Week 9 ~ Start'em

Due to the lack of key fantasy players on bye-week and the majority of injuries being recovered and on the field (although a few remain), it is time to focus on teams that are facing key match-ups to determine who best to play this week.

In this week's Start'em, I will focus on big names who should have big games... helping you to decide who amongst your studs you should play.

QUARTERBACKS:

Matt Hasselbeck: Here is a guy that has been consistent for years and is going to run into some fantasy points as the Seattle Seahawks prepare to face a defense that ranks 28th in receiving and 26th in rushing. This means big opportunities for Alexander to break out and Hasselbeck some opportunity to put up TDs.

Jason Campbell: Jason should shine like the sun this week as he has it even better than Hasselbeck. Campbell and the 'Skins go to New Jersey and face the 31st ranked defense in the passing game and the 30th ranked run defense. The Jets are in a constant state of chaos, from the starting quarterback (now Kellen Clemens) to the defensive starters (started the most players in defense so far this year.

Carson Palmer: Not only is he on the verge of getting his no. 3 WR back in Chris Henry, but it is safe to say that the "milking" of Rudi Johnson's knee injury is nearing an end. Palmer faces a defense that has a lot of turnovers but gives up the 3rd most yards per reception in the league. With C.J. & T.J., this means trouble for Buffalo fans and rejoicing for Palmer owners.

Jay Cutler: They are slowly coming out of a funk, mostly due to Brandon Marshall and Tony Scheffler. Cutler will have plenty of opportunities with the pick-happy, yet abysmal defense of the Detroit Lions (ranked 29th overall in receiving yards).

J.P. Losman: He gets his job back, as I suspected he would ( Week 9 ~ Waiver Wire). It couldn't have come at a better time for Losman and the Bills. They face a defense that ranks 26th in receiving yards given up and 25th in rushing yards. This means Lynch can move the ball and give Losman the time to deliver the pass, all the while remaining balanced to keep the defense honest. They will likely play from behind, meaning more passing than rushing attempts.

RUNNING BACKS:

Kevin Jones: He is looking more and more like the Kevin Jones of two years ago... cutting and slashing his way through defenses, even without an offensive line to speak of. Detroit faces a tough pass defense, but Denver ranks 31st in rushing yardage allowed. This gives owners a chance to look good... at least those who drafted him or picked him up early.

Adimchinobe Echemandu: Huh? How do you say it? This week, you can just say "TD Eche" because Houston faces the 29th ranked team in rushing yards allowed. Like Denver, they are staunch defenders of the pass but porous in the front seven.

Shaun Alexander: Here is a chance to redeem yourself for picking him in the top 5. Seattle rolls into Cleveland with an axe to grind, a full arsenal of receivers and a defense that simply cannot stop the run (ranked 28th overall). The defense of the Browns also gives up a ton of receiving yardage which will open up opportunities for Alexander to look good, fantasy-wise.

Marshawn Lynch: The Buffalo offense should look stout this weekend with Cincinnati unable to get out of their own way, most of the time. Lynch has grown in his position and with Losman at the helm and the Bengals looking more like the "Bungles", it is Lynch's day to shine.

Rudi Johnson: I put him in here, more for hope than anything... I need him to play. I think that all reports indicate he is in, but they are so sketchy... isn't this how Dillon basically lost his role. I expect him to carry the ball at least 20 times, say... 80 YDs and a TD against a poor Buffalo Defense.

Justin Fargas: This week, the "right" Fargas shows up. Oakland faces the 24th ranked rushing defense (and passing for that matter) when they host the Houston Texans. Fargas had nearly 100 all-purpose yards last week and should have a great showing this Sunday.

Joseph Addai: When will he NOT get his? Addai will have a good day, regardless of the fact that he is up against one of the best defensive teams in the game. I expect him to tag 100+ on the Pats and maybe 2 TDs, one in the air, one on the ground.

WIDE RECEIVERS:

Laveranues Coles: I am a Cotchery fan but think that Coles wins out this weekend as Clemens will rely on him to be the go to guy as they face the Washington Redskins. The 'Skins are hotter than hell after being flambasted by the Patriots. All things considered though, the Patriots did more than shalack them, they exposed them. Expect Coles to have a great day.

Deion Branch: Back from injury and ready to regain his position as Matt's go-to-guy. They didn't give up a first round draft pick for nothing. Cleveland has holes all over the defense and that is Deion's specialty. I realize that Engram, Burleson, and Hackett are avaiable, but that is exactly why the defense can no longer silence him.

Brandon Marshall: Expect Marshall to have a stellar game as he faces Detroit Lions and their lack of aptitude on the defensive side of the ball. Sure they have a ton of picks...because they are so bad, offenses can simply throw 40 times, get 2 picks and still beat them. They have gotten better in the past three weeks, but not good enough that Denver won't man-handle them.

Vincent Jackson: Is now a threat. With Chambers on the opposite side and Gates roaring up the middle, it is time for VJax "to get his". Chambers will be the short/mid-range guy and Jackson will see 6 - 8 attempts, but should net 80+ YDs and a TD.

Lee Evans: He's back. For all of you that dropped him...two things... shame on you! and thank you. I can't tell you how many leagues I was able to pick this guy up about two weeks ago. He will have matching or better stats than last week, especially since he is facing the Bengals defense.

David Patten: I have been talking about him for three weeks now. He is the best deep threat that Brees has. He is opening opportunities for everyone, including a disappointing first half by Marques Colston. Expect David to have another good day as they face tough Jags defense.

Hines Ward: I was wrong last week to stay away from him... I thought he needed at least one more week... I was dead wrong. He is facing a Baltimore defense that is suspect in it's secondary. He should be able to net more yards but one less TD than last week.

Santana Moss: He earns some points for you this week against the lowly J-E-T-S, JETS, JETS JETS!!!! The Jets rank 30th in run-defense, 31st in pass defense. Jason will rely on Moss, Cooley, and Portis to bring home a win and erase the Patriots from their recent memories.

Reggie Williams: Quinn Gray has to throw to someone and Reggie usually gets the call. Jacksonville has a chance to open the run game with a solid passing performance against the 26th ranked pass defense. I mean...someone has to get the ball thrown to him, right?

TIGHT ENDS:

Antonio Gates: Is this obvious, "Yes"! But the truth is, he should outperform any previous week this year as San Diego plays host to the 24th ranked defense against the pass. The Saints are 3rd in giving up the most yards per pass... this HAS to fair well for Gates.

Tony Scheffler: He is starting to live up to the draft day expectations. Scheffler is having more and more of a role in the offense due to the loss of Javon Walker. He should continue to fair well for the second half and is much a great waiver wire pick-up as he is a starter. Look for Culter to use Scheffler against a weak DET secondary.

Heath Miller: Like the Miller of two years ago, Big Ben is relying more on Heath to get the job done in the red zone. Baltimore has shown a weakness in the secondary, which means the linebackers need to play deeper to keep the game close. Look for Heath and Big Ben, directed by Mike Tomlin to use this to their advantage.

I realize it's a break from the norm, this week's Start'em, but a this point, with only a few key players out for bye weeks and injuries, it made since to go with a more traditional approach to Start'em.

May your roster be healthy and the points many.

Statistocrat

Teams are QB "Broke", why not look to "Brooks"?

Where oh where has Aaron Brooks gone? Oh where oh where can he be?

I bet he is sitting on his coach watching the state of the quarterbacks in the NFL and wondering “What the hell am I doing on the coach with no phone calls and these fools are getting paid to do what I do best!!!”

With Vinny Testaverde coming off the coach and into your living room on Sundays and Jeff George advising NFL teams that he wants in, why on God’s green earth isn’t there any talk about this kid?

Aaron played for 8 seasons, amassing 123 TDs and 92 INTs. He had over 20,000 Yds with a career 78.5 passer rating. Are you telling me that this guy shouldn’t be on several team’s radars.

