"Elementary Dear "Watson, "Johnson's" Out!!!"

It must be tough to realize that you are hosting one of the toughest defensive squads in the league without your stud running back. The Bengals' camp has announced that Rudi Johnson is out for Monday Night Football.

Kenny Watson, a six year veteran of the league, was originally drafted by the Washington Redskins. He isn't as big as Rudi Johnson, therefore, he will not try to plow through defensive lineman and linebackers, but he is faster and has great elusiveness. Kenny will savor the chance to get the start, until about half-way through the first quarter when he realizes that New England Defense is dominating him like a new guy on the cell block...used and abused, then passed along so that it can be done again.

I think that if you are a Cincinnati fan, you are looking to Vegas to see if the line changes. As it stands, I have seen it hover around "-6"... if this thing grows, you might as well DVR the game and focus on your weekly sitcoms. Sometimes, however, changes like this actually stimulates Vegas to go the other way... if that is the case, paint yourself up and start whooping it up like it was 1999.

Being a Patriots homer, I just don't see it. The Pats are one of the best running teams and one of the best run-defense teams. The one thing that Cincinnati has to it's favor is height...in the WR corp. Asante Samuel, Ellis Hobbs III, Randall Gay, James Sanders, Eugene Wilson, and Rodney Harrison are all "vertically challanged" which gives T.J., and C.J. great opportunity, at least early in the game.

FANTASY IMPACT: If you are like me and have many o' teams invested in Rudi Johnson, this is completely deflating. Scurry like rabbits and grab Kenny Watson, Brian Leonard, or Correll Buckhalter as fast as you can, get out the prayer mat, and start bowing towards the east, cuz' yer' gunna need it!!! This benefits the NE Defense more than anyone (besides Vegas for this late scratch)... I can't see this being any better for those who have Cincinnati Defense as they are likely to play behind, most of the game. Carson Palmer, C.J., and T.J will either blow up with big points or implode with "Nare' a point ta'show fer it, Saavy?"

Statistocrat