Week 4 Fantasy Football Studs: Mannings steal the show

I think everyone expected Manning to break out and have a solid week this week, but 4 touchdown's for Eli as well? It looks like Peyton's brother may be the real deal.

Here are some of the top performances from week 4.

Quarterback

1. Donovan McNabb - 33/48 for 369 yards and 3 touchdowns, 1 int - An incredible comeback performance from the injured McNabb this week.

2. Brett Favre - 28/47 for 303 yards and 4 touchdowns, 1 int - Favre has been excellent since his week 1 debacle.

3. Peyton Manning - 20/27 for 264 yards and 4 touchdowns - Manning finally breaks out.


Running Back

1. LaDainian Tomlinson - 134 yards rushing and 2 touchdowns, 3 rec. for 34 yards - Shows why he's the top player in fantasy football.

2. LaMont Jordan - 126 yards and 1 touchdown, 4 rec. for 22 yards - These are the kind of numbers that everyone expected from Jordan this year.

3. Tiki Barber - 128 yards rushing and 1 touchdown, 2 rec. for 15 yards - He flies under the radar every year but he consistently puts up good fantasy football numbers.

Wide Receiver

1. Plaxico Burress - 10 rec. for 204 yards and 2 touchdowns - He's become Manning's favorite target. Lets see if he can keep it up.

2. Marvin Harrison - 9 rec. for 109 yards and 2 touchdowns - Harrison finally had his breakout game, connecting with Manning for 2 TD's.

3. Terrell Owens - 11 rec. for 171 yards and 1 touchdown - Despite his shaky attitude, he has become the best wide receiver in football.

Fantasy Football - Joe Horn and Isaac Bruce out

These two star receivers will not play today. Adjust your lineups accordingly.

Saturday Morning NFL Injury Updates

Here are some injury updates of players that could affect your fantasy football lineups.

1. Steven Jackson (St. Louis Rams) - Upgraded from questionable to probable. - Jackson hasn't had the season thus far that most people expected, mostly because the Rams won't commit to the run. There is some speculation that he may share some carries with Marshall Faulk this week because of the chest injury.

2. Darrell Jackson (Seattle Seahawks) - Listed as probable with a sore knee. This story didn't appear until later in the week, so it was somewhat of a suprise. Coach Holmgren is "pretty sure" that Jackson will play on Sunday in a tough matchup against the Redskins.

3. Joe Horn (New Orleans Saints) - Horn is suffering from a hamstring injury and is currently listed as a game time decision. These things can go either way so its usually best to check your sources before you start a player like this. Chris Mortensen of ESPN always gives injury updates on the Sunday morning show before the game. This is always a good place to check.

4. Isaac Bruce (St. Louis Rams) - Bruce is suffering from turf toe and is iffy for Sunday. Look for Kevin Curtis to have nice numbers if Bruce is unable to play.

Yahoo 4 star players: Torry Holt will score big in week 4

If you have St. Louis Rams wide receiver Torry Holt, or quarterback Mark Bulger, expect a big week against the week NY Giants secondary, according to Yahoo Sports. Check out these guys and other four star players for week 4.

SI Fantasy Projections: Manning will break out this week against the Titans in week 4

Is this the week that Indianapolis Colts quarterback Peyton Manning finally rewards those fantasy football teams that were willing to draft him in the first round? CNN SI thinks so. They project Manning throwing for 325 yards and 4 touchdowns.

Jeff Fischer and the Titans always have something interesting up their sleeves against the Colts (remember the flurry of on-side kicks last year), so it will be interesting to see what they throw at the Colts this year. I would expect at least 2-3 touchdowns for Manning, but expect Edgerrin James to steal touchdowns again this week from Manning at the goal line.

Fantasy Football - Carnell Williams gets the most touches week 3; Steve Smith gets the most looks

Mike Harmon from Yahoo Sports has posted a list of the running backs and wide receivers who had the most touches and looks during week 3, respectively.

Some players I expected to be at the top of the list, like Julius Jones and Terrell Owens. But who would have thought Fred Taylor would be #2 in touches for week 3. Other running backs at the top of the list include Tampa Bay Bucs rookie Carnell Williams, Chicago Bears RB Thomas Jones, and the Indianapolis Colts RB Edgerrin James.

Carolina Panthers wideout Steve Smith tops the list at wide receiver, followed by T.O, Plaxico Burress, and Darrell Jackson.

Take a look at the list and see where your players rank.

Fantasy Football - Week 4 Injury Notes

Injuries and Bye weeks are beginning to take a toll on a lot of fantasy football teams. Here are a few of this weeks most significant injury notes.

1. Joe Horn (Saints): Currently listed as day to day with a hamstring injury. - Horn has been known to catch the injury bug in the past. Let's hope this doesn't turn into anything serious.

2. Chad Pennington (Jets): Torn rotator cuff, most likely done for the year. - Pennintgon owners need to start shopping for a new QB if they don't already have one. This may also make it harder for Curtis Martin to pick up yards. Major blow for the Jets offense.

3. Rodney Harrison (Patriots): Out for the year with torn ligaments in his left knee. - Can New England continue to overcome the loss of so many key players?

Fantasy Football - Email Bag: Help at Wide Receiver

If you lost Javon Walker this year, you may want to check out this post.

Brian wrote:

I've been struggling with WR's all year.

I had Javon Walker as an anchor to an otherwise weak WR core.

After him i had:

Lelie
C. Chambers
TJ Houshmanzadah
Travis Taylor

After week 1, I made a trade to get Burleson. So two weeks in a row, I
suffer a knee injury.

Last week a trade was worked on that I decided to sit on for the
weekend.

I would trade away:

Payton Manning
Clinton Porits
Burleson (i think i could get him to drop this player from the
trade)

I would get:

Torry Holt
Lamont Jordan
Matt Hasselback


My RB's are Duece McAllister, Tiki Barber, and the duo in Carolina.

My other QB is Favre (had Bulger but lost him in the trade for Burleson)

Holt would definately be perfect for my WR problems. But breaking the
trade down I value Portis as much, if not more, than Jordan. So do I
trade Payton for Holt and Hasselback. Hassleback doesn't add a whole
lot of value to the trade, because he would platoon with Favre. I just
didn't like the idea of trading Payton for Holt. There's a reason I
drafted one before the other. But should my needs force me to accept a
trade that isn't as fair, value wise, as I'd like?