If you ask me, the Minnesota Vikings, the New York Jets, the Arizona Cardinals, and the Miami Dolphins should be picking up the phone and dialing right….about….NOW!!!!!

Statistocrat

Week 9 ~ Waiver Wire

Here is my outlook on the free agent market as the majority of league's waiver wire is due within 24 hours.

Although there are slim pickin's, that doesn't mean that they aren't worthy candidates.

Look to this group of players to help fill injury and bye-week fillers.

QUARTERBACK:

Alex Smith: With injury all but behind him, Alex looks to regain some momentum and drive San Fransisco to a late run at the playoffs. I expect that his re-emergence lends growth to Frank Gore, Vernon Davis, and Darrell Jackson.

Kellen Clemens: If for no other reason, because he has Laveranues Coles and Jerricho Cotchery as targets, but also because he has the ability to go down field in a way that Pennington's arm wouldn't allow them.

J.P. Losman: So many people dropped him, but Edwards has shown a completel lack of ability to be a consistent winner. I expect Losman back in the line-up before the week ends. He filled in nicely at the end of the Jets game, ultimately leading them to victory.

Brooks Bollinger: If you are in a two quarterback league or there is nothing left and you had Schaub, Delhomme, or maybe even rested on Trent Green... Maybe with the abysmal outlook of the QB situation in the NFL, be it Leinart or Culpepper, Harrington or Chad Pennington, Brooks could be a nice find. He is careful with the ball but has the ability to heave it downfield.

RUNNINGBACKS:

Chris Henry: This rookie has seen the endzone twice in two weeks. He is slowly securing his job as the back-up to LenDale White even when Chris Brown returns from injury. He is a must-hold-on-to if you are in a keeper league.

DeShaun Foster: A yearly, second-half-guy. He had 6 straight games at the end of the season in which he ran for over 100 yards and a TD and I don't expect less, even with Vinny "The Ancient" at the helm.

Kevin Faulk: With Sammy Morris on the sidelines, Kevin is a great filler for bye-weeks and injuries. He should see somewhere between 50 - 75 yards based on how Belicheck uses his running backs. He has the chance to get the most yards in the air as Brady loves to throw screens to Kevin.

Michael Bennett: He got in the end zone last weekend and I expect his role to ever increase as they use Graham more an more to field punts/kick returns. Both are effective on the ground and through the air, but I believe that Bennett has the most upside.

WIDE RECEIVERS:

Chris Henry: The team needs this third receiver almost as much as they need Rudi Johnson back. He is able to practice with the team and should be able to make a run for some points as early as next week. Be a genius and grab' em before anybody else does.

Derrick Mason: Flying under the radar or being dropped for lack of consistency, Derrick Mason is quietly posting 7 - 10 fantasy points a week. If someone was gullible enough to drop 'em, go ahead and grab him. He is not going to be huge, but as a third receiver, he is dependable.

Marty Booker: Besides the spry Nick Hagan, Marty Booker is one of the only one's remaining of the starting offensive roster for the Dolphins. Cleo Lemon relies on Booker to help him in his times of need, and fantasy-wise, maybe you should to.

Reggie Brown: Like all other Eagles WR, it's hit or miss, but this past weekend, he looked dynamic. Maybe between Curtis and Brown, Westbrook and L.J. Smith, we see an offense re-emerge and give McNabb a reason to stop whining and start winning.

Bobby Wade: He is the veteran in this threesome (Williamson, Wade, and Rice). Whether it is Bollinger or whomever, I see Wade starting to play a more important role in this offense, being consistent in the short to mid-range passes.

Deion Branch/D.J. Hackett: Both are back from injury and I expect them both to be used to try and right this Seahawks ship. Branch is the better of the two, but Hackett has speed that cannot be matched. Nate Burleson and Bobby Engram will limit their opportunities, but great pick-ups for the rest of the season.

TIGHT ENDS:

Jeff King: This team is banged up and the player who has been the most consistent, win or loss, is the tight end King. This is unheralded, as the Panthers are known for run-blockers, not receivers in the TE spot. King is consistent enough to plug in over McMichael's, Eric Johnson, or even someone like Bo Scaife and to date, Todd Heap...

Tony Scheffler: As Cutler grows in his position, it is apparent that Scheffler, not Graham, is going to be the receiver of the group. With Rod Smith all but withered away, Javon is gimpy as usual, the beat-up offense of Mike Shanahan is relying on Brandon Marshall, Brandon Stokley, and Tony Scheffler to keep the ball moving.

These are my candidates for who is likely there and who will likely be taken if you don't act fast.

Good luck and happy hunting...

Statistocrat

"East Coast in the West"

With the news of Joe Torre likely headed to Los Angeles, it brings up a great story about the Dodgers.

Frank McCourt tried to buy the Red Sox. After that didn’t work, he bought the Dodgers. Since then, he has gone out of his way to recruit any and all Red Sox players to add to his rosters (The Red Sox 2). Players like Nomar Garciaparra, Bill Mueller, Derek Lowe, Rudy Seanez, David Wells, have all been moved from the East Coast Sox to the West Coast Sox ( Dodgers.) Even manager Grady Little was a Red Sox annex.

Now, with the Red Sox pools depleted, he turns to the Yankees. The news around the league is that there is little to discuss in the departure of Grady and the insertion of now Ex-Manager of the Yankees, Joe Torre. I can only believe that A-Rod, at the very least, is next. I could see Johnny Damon and Doug Meintkiewicz in a Dodgers uniform next year. There are also some pitchers available too. Maybe Frank "McCourts" players like Carl Pavano, Kyle Farnsworth, Ron Villone, and Jason Giambi.

The Dodgers are deep in the outfield, but with Melky Cabrera, Shelley Duncan, Bobby Abreau, and Hideki Matsui in the outfield all ready for the Yankees, the infamous Johnny Damon is now expendable.

The Yankees can use Duncan at first as well as either Andy Phillips or even Jorge Posada, if they get the right freeagent catcher in the off season (or Jose Molina can get the job done), which would make Giambi a wholesale purchase. This is less likely he ends up in a Dodger’s uniform with James Loney stepping it up this year, but you never know.

Here are the likely departures of the Yankees:

1B – Jason Giambi
1B – Doug Meintkiewicz
3B – Alex Rodriguez
RP – Kyle Farnsworth
SP/RP – Ron Villone
SP – Carl Pavano
SP – Andy Pettitte
SP – Roger Clemens

The Dodgers (Sox 2) are fairly healthy, and will see a starting line-up along the lines of…

C – Russell Martin
1B – James Loney
2B – Jeff Kent (Tony Abreu)
3B – Nomar Garciaparra (Andy Laroche)
SS – Rafael Furcal
LF – Luis Gonzalez (Matt Kemp)
CF – Juan Pierre (Matt Kemp)
RF – Andre Either (Matt Kemp)

They will be loaded on starting pitching with…

SP – Brad Penny
SP – Derek Lowe
SP – Jason Schmidt
SP – Chad Billingsley
SP – Randy Wolf
SP – Esteban Loaiza

And an excellent bullpen that consists of…

CL – Takashi Saito
SU – Jonathan Broxton
RP – Scott Proctor
RP – Mark Hendrickson

And many, many more… With Torre at the helm, will the Dodgers be in line for a World Series visit? Only time will tell…

The real question is… Will McCourt continue to pilfer from the American League East Free Agent Pool?

And if Torre does become a Dodger, will some of these NYY cast-offs come’a runnin’?

Statistocrat

"What About Me....I'm A-Rod!"

If there was anyone out there who questioned Alex Rodriguez and his me first mentality, you should now have more that enough proof. He had it leaked that he was opting out of his New York Yankees, hereafter know as "The Dark Side", right in the middle of game 4 of the World Series. I have seen a lot of selfish acts in my day, but this one takes the cake. So I have decided to write a letter to my dear Alex....





