Chiefs in week four. It might be 2010, but Beckum will likely be the starter in New York relatively soon. He is a much better receiver than Kevin Boss. Boss is ailing with an ankle injury which might speed up the insertion of Beckum into the Giant lineup.

Vernon Davis has now caught 17 balls for 211 yards and three touchdowns on the season after two consecutive strong games. He is quickly becoming a favored target for quarterback Shaun Hill. Davis is finally living up to his first round draft status. Without much at the receiver position, Hill looks to Davis in the end zone. For dynasty owners, Davis might be a low-end TE1 for the future. The downside might be if Hill is replaced this season or next or as the team upgrades the receiver position.

Sean Ryan has become a red zone target for Matt Cassel in Kansas City. He is capable of having decent games with the Chiefs playing from behind often. His five-catch, 58-yard game against the Giants came on the heels of four receptions last week. Ryan also added a touchdown grab this week versus New York. The Chiefs do not have many options in the passing game, so consider Ryan if desperate for a tight end. Also, he is a player to stash in deeper leagues. The Chiefs have so many holes, tight end should not be a priority this offseason.