The slower Paytong starts the more stuborn I am about keeping him.
He'll come out of this slump and I'll be the one that had to suffer and
pay for his bad games.

I know this is long and maybe too involved, but, any thoughts?



Brian:

The Javon Walker injury is definitely a bummer. I think its important to have an elite receiver on your team. After the top 5 of 6 wide receivers, fantasy production can be very inconsistent from week to week. Torry Holt would definitely fill the role of elite receiver for your squad. He's going to give you a lot of good games. Your other receivers will vary in points week to week, including Burleson, who has yet to live up to the lofty expectations (and you may not be able to use him again until week 6 because of his injury and the bye in week 5).

I think your running backs are strong enough to allow you to let go of Clinton Portis.

The real tough decision is whether or not to let go of Peyton Manning. He hasn't thrown a touchdown since week 1 and defenses are playing the Colts differently this year. Also, because the Colts defense is playing so well, they haven't had to put up as many points on offense to win games.

I'm sure that Manning will pick it up as the season continues, but he probably won't be the same quarterback as last year. He stated before the season that he wasn't concerned about scoring as many touchdowns, and that he was more concerned with winning.

I would be tempted to take the trade and go with Favre and Hasselback for the rest of the year. Its risky, and if Manning breaks out of his slump you'll kick yourself, but after next week the season will be almost 25% complete, and Torry Holt will help your team immediately.

If you're not willing to let go of Manning, then you may want to keep shopping for receivers and see if you can pull another trade off.

Good luck.

Fantasy Football - Email Bag: Week 4 Bye Issues

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Fantasy Football - Tomlinson puts up a monster game against the NY Giants

LaDainian Tomlinson absolutely lit up San Diego on Sunday night football. Check out these numbers.

1 pass for 26 yards and a touchdown, 192 yards rushing for 3 touchdowns, 6 receptions for 28 yards, 1 fumble

This is probably the top fantasy football performance of the season thus far. Congratulations to all L.T. owners, because you probably won your fantasy football matchup this week.

Fantasy Football - Top Performers from NFL week 3

Week 3 saw some big performances - here are a few of the highlights.

Quarterback

1. Dante Culpepper - 21/29 for 300 yards and 3 touchdowns - This should quiet the critics for a while.

2. Drew Bledsoe - 24/38 for 363 yards and 2 touchdowns, 2 int, 1 rushing touchdowns - Bledsoe continues to perform well in the Cowboys offense.

3. Mark Bulger - 21/28 for 292 yards and 3 touchdowns, 1 int - The greatest show on turf pulls out a nice win against the Titans.

Wide Receiver

1. Steve Smith - 11 receptions for 170 yards and 3 touchdowns - Steve Smith is back this year in a big way.

2. Torry Holt - 9 receptions for 163 yards and 1 touchdown - Still one of the best in the game.

3. Brandon Lloyd - 4 receptions for 142 yards and 2 touchdowns - Lloyd is emerging as a consistent threat this season.

Running Back

1. Shaun Alexander - 140 rushing and 4 touchdowns - Showed why he's a top pick every year.

2. Brian Westbrook - 68 yards rushing for 1 touchdown, 6 catches for 140 yards and 1 touchdown - This guy can put up points in so many different ways.

3. Julius Jones - 85 yards rushing for 2 touchdowns, 4 catches for 28 yards - He hasn't put up huge yardage yet, but he's making up for that with touchdowns.

Tight End

1. Jason Witten - 6 receptions for 85 yards and 1 touchdown - Witten returns to last years form to help Dallas beat the 49ers.

2. Ernie Conwell - 3 catches for 65 yards and a touchdown - Nice game for Ernie.

3. Courtney Anderson - 5 catches for 100 yards - 2 good games out of 3 for Anderson, he may still be available in your league.

Fantasy Football - Nate Burleson out; Stephen Davis in...more Sunday morning news

Kickoff starts in thirty minutes: here are the latest fantasy football developments.

1. Nate Burleson will not play today.

2. Stephen Davis will start.

3. Mewelde Moore will start at running back for the Vikings.

4. Brian Westbrook is good to go for the Philadelphia Eagles.

5. Chris Brown will start against the Rams.

6. Byron Leftwich will play today for the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Good luck to everyone.

Fantasy Football - Last Minute Week 3 Injury Updates.

Here are some last minute week 3 injury updates from around the league.

1. ESPN's Chris Mortensen is reporting that New York Jets running back Curtis Martin is still hurting and backup Derrick Blaylock could see more carries. If you have a good 3rd running back, this may be a good week to use him. Even if Martin plays, he may not see a full workload.

2. FOXSports.com's John Czarnecki is reporting that Green Bay Packers TE Bubba Franks will not play in the team's Week 3 game.

Fantasy Football - Marvin Harrison expected to play in week 3

ESPN is reporting that Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Marvin Harrison will play Sunday and shouldn't be slowed down by a wrist injury thats been bothering him all week.

Marvin Harrison and Peyton Manning have been quiet this season thus far, hooking up 9 times for only one touchdown. The Colts have faced 2 tough defenses so far this year. Look for them to break it open against a Cleveland defense that has allowed a lot of points in the first 2 weeks. I expect big fantasy football numbers.

Fantasy Football - How Long Will Willie Parker's Run Last: Keep or Trade

Those of you that were quick enough to pick up Willie Parker off of the waiver wire have been enjoying his huge numbers the last two weeks. But with Duce Staley set to contribute this week and Jerome Bettis coming back eventually, is Big Willie's run coming to an end? Should you sell high or keep him?

This is always a tough call. If your fantasy football team is deep at the running back position, Parker could be used to shore up your team at quarterback or wide receiver. This may not be a bad choice.

But I think Parker is here to say. Cower is standing behind him as the starter, and the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette is reporting that Parker will remain the starter no matter how healthy Bettis and Staley are. Pittsburgh is a team that is built to run, and if Parker starts for the entire season, he could end up being one of the top producing running backs in the league. Plus, you can never have too many good running backs in fantasy football. Injuries and bye weeks can take a toll on your fantasy team throughout the season, and a good bench can win your team a lot of games.

Fantasy Football - Matchup Rankings

If you are having a tough time making your lineup decisions for week 3, you may want to check out these rankings on Yahoo. Players are ranked on a scale of 1 to 5 stars, based upon the team they are playing. The only think it doesn't include is defenses.