Dear Mr. Rodriguez,

I understand that you are a big star and that this is big news. But your "Love and Respect" for the game that has made you such a big star seems to be lacking. A-Rod, this is the biggest stage in baseball. That is....for the people who are playing. We should be talking about Papelbon slamming the door, Ellsbury and his remarkable hitting, Lowell getting the MVP, Manny kicking his helmet, the Red Sox going from despair to potential dynasty, Francona and his status among coaches in the league.....The list is endless. No wait, actually it isn't. It should end with the teams that are involved. For you to give you hired gun the permission to release that information at a time like that is disgusting.

Any excuse that you are getting ready to formulate, please forget. There is none. If you had made up your mind earlier that day, you should have had the courtesy to wait until the American League East and now World Series champion Boston Red Sox had their exclusive time in the sun. If you just made up you mind about 2 minute before we heard about it, why would you even call someone and let them know. No wait....I know. It is because you believe you are bigger and more important that the game itself. Just like the rest of the team you are leaving (The Dark Side) you don't get it. It is not all about the individual. You were a locker room full of individuals. Hope you all had fun watching the World Series.

I was able to sit and watch my favorite team pull off their second World Series in the past 4 years. The fact that you somehow snuck in, did not make the victory any less sweet. Anyway, good luck getting your $30,000,000.00 per year contract. You may want to put some of that aside for some Baseball History tapes and an etiquette class.

Sincerely,

Leroy the Fish

Forecast for Jacksonville......GRAY!!!!

Forecast for Jacksonville.....GRAY!

It appears that the Jaguars have sprained their collective ankle. Garrard went down hard against the Colts on Monday night. Pending an MRI he is out of the starting lineup. Jack Del Rio states that he will likely miss at least one start. That puts the perverbial deer right in the headlights. Quinn Gray, who lead his team to a the championship has the chance to do it again. Unfortunatey for the Jags that team was the Frankfurt Galaxy in the 2003 World Bowl.

When he got his chance against the Colts he racked up a QB rating of 11.1, with 2 interceptions. One of which, if you look close, you can see Bob Sanders wave for a fair catch. This week he will get a chance against a Tampa Bay defense which isn't what we have come to expect from a defense in Tampa, but still isn't bad. Besides the debaucle in Detroit, and the beating at the hands of the Colts.....hhmmm sound familiar.....the Bucs D has held every opponent to 20 points or less.

FANTASY IMPACT: The Jags running game is going to have to carry them to victory. However they will have to count on Gray to drop back and throw the ball. Something he has only done 60 times for the Jags. Those 60 dropbacks have resulted in two lost fumbles and two interceptions.

So sit back, relax, and watch Jack Del Rio sweat through another suit as he watches Just Another Guy (JAG) lead his team into Tampa.

Sincerely,

Leroy the Fish

Digging the Free Agent for a RB?

So your running backs have a bye week. You are so far ahead in you league and you want to show everyone just how much of a guru you are. Or maybe you are so far out of your league and you need to grasp at straws to try and regain some status.


Well have I got a straw for you.....Jerome Harrison.


He only has a handful of carries and is playing third string on the Browns. So that doesn't make you drool. How about this....Jamal Lewis is questionable and since they are playing the Rams I don't see the real need for them to rush him back to the lineup. Second string is the perennial hall of famer Jason Wright. He is a lifetime practice squad soldier.

FANTASY IMPACT: Seems like a good time to bring in the 145th pick in the 2006 draft. He is undersized with decent speed. Just google the footage of how fast he ran away from Washington State. With Lewis in a boot and Wright only showing flashes, Jerome may very get his chance to show why he was drafted in the first place. Remember, Tom Brady, Tony Romo, and even RB Terrel Davis were all picked beyond round 5. Heck, WR Jerry Rice was a blip on the map, taken after Round 9 and WR Rod Smith wasn't drafted!!!

Don't get me wrong, if you are in the thick of your league and can't afford to take a chance, stop reading now. However if you are in it for some fun, remember....this is supposed to be fun, take a chance on Jerome Harrison. You will either look like a genius, or you can blame it on some know nothing. So go a head....live dangerously. But only if Jamal Lewis is in street clothes on Sunday. If he puts the pads on, please disregard everything you just read.


Sincerely,

Leroy the Fish

Note from the editor: Leroy is one of two new "addicts" that have joined the FFA team. As the blog progresses and the real website is being built, look for "The Fish" to make frequent stops on FFA to get HIS fantasy and sports fix.

Week 8 ~ Waiver Wire

The sub-title of this article should be "slim-pickin's and re-runs". As the season progresses, it is becoming more and more of a bench player for bench players.

Here is my "not so indepth" review of those that may be available on your waiver wire...





QUARTERBACKS:



Sage Rosenfels: It looks like Schaub may hit the pine for a week or so, primarily due to his hip injury.... You just can't "plant and throw" without both ya' hips...don't ya' know? Although he is "pick-prone", he has an absolute cannon for an arm. He has speedy receivers in Kevin Walter's and Andre Davis and had shown it this past Sunday. If you are in a 2 deep QB league or simply need someone to pick-up a bye week, he is your man. If you are a die-hard Texan fan and had Schaub as your starter, the question is... why don't you have him all ready?

Brian Griese: The hottest commodity on the Free Agent QB market. Guess what ladies and gentlemen, the Bears have a quarterback. This also improves anyone that wants to gain receptions, as most are on the list. Unfortunately, it does nothing for disappointing Cedric Benson (but only disappointing if you thought he was going to have better than a mediocre year.)

Quinn Grey: No, he isn't a fantasy savior, nor even the savior of the Jags (shown last night). But the bottom-line is this... they have a ton of talent to spread the ball around, especially when you consider that each of the Jags RB has great hands and loves to get it in the flats with room to roam. He had a shaky start, but who wouldn't, coming in the middle of the game (save Brady and Romo).

RUNNING BACKS:


Jesse Chatman: The second hottest player on the free agent market. He looked sharp against NE considering he is facing the number 2 running defense in the nation right now. With Brown gone for the season, it is open game for Jesse to show that the preseason wasn't just...THE PRESEASON.. and that he has something to provide, even considering the state of the offense.

Earnest Graham: "Earnest"ly earning a pay check this week, Graham also had a monster week with 191 total yards. He is slowly coming into his own with every touch. Cadillic better hope that Graham slows down or he will find himself either second string or out of TB uniform by next season. I have seen him dropped in many leagues that I am in because of the arrival of Michael Bennett as well as the recent drop in yardage over the past two weeks.

LenDale White: My, my, my... look who is turning into Mr. Consistent with a pocket-passing QB. LenDale is finally getting his tubby butt enough yardage that when Chris Brown returns, he might return to little or no playing time. They didn't draft him in the first round to keep Chris Brown.... Brown was just available and they, like all teams, needed depth.

Jamey Wright: It does not appear that Jamal Lewis is ready and Wright, in his stead, has done a fairly competent job. I anticipate that he will be a good fill-in while Jamal is out and especially if you are dealing with other injuries (Ronnie Brown), under-performances (Frank Gore) or bye-weeks (Alexander, L.J.).

WIDE RECEIVERS:


Roydell Williams: He was starting to come along strong for Young and has absolutely skyrocketed with Collins at the helm. He is lightening fast and capitalizing on the loss of Brandon Jones and Vince Young. For the next couple of weeks, he is the man of TEN. I believe that Young will see enough from the sidelines to start to depend more on Williams, who has shown flashes of brilliance all season.

Roddy White: Another WR who has been picked up and dropped too many times. He has enough of a consistency to rival Curry & Porter...at least enough to put in when the match-up is right. The problem lies in who is throwing to him. He is the go-to-guy in Atlanta and should be considered as a low end third WR on any given week.