By the way, if you are looking for a good fantasy defense that may still be available on the waiver wire, check out the Cincinnati Bengals defense. They have 2 sacks, 7 interceptions, and 3 fumble recoveries in 2 games. They may allow more points than most top defenses, but they also create a lot of turnovers.

Fantasy Football - More NFL Running Back News

Here are the latest updates regarding running backs for week 3 of the NFL fantasy football season.

1. Carnell Williams - Tampa Bay Bucs: Expected to play Sunday against a suspect Packers defense.

2. Lee Suggs - Cleveland Browns: Practiced Thursday and wants to contribute.

3. Stephen Davis - Carolina Panthers: Upgraded to probable for Sunday's game against the Miami Dolphins. Davis has been a touchdown machine this year thus far.

4. Duce Staley - Pittsburgh Steelers: Practiced this week and may see time as a third down back Sunday against New England.

5. Mike Anderson - Denver Broncos: Probable for Monday's game against the Kanas City Chiefs.
6. Willis McGahee - Buffalo Bills: Looked better in practice this week after being called out by his coach last Sunday. He faces an Atlanta defense that gave up 144 yards to Shaun Alexander last week.

7. J. J. Arrington - Arizona Cardinals: Returned to practice this week but lost 7 pounds. He may lose playing time to Marcel Shipp.

8. Curtis Martin - New York Jets: Upgraded to probable but could lose time to Derrick Blaylock this week if his knee slows him down.

Fantasy Football - Waiver Wire Pickups for Week 3

Is your fantasy football team suffering from injury problems already? Yahoo's Brandon Funston lists some of the best waiver wire pickups for week 3. His picks are: Thomas Jones, Terry Glenn, Drew Bledsoe, Marcel Shipp, Jerramy Stevens, and the Chicago Bears defense.

I agree with most of them, although I doubt Thomas Jones is still available in most leagues. Terry Glenn and Drew Bledsoe probably have the most long term value out of all of these players because they are not being threatened by younger rookies.

Here are a couple of other waiver wire players that I think have potential to produce this season.

1. Ron Dayne: Denver's running back situation is cloudier than ever this year, but Dayne showed promise last week and Anderson and Bell are beat up a bit. If you have room on your bench, he might be worth holding on to for a while.

2. Trent Dilfer: It may not continue, but Dilfer has been putting up good numbers for the Browns this year so far.

3. Travis Taylor: With Burleson injured, Taylor becomes the Vikings #1 wide receiver. He has 10 catches for 113 yards in two games. If Culpepper can get his act together, the pair could produce pretty good numbers together.

Fantasy Football - Running backs getting healthy: Carnell Williams, Mike Anderson listed as probable

It doesn't take long for running backs to start getting banged up in the NFL, but usually the tougher backs are able to play through injuries.

Mike Anderson, who suffered a rib injury early in the first game of the season, practiced on Wednesday and is listed as probable for Sunday's game against the Kansas City Chiefs. Anderson has yet to pay off for those fantasy football teams who took a chance on him. I would be hesitant to start him until he proves he can put up solid numbers in a game.

Tampa Bay Bucs rookie Carnell Williams is listed as probable on the injury report with a sore left foot but he plans to play this week against the Green Bay Packers. Williams has been stellar in his first two games and should put up big numbers again against a weak Packers defense.

Fantasy Football - Fantasy News From Around the NFL: Week 3

Week 3 is quickly approaching and its time to start setting your lineup. Here are some of the top developments in the NFL leading up to Sunday.

1. The Vikings have announced that Michael Bennett will remain the teams starter at running back for week 3, despite his poor performance. Mewelde Moore has been the top candidate to replace Bennett at the #1 position. Neither player has produced numbers worthy of a fantasy football start this season.

2. Vikings wide receiver Nate Burleson is listed as doubtful on the teams injury report and may not play again until week 6 when the team returns from its bye week. Burleson had huge upside when the season began, but has dissapointed thus far, as the Vikings offense has sputtered.

3. Carolina Panthers running back Stephen Davis has been a nice suprise this season, rushing for 2 touchdowns last week. But he was unable to practice Wednesday due to a neck injury and is questionable for this weeks game against the Miami Dolphins. DeShaun Foster will most likely carry more of the load if Davis is unable to play this week.

4. Eagle's wide receiver Terrell Owens and quarterback Donovan McNabb both sat out practice Wednesday with groin injurys but are expected to play Sunday. They should be in store for another big day against the Raiders this week.

5. Jets running back Curtis Martin is listed as questionable for week 3 with a bruised right knee. Martin has gotten off to a tough start this year and will be replaced by Derrick Blaylock if he is unable to play on Sunday.

Fantasy Football - Steelers sensation Willie Parker is here to stay.

With Jerome Bettis doubtful and Duce Staley questionable for week 3, Pittsburgh Steelers running back Willie Parker will get the start again week 3 against the New England Patriots. Parker has rushed for over 100 yards in each of the first 2 games.

The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette is reporting that Willie Parker is officially the starter and isn't going anywhere, even if Duce Staley and Jerome Bettis return to the team at 100%. This is exciting news for those of you who were quick enough to pick up Parker off the waiver wire. If this report is correct, then Willie should continue to put up great fantasy football numbers for the rest of the season.

Fantasy Football - Week 2 Injury Notes

Here are some of the most significant fantasy football injury notes from week 2 of the NFL. As always, these things can change as the week progresses.

1. Michael Vick - Injured hamstring: will undergo an MRI Monday, questionable for week 3.

2. Curtis Martin - Strained right knee: will undergo an MRI Monday - Derrick Blaylock is prepared to go if Martin cannot play in week 3.

3. Terrell Owens - Sore Abs - I would expect him to be fine for next Sunday.

4. Carnell Williams - Strained left foot - The rookie sensation is expected to play in week 3.

5. Kyle Boller - May need toe surgery - Anthony Wright will continue to start in his absence.

6. Tatum Bell - Sprained ankle on special teams - This may move Bell further down the depth chart. Mike Anderson is still recovering from a rib injury but started last Sunday. Ron Dayne seems to have secured the #2 back spot in Denver with Bell's injury. This situation just keeps getting cloudier.

7. Byron Leftwich - Unspecified leg injury - Expects to play against the Jets next week.

Check back for more updates throughout the week.

Fantasy Football - Sunday Studs: Big NFL Scorers in Week 2

Week 2 saw some big performances out of some familiar players (and a few new faces). Here are some of Sunday's most notable performances.

Quarterback

1. Donovan McNabb - 23/29 for 342 yards and 5 touchdowns. - Questionable earlier in the week but came up big against the 49ers.

2. Brett Favre - 32/44 for 342 yards and 3 touchdowns, 2 ints. - Favre owners are breathing easier this week after this performance.

3. Carson Palmer - 27/40 for 337 yards and 3 touchdowns, 1 int - Is this the years that Palmer comes of age.

Wide Receiver

1. Terrell Owens - 5 catches for 143 yards and 2 touchdowns - It looks like he was right...he's putting up big numbers again for the Eagles.

2. Hines Ward - 6 catches for 84 yards and 2 touchdowns - He's still one of the top wideouts in the league.

3. Chad Johnson - 7 catches for 139 yards and 1 touchdown - I expect CJ to have a huge year this year for an emerging Bengals team.

Running Back

1. Thomas Jones - 139 yards rushing and 2 touchdowns, 2 catches for 19 yards - Benson wants to start, but it will be hard to bench Jones if he keeps playing like this.

2. Stephen Davis - 77 yards and 3 touchdowns - I don't think anyone expected Davis to be playing so well this season. It looks like he is the go to guy in the endzone.

3. Shaun Alexander - 144 yards and 1 touchdown, 2 catches for 11 yards - Shut down last week by the Jaguars, Alexander responded in a big way.


Disappointments:

1. Dante Culpepper - 5 interceptions; He looks terrible so far this year.

2. Peyton Manning - 13/28 for 122 yards passing; He's faced two tough defenses to start the season, look for him to light it up next week.

3. Curtis Martin - 72 yards rushing, no TD's - Last year's rushing champ is starting the season slow.

Fantasy Football - Donovan McNabb is Questionable for Sunday

Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb is listed as questionable for Sunday's home opener against the 49ers. McNabb sufferred a bruised chest last week against the Atlanta Falcons.

McNabb did not have his best performance against the Falcons on Monday night, losing 2 fumbles and tossing 1 interception. He insists that he will play on Sunday, and if he does, he should put up much better numbers against the San Francisco defense.

Fantasy Football - Week 2: Things to keep in mind

Week 1 of the fantasy football season is over and it's time to start focusing on week 2. Here are some things to keep in mind as you make your lineup decisions for Sunday.

1. Willie Parker will get the start again at running back for the Pittsburgh Steelers. Parker lit it up Sunday with 209 all purpose yards. He will try to duplicate that performance against the Houston Texans.

2. Denver Broncos running back Mike Anderson is questionable with a rib injury. Tatum Bell will see more carrries, but reports suggest that Anderson or Ron Dayne may still get all of the goal line carries. I wouldn't feel comfortable starting a Broncos running back until this situation clears up a bit.

3. Chiefs running backs Priest Holmes and Larry Johnson both put up great games against the Jets last week, with LJ looking the best when he played. It looks like the Chiefs are going to give playing time to both backs. This is a unique situation for fantasy football because you could make an argument for starting both guys on any given week. LJ put up over 100 yards last week off the bench! (LJ's recent arrest reportedly won't affect his standing with the team)

4. Indianapolis Colts tight end Dallas Clark is set to return to action next week against the Jaguars. Manning looks like he still enjoys throwing to tight ends, adding another TE touchdown pass last week to Ben Utecht.

Fantasy Football - Javon Walker: Out for the year. How will this effect Favre?

Javon Walker - Out for the rest of the season; torn ACL.

This is the biggest fantasy football loss of the year thus far. Many people expected Javon to cement his status as an elite receiver this season. Those who drafted him in the 2nd or 3rd round will have to scramble to find a replacement. Donald Driver will become Brett Favre's primary passing target in an offense that struggled in week one. While Driver's value as a receiver may increase with this unfortunate promotion, Favre's value as a quarterback may decrease. Green Bay faces a Cleveland Browns defense next week that was lit up by the Cincinnati Bengals in week one. Their performance in this game could be a good indicator as to how well this offense will be able to put up points for the rest of the season. If Green Bay can light it up the way Cincinnati did, Brett Favre owners should be able to feel more confident starting him for the rest of the season.

Fantasy Football - Unlikely Heros: Sunday's top NFL fantasy football performers.

Week 1 of the NFL saw some unlikely heros. Here are some of the top performances.

1. Keenan McCardell (San Diego Chargers) - 9 catches for 123 yards and 2 touchdowns.

2. Jimmy Smith - (Jacksonville Jaguars) - 7 catches for 130 yards and 2 touchdowns.

3. Larry Fitzgerald (Arizona Cardinals) - 13 catches for 155 yards and 1 touchdown

4. Willie Parker (Pittsburgh Steelers) - 161 yards rushing and 1 touchdown and 1 catch for 48 yards.

5. Larry Johnson (KC Chiefs) - 110 yards rushing and 2 touchdowns and 1 catch for 11 yards.

Fantasy Football - Last Minute News

Kickoff starts in 45 minutes. Here are some of the last minute stories off of the wire.

1. Rudi Johnson missed a team meeting and will lose the starting job for today's game to Chris Perry. Rudi is still expected to be the featured back.

2. Stephen Davis will start at running back for the Carolina Panthers. He will split carries with Deshaun Foster.

3. Colts tight end Dallas Clark will travel with the team to Baltimore, but is still listed as questionable for tonights game.

4. Chiefs QB Trent Green will start today against the New York Jets.

5. Reuben Droughns will start at running back today for the Cleveland Browns.

6. Chris Brown will start at running back today for the Titans, Travis Henry is active.

7. Cedric Benson will be active at RB today for the Bears but Thomas Jones will get the start.

Good luck to everyone.