Muhsin Muhammad: He has a bigger week each and every week that Griese is on the field. He may be riding many benches, but he is still only owned in 64% of leagues (according to CBS Sportsline). Here is a chance to steal him and add him to your list of potential starters, especially if the match-up is good.

Nick Hagan: In deeper leagues, he may prove fruitful as he replaces Chris Chambers on the Miami offense. Although Booker will see more touches, he seems to be taken in these larger leagues. Cam Cameron traded away Chambers because he was ready to make Hagan the full-time No. 2 WR on the team. With Cleo Lemon at the helm and Chatman gradually working into the RB role, it is a great time to be a Miami defender.

Kevin Walters: Here is another speedy white-boy that is seeing his stock rising in fantasy leagues all over the nation. Even with Sage playing QB, he is a great find. I recommend grabbing him if you can as he has been phenomenal, fantasy-wise, for the better part of three weeks.


TIGHT ENDS:


David Martin: You need to see how his "foot" injury is, but he has slowly been creeping up the points chart, almost unnoticed. Where Lemon is a more fleet-footed, there will be more roll-outs and better opportunity for a sure-handed TE.

Vernon Davis: It may just be time to insert him back in your line-up. With Alex Smith on the rebound, this team will start to make a name for themselves offensively and Davis should finally have the impact that we have all been expecting.

Jerramy Stevens: With the other Alex Smith down with an injury, Stevens saw 6 receptions last Sunday and should see more as Garcia is a known abuser of his TE. Garcia is a west coast quarterback which means he relies solely on the short passing game. Stevens has been a "butterfinger" spokesman his whole career, but that won't stop Garcia from counting on him... especially with Graham emerging as a catching receiver out in the flats.



This may be a day late and a dollar short, but sometimes your "life schedule" gets in the way of what you love to do most... for me, that is fantasy sports and my ego to believe I know more than most.


Happy Hunting,


Statistocrat

Byron "Leftwich" No Excuses

Just when Byron thought it couldn't get much worse than going down again for the third time in three seasons to a lower leg injury, he found that it was just beginning.

After spending hours in the training room, tending to his oft-injured lower right leg, the left front leg of the training table he was on snapped off, sending Byron sprawling to the floor amidst a flurry of ice and gauze that liked like a Nor'easter.

He was able to recover, barely standing on his injured leg when the left side chain of the flourescent light ficture snapped, swinging down and slamming Leftwich down to the ground for the third sack of the game (the officials only gave the light an assisted sack as the table received the other half of the credit).

Byron was quoted as saying "It just wasn't my day, the defense seem to be one step ahead of me the whole day, right up to and including the light that blinded him from the weak side. Alge Crumpler was nursing his injury in the table next to him and said "I tried to block it from him, but I slipped on the spilt' ice and it got by me before I could even plant my feet."

We received a call late last night from local law enforcement informing us that it wasn't the end of his troubles as he received a flat tire on the freeway.

"Boy, some people just don't know when to quit trying".

by Statistocrat

"Stop The Insanity!!!!"

What on God's green earth are people talking about when they start discussing 16 - 0?

Why? Would people start talking about 16 - 0? I will tell you why... because you are all insane and living on island absurdity!!!

Look... I am a die-hard Pats fan and will pull for them whether they are 1 - 15 (as they HAVE been in my lifetime) or 15 - 1, but to think that anyone in this day and age can go 16 - 0 is simply ludicrous.

Here are the games that basically show that it is darn near implausible that they go 16 - 0.

Sunday 10/28/07 vs. Washington (4-2)

Sunday 11/04/07 @ Indianapolis (5-0)

Monday 12/04/07 @ Ravens (4 - 3)

Sunday 12/09/07 vs. Steelers (4-2)

Saturday 29/07 @ Giants (5-2)

Am I saying that they can't beat any of these teams? NO... But... What I am saying is that anything can happen between now and then (injuries, suspensions, and God know's what) that could lead to this team having the potential to lose these games.

I wish that I could stop hearing about the potential for this to occur, predicting the end or even worse, building it up to something other than what it is when/if they do in fact lose. It was introduced by some guy who has no ability to live in the real world and then propagated by the media so that there is some way to hide the fact that somehow, with all that talent in the NFL, there are just some flat-out crappy teams.

Listen, I would love for them to continue to run teams into the ground like they were high school teams, but I am nore concerned with winning Super Bowls.

Statistocrat

Week 7 ~ Sit'em

With Week 7 simply hours away, I want to invest some time looking at the prototypical fantasy starters and why you may consider sitting them for one of your bench players that have a better match-up.

My goal is to make you think about certain scenario's, not to be your ultimate guide to your roster management... otherwise I will hear all kinds of complaints if you rely completely on me... In other words, I don't want to hear that I am the reason that you lost against your fantasy match-up this week.

Here are those that I think you may want to consider riding the pine this week.

QUARTERBACK:

Vince Young: Vince Young limps (hamstring) into Houston this week which is the biggest concern I have when considering roster management. Cortisone is a wonderful thing when you are trying to play through an injury, but it merely takes a way most of the inflammation and in turn the pain... but that doesn't increase the mobility of a quarterback that thrives on it. Houston can have moments of brilliance, especially on the defensive line and a pick here and there. I believe the LenDale White will be the true bright spot, if TEN is to win this week.

Jon Kitna: As much as people would love for me to stop bashing on Kitna, even with the artillery he has at his hands, it is not ultimately Jon Kitna I don't believe in, it's the lack of an offensive line. In all that is holy, how can an NFL offensive line be this bad? The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are slowly turning into one of the top 5 D/ST in the league.

Marc Bulger: Let's face it... Scott Linehan is not doing what he needs to get the job done. Not only that...Tory Holt is not who he should be... not with that bum-knee of his... Leonard is good, but with the same problem as Detroit, the offensive line is their Achilles heal. Bruce has lost a step and Bennett isn't getting the looks that he should. McMichael is McMissing up until this point, too.

Jay Cutler: With the news of Walker heading to the I/R for darn near the rest of the season, it appears that the Denver Broncos are in a sticky situation. They have the defense, just not the offense. Brandon Marshall is the highlight of the offense and Cutler is still too young, experience-wise to be considered a must-start. Until they show me something, he has been permanently added to my Sit'em category.

Matt Schaub: Without a guaranteed RB (Dayne or Gado) and missing WR Andre Johnson (as usual), it is hard to go up against a young defense that capitalizes on turn-overs. Matt has been fairly productive to date, but I think this is the week that you opt for another starter. Owen Daniels, Andre Davis, and Kevin Walter will be no match for the TEN defense lead by Keith Bullock.

RUNNING BACKS:

Travis Henry: As his tenure as the starter for the Denver Brocnos comes to an end, so does his opportunity to put up serious points for your fantasy team... I am not saying that Selvin is the heir apparent, it is just that the offense is a shell of it's former self. Denver faces a ridiculous defense who is out to show that blanking the Seahawks was not a fluke.

Kevin Jones: Two reasons... one, they have no offensive line... two, they are facing the Tamp Bay Defense. Kevin should be growing into his position as the starters... the problem is, there is no way anyone could run with this offensive line. Heck, Barry Sanders couldn't get more than 3 YDs a carry. For that matter, don't start Tatum Bell either.

Ronnie Brown: He is leading most leagues regarding fantasy points. If you said this isn't a shock, you are full of bologna. But... He is facing the NE defense that has obliterated running backs since Week 1. Brown has historically been awful against the Patriots, whether at home or away. There is a high chance that Richard Seymour will see some playing time (unconfirmed, but was due back by Week 6). This is the week to sit Brown down and play someone on your bench.

Edgerrin James: Not that he was doing anything significant in your line-up to date, but with Tim Rattay at the helm and still no sign of Tackle Levi Brown, it appears that he isn't going to do much. Not to mention, Washington is man-handling everyone in their path... Edge will be no exception. AS a matter of fact, I believe that Marcel Shipp will have better stats by the end of the game.