Fantasy Football - These Fantasy Football Players Should Have Big Days Today

These fantasy football players should have big days today:

Quarterback:

1. Brett Favre - Has a tendency to light up the soft Lions defense.
   
2. Mark Bulger - Great matchup for the high powered Rams offense.
   
3. Donovan McNabb - TO and McNabb will reunite on the Falcons turf.
   
4. Trent Green - All reports indicate that he is 100% healthy.
   
5. Peyton Manning - Even against a top defense, Manning will get his numbers.
   

Running Back

1. Curtis Martin - Started strong last year - he should find big holes at KC.
   
2. Rudi Johnson - Has a history of ripping up the Browns.
   
3. LaDainian Tomlinson - Faces a good Dallas defense - but LT will find a way.
   
4. Kevin Jones - Green Bay's defense is in terrible shape.
   
5. Mike Anderson - Faces a Miami defense in transition.
   

Wide Receiver

1. Terrell Owens - Ready to prove the world wrong - should score big on Monday.
   
2. Chad Johnson - No pepto this year - CJ lit up the Browns in their last meeting.
   
3. Joe Horn - Scored big against the Panthers last year.
   
4. Steve Smith - Healthy and ready to shine against a weak Saints defense.
   
5. Roy Williams - Ready for his breakout season against a porous Packers secondary.
   

Fantasy Football - Saturday Roundup: Time to finalize your lineup.

One day left until the majority our fantasy football teams finally take to the field. Here are the top stories as of Saturday evening that may affect your Sunday lineup decisions.

1. Pittsburgh Steelers running back Willie Parker will get the start Sunday against the Tennessee Titans. Jerome Bettis and Duce Staley most likely will not play at all in the game. Parker has a played well in the final game of 2004 and could be a good fantasy play against the rebuilding Tennessee Titans.
2. Chicago Bears rookie Cedric Benson will suit up Sunday, but may not see much playing time behind starter Thomas Jones. Benson missed most of the preseason because of a contract holdout, but has claimed that he wants to be the starter as soon as possible. He is quickly trying to learn the Bears playbook.
3. Jacksonville Jaguars running back Fred Taylor is expected to see around 20 carries on Sunday against the Seattle Seahawks. Taylor did not play much in the preseason but all reports indicate that he is in good shape for the regular season (although history indicates that Taylor is always susceptible to injuries).
4. 49ers tight end Eric Johnson is doubtful for the season opener against the St. Louis Rams. He is suffering from a partially torn plantar fascia and there is no word yet on when he will return.
5. Green Bay Packers tight end Bubba Franks is good to go Sunday. He missed practice Wednesday but returned Thursday and Friday.
   
6. Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver Terrell Owens claims that he spoke with Donovan McNabb and resolved their issues. If chemistry is restored between these two stars, look for them to put up numbers similar to last year.
   
7. Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Brandon Stokely practiced with the team this week and will most likely play in the Sunday opener against the Baltimore Ravens. Stokely was a key component to the Colts high powered offense last year and he was the only #3 wide receiver that you could justify starting on your fantasy football team.
   
8. Baltimore Ravens running back Jamal Lewis could see limited action on Sunday night against the Colts. Lewis will split the backfield with Chester Taylor and may only see 15-20 carries. Coach Brian Billick stated that this is only temporary and Lewis's workload will increase every week. 15-20 carries may still be enough to put up good fantasy numbers against a Colts team that couldn't stop the run last year.
   
9. Tampa Bay Bucs rookie running back Carnell Williams may share some of the workload with last years starter Michael Pittman. It is unclear yet whether or not this will affect Williams' fantasy football numbers.
   
10. The Indianapolis Colts are awaiting news on whether or not tight end Dallas Clark will be ready for the season opener against the Ravens. Clark missed practice last week with a concussion and underwent tests on Friday. Backup Ben Hartsock will be the starter if Clark is unable to play.
    

Fantasy Football - Colts Tight End Dallas Clark May Miss Sunday's Opener

Indianapolis Colts tight end Dallas Clark underwent tests on Friday for a concussion he sustained 2 weeks ago against the Denver Broncos. The team expects to learn today whether or not Dallas Clark will receive medical clearance.

Dallas Clark was supposed to emerge as Peyton Manning's go-to option at tight end this yeark, with Marcus Pollard leaving for the Detroit Lions via free agency. Clark has had the injury bug in the past and it looks like he might miss a game or two early this season because of an injury. The Colts have been very happy with the play of #2 tight end Ben Hartsock this preseason. If Clark misses time due to injury, look for Hartsock to step in and potentially steal some playing time.

Fantasy Football - Owens and McNabb end feud?

Philadelphia Eagle's wide receiver Terrell Owens claimed on Friday in a radio interview that he has spoken with quarterback Donovan McNabb and that they have resolved thier differences. After an entire offseason of quarrelling, Owens now claims that he and the McNabb are getting along just fine.

This is good news for those of you who took a slight risk and drafted Terrell Owens, ignoring the draft boards that claimed Owens' value had dropped. Last year TO and McNabb were the most explosive duo in fantasy football, and if the feud is over, I would expect the same production from them again this year.

Philadelphia will play the Atlanta Falcons on Monday night. Owens will want to come out and prove the media wrong, and he will probably have a huge night.

Fantasy Football - NFL Season Kicks Off: Brady, Dillon and Moss Shine

The NFL season kicked off Thursday night with the Patriots defeating the Raiders 30-20.

Randy Moss and Tom Brady were the fantasy football studs for the opening game. Here are some key stats:

1. Randy Moss - 5 catches, 130 yards and 1 TD
   
2. Tom Brady - 24-38 for 306 yards passing, 2 TD
   
3. Corey Dillon - 63 yds rushing, 2 TD, 2 catches for 30 yds
   
4. Lamont Jordan - 70 yards rushing, 5 catches for 40 yds
5. Deon Branch - 7 catches, 99 yards and 1 TD
6. Kerry Collins - 18-40 for 265 yards passing, 3 TD, 1 INT
7. Courtney Anderson - 3 catches, 18 yards and 2 TD
   

Randy Moss dropped some passes, but he and Collins showed some chemistry on the long ball against a tough Patriots defense. Brady looked as sharp as ever and could be one of the top five fantasy football quarterbacks this year. Also, Deon Branch showed that he may emerge as a consistent wide receiver threat this year.

Suprise of the game: 2 touchdown catches for Oakland Raiders tight end Courtney Anderson. He only caught 3 balls, but 2 of them were for touchdowns. Keep an eye on Anderson if you are looking for a tight end.

Fantasy Football - Will Reuben Droughns start for Cleveland on Sunday?

According to the Akron Beacon Journal, Reuben Droughns is is expected to be the starting running back against the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday. Droughns has been competing with William Green for the starting job with Lee Suggs injured.

Droughns could be a sleeper fantasy football pick on Sunday if he gets the bulk of the carries. He was huge last year in Denver, and the Bengals are an easy team to run against. I would be somewhat hesitate to start Droughns without some more concrete information, but this is the first report I've seen that names a starter.