Marion Barber III: No offense, but he hasn't gotten near 100 YDs in three seeks, partly due to the defenses he has faced, but also because Julius Jones has been fairly effective with the touches he has gotten. If they need yardage or they are down, Barber is the man... but Jones has seen more and more touches as the season progresses.

WIDE RECEIVERS:

Larry Fitgerald: Look, I have him in a ton of leagues, but with Tim Rattay as the QB, Boldin Back, the o-line hurting, and facing the WAS defense, this looks like the time that you simply let him ride the pine. He may get 80 YDs but I don't expect too much more from him. With that being said, Rattay has a rocket for an arm and my prediction could backfire.

Darrell Jackson: He hasn't lost a step, just a quality offense and a solid WB to be throwing his way. With Gore, Jackson, Davis, and Battle, this offense should be better than it is right now. Alex Smith is on his way back, but that does not have the experience to make this happen... at least not yet. I expect that he will have a better second half but that is only if Vernon Davis does what he needs to do and Alex Smith is healthy.

Hines Ward: He is coming off an injury and facing the top-rated pass-defense in the league. Santonio Holmes is the deep threat and Ward will be used like Spaeth and Miller...as a short yardage, go-to guy. I expect that he will see 65 YDs or less... He will slowly but surely disappoint those who have drafted him.

Tory Holt: It is unfortunate because he is such a quality receiver. Bulger is going to be rusty at best and the offense is becoming less and less explosive and more and more implosive. I have Holt in my keeper league it it pains me to look at his name every time... Holt is equal to "disappointment" this year...joining the Stephen Jacksons, Javon Walkers, and Rudi Johnsons of the world... I expect bare minimums out of Holt, play him if you don't have much else, but sit'em if you have anything remotely close to effective.

Andre Davis: He is talented, but not talented enough to deal with double coverages, especially when their run game is such a big question mark. Owen Daniels and Kevin Walters can be covered by most in the league, giving Tennessee a chance to have a big D/STs week. If I start anyone for Houston at this point, it is either Kevin Walters or Owen Daniels, but even Daniels will be held tight by Bullock and the Boys.

TIGHT END:

Ben Watson: He is injured and there are capable back-ups available in Kyle Brady and David Thomas, not to mention the emergence of Donte Stallworth. It is a bad time to be hurt with Sammy Morris going down and Maroney not at 100 percent. Expect Kevin Faulk and Heath Evans to pick the slack there.

Desmond Clark: Phillie hasn't given up a TD to a TE yet this season and appears to be fully healthy. I think that Olsen gets the looks for receptions as Clark is relied more to block to give Griese time and get Benson out of the backfield to keep this game close.

Dallas Clark: I see this being a close game for Indy...eventually winning, but the hard-hitting and speedy secondary/linebacking corp. of the Jags are going to make it very difficult for Dallas to split out and make something happen. Instead, Anthony Gonzalez wil be the third man for Peyton this week.

That's it for this week, folks.. .hope you have a great fantasy week... to check out my full sunday review of the NFL, including confidence picks (straight up win vs. loss) against the spread picks, game overview and last minute must-starts, go the Screaming Sports.Com where I am a Featured Columnist throughout the week. Check out the featured columnist section on the home page Sunday morning.

I'm out!!!

Statistocrat

Biz Markie a Cowboy?

So when did Biz Markie start playing football?

C'mon!!! Tell me THESE TWO weren't separated at birth!!!

No seriously... The news around the league is that the Commish hasn't shortened the 8-game suspension of Tank Williams but has in fact allowed him to practice with the team.

In my opinion, this is huge for Dallas fans across the globe. Tank Johnson is a "manimal" that eats up offensive lineman and crushes running backs who try to weasel their way inbetween tackles...

FANTASY IMPACT: Tank is a difference maker....you can't argue that. With him lining up against offenses, it is going to create more opportunities for blitz-packages, freeing up linebackers to do a little more "ball-hawking" and will definitely give their secondary more opportunities to sit back on their heals, unafraid of the run, and start to impact the turnover ratio (Unless they get "Romo"ed again like they did against the Bills). The defense/special teams just took a jump into the top five...if you didn't think they were all ready. Not only that, the time that is going to be added to the offensive side of the ball gives Romo and crew the opportunity to put up "Patriots-like" numbers for the rest of the season.

Statistocrat

Red "Sox" Nay-Sayers in the Mouth

I realize that I am a "die-hard" Red Sox fan with an active membership to "Sox Nation", "Dirt Dawgs", and "The RemDog Club", so my opinion is completely biased, even jaded... but who cares about that... it's my friggin' blog.

I will admit that although I felt confident we were heading home to Fenway, the next two games scare the heck out of me.

Schilling has the ability to be baseball royalty or an opposition's doormat... The biggest question is which one shows up on Saturday?!?!?!?!

Now let me vent my frustrations with the lack of decision-making on manager Terry Francona. In my opinion, sticking with guys like Pedroia during the season is important, even when he made several attempts to revive an apparently hurt Eric "Meltdown" Gagne... but I have a huge issue with the bottom of the line-up.

My first issue is CoCo Crisp. Is he an exceptional fielder... well, to be honest, he is better than most, but not the best there is. The real question is what is he doing for us offensively? My response... ABSOLUTELY NOTHING!!! With each game, I see this smile come across opposing pitcher's faces as they approach the 7-8-9 hitters (especially when Maribelli is in the line-up)... and it makes me sick that Francona just allows it to continue. I don't care how much inexperience Jacoby Ellsbury has... Coco doesn't have any playoff experience and Ellsbury does more for you in the field than Crisp does. He is faster, hungrier, humbler, and had a hot bat before he was relegated to bench duty.

When it comes to Lugo, he is looking more like a lamb heading to slaughter with each at bat... and last night, where he cut Pedroia off with that single up the middle, rather than covering second for a force... ABSOLUTELY ANGERED ME!!! Alex Cora is just as good a fielder and has better plate presence than Lugo ever has...

Lastly, I give props... I will take Bobby Kielty and his fielding and hitting over J.D. "overrated" Drew. I can't stand him... he goes to the plate and swings like he is simply going through the motions. I would rather have Manny say "Who cares if we win or lose, it's not the end of the world" and go 2 for 3 with a single (Home Run!!!), double, and a few RBIs than watch J.D. Drew walk listlessly through the game and do absolute SQUAT for us offensively.

Let's say that Schilling does win, my next issue is his reluctance to go with Jon Lester over Wake or Dice-K... Are you kidding me... he had two and half scoreless innings with 6 strike-outs...

Please, Terry... make the changes, we all ready had a Grady Little... stop being so "player-oriented" and start being "win-oriented".. FOR THE LOVE OF ALL THAT IS HOLY!!!!

BOTTOM-LINE: Put in Alex Cora, Jacoby Ellsbury, and Bobby Kielty... let the others ride the bench and see someone who is hungry to prove themselves... If Schilling wins, Lester, not Matsuzaka pitches... then run DelCarmen, Okie-Dokie, and Paps....

Statistocrat

Week 7 ~ Start'em

As I take a look at the match-ups for Week 7, I see several players that either have under-performed so far this season, have benefited from injuries, have increased their roles as the season progresses, or simply have a great defensive match-up to take advantage of...

I will not bore you with the typical starters as you should be well aware of who they are, but let's look at either the failing studs, or the great back-ups on the majority of fantasy teams who are dealing with either an game-time injury decision or a bye-week dilemna.

QUARTERBACKS:

Drew Brees: The decision to include Brees in this group is mostly due to his failure to date to generate the points worthy of where most fantasy GMs drafted him. He had his best week of the season this past Sunday and should have an even better one as the Saints slowly get out of their own way. The key to Brees success should be attributed to the likes of Reggie Bush, Marques Colston, and Devery Henderson, however, I believe the key is in the health and speed of savvy veteran David Patten. Look for Brees to capitalize on the faltering defense of the Atlanta Falcons. The Saints won't run up the score, but should win, giving Brees a 250+ YD game with upwards of 3 TDs (more likely two and a pick, but who's counting those when he has done squat to date?)