Fantasy Football - Week 1 NFL Injury Updates

NFL kickoff is quickly approaching and its time to start making decisions about your fantasy football lineup. The following is a list of injury updates for week 1 that could affect your fantasy football team.

1. 49ers tight end Eric Johnson is doubtful for the opener.
2. Colts WR Brandon Stokely has returned to practice and is listed as probable.
3. Oakland Raiders WR Jerry Porter is listed as questionable - he did practice on Tuesday.
4. Chiefs QB Trent Green is listed as probable.
   
5. Chiefs WR Dante Hall - Questionable (hamstring)
   
6. Titans running back Travis Henry - questionable
7. Steelers RB Jerome Bettis - Will not play.
8. Steelers RB Duce Staley - Questionable.
   

I'll keep an eye on the injury list as we get closer to kickoff. If anything comes up, I'll be sure to post it.

Fantasy Football - Ronnie Brown will see limited action Sunday

Miami Dolphins rookie running back Ronnie Brown may see just 10-15 touches on Sunday against the Denver Broncos, according to coach Nick Saban. Saban feels that the rookie may not be ready yet for a full workout.

Those of you who were hoping to start Ronnie Brown on Sunday may want to find another option. 10-15 touches is probably not enough to warrant a fantasy football start. His workload should pick up as the season progresses, but Ricky Williams will be a threat in week 6 when he returns from his drug suspension.

Fantasy Football - Jerry Porter Questionable for Thurday night

Oakland Raiders WR Jerry Porter is listed as questionable for Thursday night's game against the Patriots. He injured his hamstring earlier in the preseason.

Porter claimed on Monday that he would be ready, but it certainly doesn't look like he is completely healed. If you have another fantasy football option at WR, I would be prepared to leave Jerry on the bench.

Fantasy Football - RB Willie Parker set to start week 1 for the Steelers: Bettis ruled out, Staley limited

If you are desperate for a running back in week one, Steeler's coach Bill Cowher announced today that Willie Parker has been named the starter for the opening game against the Titans on Sunday. Jerome Bettis is still dealing with a strained calf and Duce Staley is only available for a limited number of carries.

Parker should get a lot of carries and if he does well, he become a factor for the remainder of the season (remember when Big Ben took over last year at QB...he never relinquished the position). Look for Parker to have a nice game against the rebuilding Tennessee Titans.

Fantasy Football - Fred Taylor will carry a full load on Sunday.

Jacksonville Jaguar's coach Jack Del Rio expects Fred Taylor to carry the ball 20-25 times on Sunday against the Seattle Seahawks. Taylor offered no rebuttal and everyone seems to feel that he's ready to go.

This is good news for those of you who took a risk and drafted Fred Taylor. There is no guarantee that he will last the whole season, but at least he'll be available for week 1. If his body holds up, Fred Taylor drafters will have gotten a steal.

Fantasy Football - Question of the Day? Which WR will score the most fantasy football points in week 1?

The first game of the NFL season is 72 hours away and it's time to start making your first lineup decisions. Today's question is: Which fantasy football wide receiver will score the most points in week 1?

This is a tough call, but I'm going to go with Terrell Owens. I know he went crazy just a few weeks ago and dropped on everyone's draft board, but after the preseason performance he put on a couple of weeks ago, I think its safe to say that he's the same TO.

Most of the top WR's have tough matchups this week against top defenses or in places where they typically don't play well. Marvin Harrison is at Baltimore, Randy Moss is at New England, Torry Holt is @ San Fran (Holt almost never plays as well on the road), Joe Horn is at Carolina, and Chad Johnson is at Cleveland (Pepto Bismol anyone?).

TO plays a pretty tough Atlanta defense, but its in the dome and he's going to come out with a chip on his shoulder. Look for TO to score big and lead all fantasy wideouts in week 1.

Fantasy Football - 49'ers Tight End Eric Johnson May Miss Season Opener

Those of you who drafted Eric Johnson will probably need to pick up another tight end for the first couple of weeks. Johnson is suffering from a partially torn plantar fascia in his right foot.

The good news for EJ fantasy football owners is that Tim Rattay will be back as QB for the club. These two had great chemistry last year and I would expect them to connect well again once EJ returns.

Fantasy Football - Bears Rookie RB Cedric Benson is Closing in Fast on Thomas Jones

The Chicago Tribune is reporting that Chicago Bears rookie RB Cedric Benson will play in the season opener Sunday against Washington. Thomas Jones has had a great preseason, but he will have to continue to compete for the starting job throughout the season now that Benson is signed.

Pencil in Thomas Jones as the Bears starting RB for week 1, but I wouldn't count on using him on your fantasy football team for any longer than that at this point. The Bears are not paying their new rookie $30 million to sit on the bench. I would expect to see Benson get more and more carries as the season progresses, and he will likely be the starter after a couple of games.

Fantasy Football - Jerry Rice Considers Retirement

After being told that he would not get the job as the Denver Bronco's third wideout, Jerry Rice is seriously considering retirement. He was beat out by Darius Watts for the final starting slot.

Jerry is 42 now and its amazing that he has been able to last this long. He has not been a consistent factor in fantasy football for a few years now, but even when he was with Oakland a couple years back he had some monster games. He's certainly one of the greatest, if not the greatest receiver, that has ever lived. I would expect to see him in the broadcast booth for the rest of the year if he does retire.

Fantasy Football - Eagles Claim RB Lamar Gordon. Will He Steal Goal-Line Carries?

The Philadelphia Eagles have claimed running back Lamar Gordon off of waivers from the Miami Dolphins. The Eagles took a big hit to their running game this preseason when they lost Correll Buckhalter to an injury for the entire year.

The Eagles needed to solidify their running back corps with another solid player and they will get that out of Gordon. Don't expect him to get too many carries. Brian Westbrook will shoulder most of the load. But there is talk that Gordon, who is a much larger running back than Westbrook, could steal some goal line carries. On the flip side, having another RB to share some of the load may help preserve Westbrook's health throughout the season.

Fantasy Football - Did Charlie Weis Run Off With the Patriots Offense?

I don't know if anyone watched Notre Dame's offense dismantle Pittsburgh last night (42-21), but it sure did look an awful lot like the New England Patriots offense. Notre Dame QB Brady Quinn, who was average at best last year, looked like he'd just turned into Tom Brady. Charlie Weiss, who led the Patriots offense to a Super Bowl last year, was hired on by Notre Dame to save a football program that has been struggling for years. If last nights game is any indication, it looks like Weiss is going to turn Notre Dame into the college version of the championship Patriots.