Damon Huard: Damon is posed to have his best week this year. Gonzalez and Bowe are carrying their own loads while the workhorse, Larry Johnson, is coming into form... (that is what he gets for holding out). Last week Huard showed that he can be effective even in this offense as long as the defense keeps giving him opportunities through turn-overs. I expect L.J. to be tremendous this week with over 100 YDs and 2 TDs, lightening the responsibility for Huard to carry the team... In the end, Huard could crest the 300 YD mark and 3 TDs against an on-again, off-again defensive at Oakland.

Chad Pennington: He has the potential for 300 YDs and 2-3 TDs every game... the difference is whether or not Thomas Jones gets out of the backfield and the defense does their part to get it done fast and furious and get the offense back on the field. NYJ go to CIN to try and win one on the road. The CIN defense is all over the place which can result in either a huge day for a QB or several turn-overs that help CIN to slaughter someone. CIN is hungry for a win, but that doesn't mean that this group of individuals learn the true meaning of the word team.

Brian Griese: Brian proved last week that he can still get it done... sure they didn't win, but he had a great fantasy week. Chicago goes into Phillie against a injury-plagued defense that should work to his advantage. Berrian seems to be the WR of last year, getting 10-12 receiving attempts a game and the tandem of Clark and Olsen makes any QB feel more confident about their offensive potential.

Jeff Garcia: Who hasn't done well against the Detroit Lions? With that in mind, it appears safe to start Garcia and expect good production out of him. They have lost 66% of their starting RBs (Cadillac Williams, Michael Pittman) but still have two serviceable RBs in Earnest Graham (the power) and Michael Bennett (the speed and hands). Galloway continues to defy age, staying as speedy as the best in the league with sure hands and a willingness to go down the middle if needed. Garcia should see over 200 YDs and I expect at least 2 TDs in the air...don't be surprised if he puts one in on the ground too.

RUNNING BACKS:

Lawrence Maroney: It is finally time to get the value of this player at the pick you likely took him at. New England does face a tough front 3 or 4, but beyond the defensive line, the MIA D/ST is suspect. They have a great, young corp. of defensive backs but nothing that should prevent Maroney from cresting the 100 YD mark for the first time this year. Expect the Patriots to use the run game towards the latter part of the game, making all Maroney owners nervous till the end, but if the Pats do what they have done all ready this season to every other opponent, the late third and all of the fourth quarter will be Maroney's.

Rudi Johnson: Thank goodness he is back, for my fantasy teams' sake as well as for the CIN Bengals sake. I expect Rudi to get at or above 22 carries which usually equates to 100 YDs+ and at least a TD. Rest assured that it will be slow at first, especially when CIN faces a NYJ D/St that hasn't found their identity yet and the tandem of Chad and T.J. All in all, it should be a fairly productive day for Johnson who is playing at about 90%.

Brandon Jacobs: It appears to be the "return of the injured" for most of my RB Start'ems. Jacobs has had to solid performances in the past two weeks assuring owners that it is now or never to insert him into your starting line-up. Derrick Ward will still see some carries, but more on third down than any other time. Jacobs is going to help to continue the Giants winning ways. No one more than Eli appreciates his return.

Nejah Davenport: If you are facing bye-weeks and need another running back that will put points up on the board, Nejah is a good candidate this week. Denver has shown that they are struggling to stop the run and Willie Parker can't do it all... Like the last three weeks, Davenport will see the third and short and goalline opportunities that can prove profitable for fantasy owners.

Jerious Norwood: Expect the Falcon's to use the RBs more than ever as Byron Leftwich replaces Joey Harrington this week in New Orleans. The Saints have been susceptible to the run and Norwood has huge, break-away capabilities. Dunn's workload is tapering off and Norwood is going to be the beneficiary. As long as Leftwich doesn't blow it (if he does, likely to a year layoff from the field and a porous offensive line), Norwood should see some very productive opportunities. Again, a great bye-week or injury fill-in.

WIDE RECEIVERS:

Bobby Engram: Like Joey Galloway, Engram also continues to defy logic. He is approximately 75 years old in football years, yet still keeps getting it done. Often injured, he is still a great fantasy wide receiver now that Deion Branch is out for the next few weeks. Burleson is good but has poor hand-eye coordination and Hasselbeck throws a tough ball to catch. Expect Engram to be his go-to target against an disgraced STL defense. I expect 100YDs+ and 2 TDs out of Engram this week.

David Patten: Like a Phoenix, David Patten is rising from the ashes. Long dismissed as run-down and injured, David Patten had solid numbers last week and should see equal stats against an Atlanta defense that finds itself truly talented but failing in consistency. Henderson Colston, Copper, and Johnson will keep the defense honest (not to mention Bush) leaving little Davey Patten able to sprint past secondaries and take this team deep.

Patrick Crayton: Patrick has been able to capitalize on the prowess of the offense (J.Jones, M.Barber, J.Witten, T.O.) and the injury to Terry Glenn. Crayton has shown that he is able to carry his portion of the workload and should at the very lest, see opportunities with 20 YDs or less to the endzone. He may not have more than 85 YDS, but should ring up at least 6 PTs with a TD.

Kevin Curtis: The Wayne Chrebet of this error (Some say Wes Welker too, but I consider him more of a Don Beebe, BUF), Kevin Curtis has lightening speed an a willingness to do what it takes to come down with the ball, regardless who is rearing back to take his head off. Westbrook is back, making the PHI offense more viable. I expect Kevin to get some great looks against an injury-plagued and much slower than recent years, Chicago D/ST. This will not be a Detroit Lions statistical day, but should rank in the top 10 WR for this coming Sunday when all is said and done.

Shawn McDonald: Even though I have no faith in Jon Kitna, they Detroit Lions CAN put points on the board. Bearing the blessing of having Ca.Johnson and R. Williams as the No. 1 & 2 wide receivers, Shawn McDonald gets the benefit of having either a safety or a speedy LB when in the red zone. Against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the Detroit offense will stall often, but I expect McDonald to get enough YD and TD attempts to start him in place of your typical starter. Consider him a strong 4th WR or if needed, 3rd WR when facing multiple bye-weeks and injuries

TIGHT ENDS:

Alge Crumpler: He is talented... and Leftwich is a little more mobile than Harrington, at least i the pocket. Byron will be shakey and therefore he should rely on one of the best check-down options in the league...Crumpler! If the Atlanta Falcon's can establish even a remote running game, I expect Alge to have a great day... say 85 YDs and a TD....hold your breath, but it is entirely possible.

Leonard Pope: Tim Rattay will need someone to checkdown to someone as he gets acclimated to the offense... I think Pope will be that guy. Larry Fitgerald is the man on the offense with a depleted offensive line, I don't expect too, too much out of Rattay and the running game, which is why I recommend Pope to start... but ONLY if you are facing a bye-week with your TE or he is injured (a la "Ben Watson").

Chris Baker: The Jets roll into Cincy this week. With the individualistic issues of the defense and the yet to be established run game (two weeks does not make it consistent), I expect that the CIN D/ST will put most of their focus on Coles and Cotchery, as well as clogging up the middle to stop Thomas Jones.... Who's Left? TE Chris Baker. I expect him to get thrown to at least 8 times... let's say he gets 6 of them.. with an average of 14.8 YDs a reception, that puts him in the 88s for YDs and likely getting a look in the redzone if they can get there.

Greg Olsen: He is a future fantasy stud at the TE position...if he stays there... I expect the offense of the Bears to use him like they are utilizing Dallas Clark in Indy... split out... leaving Clark as either a blocker or a in reverse, having Olsen be a decoy and hitting Clark up the seams. Either way, Olsen is getting more looks than Muhsin Muhammad in the last two games and can't anticipate that changing, not when Griese is in.

Heath Miller: The offense of the Steelers is still run if you can, past if you must, however, Hines Ward is back, but not truly at 100% and Santonio Holmes can only do so much by himself (or maybe not, who can tell with the second year players)... I expect that the Denver defense with a solid secondary and a better than average defensive line will be exposed by the ability of the TEs Spaeth and Miller... although Spaeth came out of the gate early, he is more of a blocker than a receiver. Miller on the other hand has shown in the first two years that he can be counted on to bring the ball in and tear up linebackers for YAC.

That's is sports fans... Use it, Lose it, Abuse it, or Ignore it... but THAT is my fantasy Start'em for Week 7. So for all of those who face injuries, game-time decisions, bye-weeks, or the ability to ride the fence and curse yourself out for not playing a back-up over a starter, there is my advice to you!!!!

Statistocrat

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QB Battle? J.P. Los.....man!!!!

OUCH!!! Did J.P. Losman just get "Bledsoed?"

News that normally wouldn't reach beyond the upstate of New York, is now reaching the far edges of NFL nation.

J.P. Losman is not starting for the Buffalo Bills this coming weekend. Losman took a vicious elbow to the knee against the Patriots back on Sept. 23. The blow was intentional, of which Vince Wilfork received a hefty fine from the league.

Citing concerns about Losman's health (not at 100%), the coaching staff of the Bills elected to go with Edwards who continued to take the snaps during today's practice. Trent has definitely caught the eye of management with his 22 for 28 performance against the division rival J-E-T-S, JETS, JETS, JETS.

FANTASY IMPACT: To be honest, I do not think this is the right decision now... but who the heck am I to say, I just blog about fantasy sports... I wear a headset, but only to take phone calls cuz' I am too lazy to use the handset. I am afraid that this downgrades the whole offense initially (this year) but may have great long term effects. The fact of the matter is, the Bills offense at this point is like riding a bike without a chain... "yer goin' nowhere....FAST!" I expect Lee Evans to step it up regardless as well as Lynch to continue to grow as a starting rookie running back. Here is a chance, if you have a weak QB on the bench, to snag someone with great, quick, precise, decision-making skills (78.5% passer rating, best since Kelly). If you are confident that Losman is done this year....then get'em while you can...just pay attention to Losman and his health progressions... I just don't by that Trent starts the rest of the year, just until Losman is healthy.

Statistocrat

SD Loads the "Chamber",Adds Weapon to Arsenal

Who'da thunk it? Not I and certainly not Chris Chambers. Late last night, just hours before the deadline, the MIA offense cleared some payroll space and opportunity for their youth as they traded away Chris Chambers for a 2008 2nd round draft choice.

Far be it from me to understand what Cam Cameron is doing, but at least he isn't lying abou what he intends to do (Nick Saban)...

For Chris Chambers AND for the San Diego offense, this should be great news. Phillip Rivers now has L.T., Gates, Chambers, and VJax to get it done with...

I really think that this is going to bolster their chances to turn around their season and make something for themselves. This is an excellent move for SD...for MIA... only time will tell.

FANTASY IMPACT: Not only will this increase the value of Chris Chambers but Phillip Rivers owners (including myself) are literally doing back-flips. This will open up opportunities for L.T. as the offense can not better spread the field. Vincent Jackson will benefit as he can go from young No. 1 to "high ceiling" No. 2 wide receiver. Gates won't mind, but Gates owners may... expect at least 3 touches less a game and even more with L.T. more likely to come out of the backfield.

Statistocrat

Pro Bowler? Michael's "Bennett" before!!!

Once a heralded first round pick (2001) by the Minnesota Vikings, this oft-injured ex-pro-bowler is no longer going to ride the bench behind L.J.

Michael has received a one way ticket to Tampa Bay. I think this is a great opportunity for a kid who had so much promise to prove that he still has it.

Earnest Graham is a solid young man but does not have the capabilities yet, to be a starter in the NFL. I hope for Michael's sake that he stays injury free and gives himself a chance to make a name for himself and increase his free agent marketability for next season. He is a hard worker and has been patient. Hopefully it pays off now.

FANTASY IMPACT: This is huge for those who had Cadillac and/or Pittman...not so much for Earnest Graham owners. Graham will have a fair share of the load this week but his time is running out as a starter. He will still see returning yardage and some goal-line opportunities (10 touches a game) but it is Bennett's position to lose, come Week 8. Grab'em while he is hot... He has the potential to do some damage...as long as the offensive line doesn't allow damage to be done to him.

Statistocrat

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The "Wright" Free Agent

Apparently I hadn't really dug to deep when I posted my "waiver wire" blog because this kid is due to continue the trend of the past three weeks with Jamal Lewis getting the "boot"... No, he is not been taken from the starting line-up, he literally has a boot on his foot.

For the past three weeks it has now been apparent that Lewis is sporting an injured foot. Jason Wright, a 3rd year running back out of Northwestern has slowly increased his touches enough that he needs to be considered a third-tier running back.

Both last week and this week, he is averaging 18 carries for 59 YDs and 1 TD (3.9 YD avg.). The average yardage is nothing special, not even average at this point, but it runs consistently with Jamal's numbers through the first four games. This happens when you have a pass-happy offense due to poor offensive line and excelling youth at the WR and TE positions. Until Jamal gets back on the field and in 100% health, it is apparent that the kid gets the call.

FANTASY IMPACT: Cleveland is turning into a pass first, pass second, run third offense. Wright isn't going to win you fantasy games, but he will get you 6-8 points in yardage (1 pt. for every 10 yards) and the potential of a TD (6 pts), giving you a potential of 12 - 14 pts. a week. The Browns face the Rams this coming week and should give Wright the chance to put up even better numbers.

Statistocrat

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"Moore" On The Horizon!

The Vikings have lowered their trade expectations to a 4th Round Pick for the enigmatic running back/return man. Mewelde Moore has been a career back-up for all intense purposes, handling the majority of kick and punt returns.

He is a speedy, shifty running back out of Tulane (4th season). At 5'11'', 209 Lbs, this 25-year-old running back has been lurking in the background for some time. He can bring solid hands out of the backfield as well as a pretty good career 4.9 YDs a carry.

The Vikings have depth at RB with Chester Taylor and the unbelievable Adrian Peterson. With Moore expendable and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Denver Broncos in need of a RB, it seems inevitable that he will land in one of two places within the week. The trade deadline is fast approaching and I don't expect either to stand still with this recent drop in Moore's market price. I believe that the Bronco's have Mike Bell and Selvin Young so they won't push as hard as the Tampa Bay Buccaneers who have lost Cadillac for the season and Pittman, their third down back, injured. I believe he will likely end up a Buccaneer.

FANTASY IMPACT: This means something more for young Earnest Graham than it does for anyone else in the NFL. He is bound to lose touches upon Mewelde's arrival. Moore will still split carries, likely landing as the third down specialist with his sure hands and ability to get to the sidelines in a hurry. Anticipate him fielding kick/punt returns too. "When", not "If" this happens, he should quickly be scouped up from the waiver wires (if not before) due to the Buccaneers reliance on the running game.

Statistocrat

What Can "Browns" Do For You?

To say that the Cleveland Browns are doing better than expectations is an understatement. Viewed as the cellar-dwellers of their division, it appears that the Browns and Bengals have swapped spaces.

Romeo and his crew have managed to win three games bringing the ball club to 3 - 3. They are 2 - 1 in their division and look like a team that is going to continue to put up offensive numbers. They have a chance to be 5 - 3 before going to division leading Pittsburgh in Week 9 and then going to Baltimore for Week 10 (@ STL in Week 7, Seattle at home in Week 8). Their defense IS getting better but is still littered with older veterans and young, inexperienced youth. The team has been generating some fantasy points... of which, no one predicted until a week or two into Derek Anderson's tenure as the starting QB. With that being said, it appears that Brady Quinn will have to learn the system and hold a clipboard as the offense looks as good as it has in 10 years.