It will be interesting to see if this has any effect on the Patriots offense this year. Weis is clearly an amazing talent, and I wonder if losing his offensive skills will slow down the Patriots attack. New England has a history of being able to plug holes well, but sometimes you come across a talent like Weis that may not be replacable. I'm sure the Patriots will be fine early on in the season. They've been doing this for years. But I wouldn't be suprised if they struggle a bit later on in the year when its time to make adjustments and Weis isn't there. The Patriots have been the best team in football for a long time, and everybody has to fall eventually. The departure of Weis could be the piece that leads to the Patriots decline.

Fantasy Football - Cowboys Sign Peerless Price

Wide Receiver Peerless Price has been reunited with Drew Bledsoe, signing a 1 year contract with the Dallas Cowboys. Price could end up taking over the number 3 receiver spot, joining Keyshawn Johnson and Terry Glen.

Price probably isn't worth picking up for your fantasy football team yet, but the reunion with Bledsoe is intriguing. We'll see if the chemistry is still there.

Fantasy Football - Miami Dolphins QB's

Gus Frerotte has won the starting quarterback job for the Miami Dolphins and will lead the team into week 1 of the regular season. The job had been up for grabs for the entire preseason and all three of the QB's have struggled. Frerotte was signed in the offseason to compete with A.J. Feeley and Sage Rosenfels for the starting job.

There is no reason to have any Miami Quarterback on your fantasy football roster. However, good starting quarterback play can have an effect on how well fantasy regulars Chris Chambers and Randy McMichael perform, as well as how well the running game opens up.

Frerotte is the most experienced of the three QB's and he'll be expected to run the offense efficiently without making a lot of mistakes and screwing things up.

Fantasy Football - Top 5 Backup Running Backs Who Could Score Big This Year

Backup running backs can literally make or break your fantasy football season. If your top 5 stud running back gets injured mid-season, and you don't have his backup, you could be left high and dry. On the other hand, if your RB's are terrible, you could save your season by getting a fast jump on a backup who gets promoted to a starter due to injury. Last year, Reuben Droughns, Larry Johnson and Nick Goings emerged as former backups turned high scoring fantasy football backs. Who will it be this year? Here are my top 5 fanstasy backup running backs for the 2005-2006 season.

1. Larry Johnson: No Brainer. He ran for 581 yards and 9 touchdowns when Priest went down last year. If Holmes goes down again, you may be looking at the top scoring fanstasy back in the NFL.

2. Tatum Bell: Whoever runs for the Broncos is practically guaranteed to light it up. Mike Anderson has been named the starter, but we all know how quick the Broncos are to change running backs. If Anderson gets yanked, Bell will fill in just fine.

3. DeShaun Foster: Most people expected him to start this year, but it looks like Stephen Davis is back. Davis is injury prone and if he doesn't hold up, look for Foster to take over.

4. Mewelde Moore: Lots of big play ability, and he plays behind the freqently injured Michael Bennett. I'd be really suprised if Moore doesn't at least start a couple of games this year.

5. Chester Taylor: This guy always puts up huge numbers when Jamal Lewis is out.

Fantasy Football - Holmes Continues to Struggle - Will LJ Overtake Him?

Larry Johnson outperformed Priest Holmes again last night, gaining 21 yards on 5 carries vs. Holmes 13 yards on 6 carries. Holmes has looked very unimpressive in the last 2 preseason games. I know that it's only the preseason, but I think it's fair to ask if Priest's injury is still bothering him. After the first exhibition game, Priest claimed that his health was at about 75-80%. He certainly hasn't looked like he's 100% since then.

If this continues, I think the Chiefs will have to consider giving running back Larry Johnson more playing time. There is talk that they will currently split the running back duties 70-30 in favor of Holmes. But if LJ continues to outperform Holmes in the regular season, then I think it won't be long before he becomes the new starter for the Kansas City Cheifs. If you drafted Priest Holmes on you fantasy football team and you failed to pick up Larry Johnson as well, then you may be in some trouble at running back.

Fantasy Football League - Broken Leg: Lions Lose Garcia

Detroit Lions backup QB Jeff Garcia suffered a broken leg during the Lions preseason game with the Buffalo Bills. He may miss the entire season.

The Lions signed Garcia in the offseason to backup and potentially replace the inconsistent Joey Harrington. Early rumors suggested that the Lions had Harrington on a tight leash. It looks like that leash was just loosened a bit. Barring any injury, Harrington should be the Lions QB for the entire season. If he lives up to his potential, he could be a good fantasy football player on what appears to be a loaded Lions offense.

Fantasy Football League - Friday Roundup

There was a lot of action on the NFL wire today, and some interesting news that may have a significant effect on your fantasy football league. Here's a recap of some of the top stories of the day.

1. Stephen Davis is set to take over the starting RB position for the Carolina Panthers. This comes as a shock to a lot of people who were expecting DeShaun Foster to get the job. Davis has been injured for quite some time and hasn't shown us anything at all until last nights preseason game. He felt good during the game, and it looks like he's going to get his old job back.

2. Miami Dolphins rookie running back Ronnie Brown will start for the Dolphins at least until Ricky Willaims returns back from a 4 game drug suspension. Brown looked good last night, rushing for 25 yards on 5 carries.

3. The Saints home opener on September 18th will be played in the Meadowlands in New York against the Giants. (Which means it's not really a home game at all) This is due to the devastation caused by the recent events in New Orleans. It may be a long time before the Saints play in the Superdome again, and there has been talk that they will eventually play their home games at LSU.

4. Reubin Droughns performed well against the Bears last night, rushing for 60 yards and a touchdown on 9 carries. I think this makes Droughns the frontrunner for the Cleveland starting RB job, with Lee Suggs injured and William Green looking unimpressive. But, like Carolina, I would proceed with caution. The week 1 starter may not still be the starter in week 3.

5. Jets rookie kicker Mike Nugent was brought in to solve the teams kicking woes. He delivered in the preseason last night, kicking 3 field goals in a winning effort. If you are looking for a good kicker that not a lot of people have heard of, give Nugent a try. He was a stud at Ohio State (team captain his senior year) and he should be an immediate success.