FANTASY IMPACT: This team can do a ton for you regardless of who they are facing. Derek Anderson put up 287 YDs and 2 TDs vs. a staunch NE defense. Braylon Edwards has put up some impressive numbers so far this season, accumulating 552 YDs and 7 TDs. Kellen Winslow is coming into his own averaging 84 YDs a game (17.4 YD avg.) and has 2 TDs so far this season. Jamal Lewis has been his typical fantasy letdown, averaging less than 50 YDs (not counting his 200+ YD game) and has seen less touches as the season progresses. The one to watch out for on the waiver wire is young Jason Wright who has seen his workload increase each of the past two weeks including almost 43 YDs in receiving last week against MIA. This means either they don't have faith in Lewis or he is injured and they are not announcing it. All in all, it appears that you can rely on Derek Anderson, Braylon Edwards, and Kellen Winslow to produce for the future.

Statistocrat

Waiver Wire ~ Week 7

My sincerest apologies for my "no call / no show" for Week 6. I spent Sunday ~ Wednesday in Indianapolis on business and threw off my whole week. (I regretfully did not bring my laptop, not that I had any real time to do so).

Here is a list of players that may still be available in your free agent pool that could add depth to your line-up and help you on your way to your fantasy league championship game.

QUARTERBACKS:

Brian Griese: He is doing what no NFL quarterback has done in a long time in Chicago... put up points and cut down the turn-overs. Griese has shown an ability to utilize the offense he is in. Berrian is shooting up the ranks as an NFL wide receiver, the tandem of Olsen and Clark are proving invaluable and even Cedric Benson has shown flashes of coming out of his sub-par 3.8 YD per carry average. If you have a QB that has a late bye-week, this may be your man to fill the shoes when the time comes to get off the bench and into the starting line-up.

Tavaris Jackson: The Minnesota offense is growing, both on their fans and in the NFL. Having Holcomb come in did two things: show Tavaris that this offense can be potent if utilized correctly, and two, given Jackson a fire to perform better, knowing that there is a replacement that the organization is willing to lean on during their "growing pains." Jackson has mobility, which is in his favor, and has enough of an arm to utilize the deep threats of Williamson and Rice (both from So. Car.). He showed that he could do it this weekend with a DEEP ball to Williamson. The tandem of Peterson (needs more touches) and Taylor assure him that when ahead, they can run the clock down AND put up points.

Kerry Collins: This is only relevant if in fact Young sees any lost time on the field. Pay attention to the injury report. He isn't great, but has a strong arm and can get it down field in a hurry, especially with the young speed of the WR corp. in Tennessee. Collins would rely on White and Brown to keep the chains moving. He would only be a back-up, but could have good numbers when the match-up is right.

Cleo Lemon: If for no other reason, because he is now the starter in Miami. Cleo is mobile, something Trent Green has never been. He has to be to survive the weak O-line in Miami. Ronnie Brown continues to show great strides this season and WRs Chambers and Booker can, when healthy and motivated, get the job done. The defense is hurting without Zach Thomas and a young secondary, giving Lemon more opportunities to sling the ball down field. Again, another back-up or bye-week replacement, but he beats out a lot of other back-ups riding most fantasy teams' benches.

RUNNING BACKS:

LenDale White: He appears to be healthy and has lost his extra 30 lbs. due to the rigors of the NFL. He only put up 64 YDs this past week but did see the ball more than he has in the past. When facing the right defense, he can have big yardage, but the important factor is where he is receiving his touches... 1st and 2nd and the red zone... Brown is used to get'em there with White being utilized as the muscle when it counts. Sometimes being a little heavier has it's perks.

Nejah Davenport: Nejah is quietly putting up fantasy points and riding most free agent lists. He has 3 TDs this year and is capitalizing on every touch he gets. The coaches have changed in PIT but that doesn't mean that the basic offensive constructs have. This team is still going to pound it down your throat on the ground with only 18 - 22 passing attempts a game. Big Ben still puts up solid numbers but it is the ground game that is going to win ball games. Nejah will play his part and walk away with at least 8 TDs by the end of the season.

Selvin Young: The clock is ticking for Travis Henry. I expect that by the end of October, early November, he will need to 'fess up and serve his time for being a "pothead". The heir apparent is Selvin Young, an undrafted rookie free agent out of the University of Texas. The kid has powerful legs, shifty moves, and leans into every hit for that extra one or two yards. He also has speed enough to get around the linebackers and turn it up field in a hurry. If you have space on your bench, he should be sitting there. If you are in a keeper league, you should consider adding him to the bench before your free agent deadline, just in case Henry never makes it back to Denver...with injuries and addictions, this could be a distinct possibility.

WIDE RECEIVERS:

Lee Evans: I am shocked at the number of leagues that I am in or the leagues that people I speak with have dropped this kid. Losman won't be gone forever and Lee Evans is his main target. With Lynch getting his NFL legs under him, by the time Losman comes back, this team could do some damage. Price is out as the 2nd WR, so speedy Roscoe Parrish steps back into the role and will prove invaluable late in the season (especially if your league rewards return yardage). Grab'em and let'em ride the pine until Losman comes back, then you are stacked for a late season run.

Reggie Williams: More and more, David Garrard is leaning on this first round draft pick that until this point has been a let down. The offense is starting to gel and Williams is definitely benefiting. If you have a weak WR corp., pick him up. He may be at the bottom of your WR package, but with the way he is being called upon by David, that may turn around in the 2nd half of the season.

Donte Stallworth: Due to the success of Moss, Welker, and Watson, many gave up on this player. A No. 1 on most teams, he has been picking up a head of steam in the past three weeks, averaging almost a 100 Yds and TD a week. Ben Watson may be down for a while (watch the injury report) which would all but guarantee even more utilization of this slippery, speedy, wide receiver. Check the free agent pool, you may be shocked to see him sitting there calling out your name.

David Patten: A few weeks ago I mentioned this players name. The one thing that NO lacks is speed, which is something that David Patten has. He went over a 100 YDs for the first time since leaving New England, making a stop along the way to NO at WAS. There he was under-utilized and eventually hurt and put on the I/R. Expect David to become more of a threat, not necessarily getting more than 5 - 7 passes a game, but with his size and speed it makes it difficult to keep up with him, then tackle him.

Bobby Engram: As long as he is healthy, he is the go to guy in Seattle. With Branch out at least until Week 9, Engram gets the call. He had four games in a row, late last year, where he saw the majority of passing attempts, netting high yardage and at least a TD a game... however, he got injured, so watch his health if you take a stab at him on your roster.

TIGHT ENDS:

Greg Olsen: For some, especially smaller leagues, he is still out there. He is fast enough to be a WR, yet big enought to be a TE. Clark is used more for short yardage and run-blocking ability yet Olsen still has the best chance to net you fantasy points. Griese is in love with his TEs and it should be known that Olsen is splitting out more and more, being utilized like Indy is doing with Clark.

Donald Lee: Let's face it, the Packers can't run... with that being said, anyone who is young, quick, and has "sure hands" has a shot at some fantasy points. Lee is steadily replacing Franks. He has been called upon with in the red zone more and more. I expect him to be in the top 7 by the end of the year...

Randy McMichael: Boy has he disappeared in the fantasy world. I believe that Bulger under-utilized his abilities (really the Offensive coach), but with Frerotte in, there is a chance that over the next few weeks, he could be useful in the fantasy format. Don't hold your breath or lose someone valuable for him, but if you have no one on your line-up, facing a bye-week, or dealing with an injured TE, grab'em.

Those are my fantasy waiver wire grabs for the NFL Week 7. I hope that you find this informative and useful. I will see you all later when we approach mid-week with my fantasy Sit'em and Start'em blogs.

Statistocrat