Fantasy Football - Stephen Davis Expected to Start for Carolina in Week 1

The Charlotte Observer is reporting that Carolina Panther's running back Stephen Davis is expected to take over the starting role after returning from knee surgery. Davis made his preseason debut last night against the Steelers and carried 5 times for 17 yards.

This comes as a bit of a shock that Davis has regained his role as the starting running back for Carolina. Early in the preseason, Deshaun Foster was expected to take over the starting job, but apparently, Davis' knee is holding up well. We'll see how this situation develops as the season progresses.

Carolina is still expected to use Deshaun Foster as a change of speed back, but this certainly hurts Foster's fantasy football value. We may be looking at Carolina moving to a running back by committee approach, which is always a fantasy nightmare.

Fantasy Football League - Trent Green's Mysterious Operation

Kansas City Chief's quarterback Trent Green had surgery on Tuesday to fix a circulation problem in his leg. The problem was apparently caused by scar tissue that was a result of Green's 4 knee operations. He is not expected to miss any time.

Trent Green has been very durable in Kansas City after battling injuries in St. Louis. He gave everyone a bit of a scare earlier in the week, but it looks like he won't miss any time because of this and he should be ready to go against the Jets in week 1.

Trent Green is poised for another great fantasy football year in Kansas City and should be one of the top 5 QB's this year.

Fantasy Football League - Julius Jones Runs Big Against the Jaguars

Dallas Cowboy's second year running back Julius Jones scored big again in the preseason, rushing for 75 yards on 11 carries against a tough Jacksonville Jaguars defense.

Julius Jones is poised for a breakout year, after finishing off last season strong for the Dallas Cowboys. He has looked great in the preseason, and he is expected to get a lot of carries under the leadership of Bill Parcels. Look for Jones to be one of the top 10 fantasy football running backs this season.

Jones opens the season against another tough defense at San Diego. If he runs against the Chargers like he did against the Jaguars, it should be a big opening week for Julius and the Cowboys.

Fantasy Football League - Cowboy's looking at Peerless Price

Ex-Bengals wide receiver Peter Warrick was picked up by the Seahawks just days after being released by his former team. Now it looks like the Dallas Cowboys are interested in landing the services of Peerless Price, whom Bill Parcels calls "a pretty good player."

Price had some success with current Cowboys QB Drew Bledsoe while he was in Buffalo (1,200 yards, 9 touchdowns). I wouldn't expect him to put those numbers up again this year, but the possibility of these two working together again is intriguing.

Fantasy Football League - Question of the Day? Which RB will score the most points in week 1? Answer: Curtis Martin

The NFL season kicks off a week from today, and it's time to start looking at week 1 matchups.

Today's question is: Which NFL running back will score the most fantasy football points in week 1 of the regular season?

There are a lot of great backs poised to have huge seasons, but often matchups can determine which running back scores the most points in a given week. My pick for the top back of the first week of the season is Curtis Martin. He's facing a Kansas City Chiefs defense that still has a lot to prove, and Curtis has a history of starting off the season well. In his first game last year, Martin ran for 196 yards and scored 2 touchdowns.

Some of the other top backs in the league are facing some pretty good defenses in week 1, and although they should still have good games, their numbers will probably be down a bit. Shaun Alexander visits a tough Jacksonville defense, while Tomlinson starts the season against Dallas.

Look for Curtis Martin, last year's rushing champ, to run through the Kansas City defense when on the first Sunday of the regular season.

Fantasy Football League - Seahawks add WR Peter Warrick

After being dropped by the Cincinnati Bengals earlier in the week, WR Peter Warrick has signed a 1 year contract with the Seattle Seahawks. Warrick will join receivers Darryl Jackson, Bobby Engram, and Joe Jurevicius on what should be a potent passing offense led by QB Matt Hasselbeck.

Warrick has had success playing in the slot position, but it is too soon to say how he will fit in with the team. There is talk that Warrick could return punts this year for the Seahawks. However, it remains to be seen whether or not Warrick is worthy of being added to your fantasy football team. We'll keep and eye on his progress.

Fantasy Football League - Colts win over DT Corey Simon

Espn is reporting that the Colts have agreed in principle to a contract with former Eagle's defensive tackle Corey Simon.

This is a serious upgrade for an often criticized Colts defense. Simon will add even more pass rushing ability to a Colt's defense that already has Dwight Freeney, the NFL's sack leader last year.

Although the Colts were the 29th ranked defense in the NFL last year, there were actually a pretty good fantasy football defense. This is because they had a lot of sacks and they create a lot of turnovers. Simon should help them increase their sack total from a year ago. If you're looking for a good scoring fantasy defense, keep your eye on the Colts. They are usually available on the waiver wire.

Fantasy Football League - Question of the Day? Which QB will score the most points in week 1?

It's time to start looking at week one matchups with the first regular season game kicking off a week from tomorrow.

Today's question is: Which QB will score the most fantasy points in week 1 of the regular season?

Last year the answer to this question was Peyton Manning - about every single week. But this year the Indianapolis Colts open the season against the tough defense of the Baltimore Ravens.

In fact, a lot of the top QB's will face tough defenses in week one. That's why I think that Brett Favre has the best opportunity to light up the fantasy football scoreboard. He faces a Detroit Defense in the dome that he tore apart last season. The Detroit D is fresh of a spanking by St. Louis on Monday night.

Look for Favre to throw for 300 yards and a couple of touchdowns when Green Bay visits the Lions.

Fantasy Football League - Antwaan Randle El Wins Starting WR Job

Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Antwaan Randle El appears to have won the starting job opposite Hines Ward. Randle El will replace Plaxico Burress, who left to join Eli Manning and the New York Giants in the offseason.

Randle El posseses a tremendous amount of athletic talent and should do well in the Steelers offense. Hines Ward will continue to be the favorite target of Ben Roethlisberger, but Randle El will be a nice #2 compliment.

Because the Steelers have a run first offense, there may not be enough passing attempts to make Randle El an every week fantasy starter. His raw talent makes him worth a look, but I wouldn't count on putting him in your fantasy football lineup on a weekly basis.

Fantasy Football League - Jerry Porter's Slow Healing Hammy

Oakland Raider's WR Jerry Porter will not play in the preseason finale against the Saints because of an injured hamstring. Porter has been slowed throughout the preseason and his recovery is not going as quickly as planned. He is looking iffy for the week 1 opener against New England.

Jerry Porter's fantasy football owners may want to find another option at WR until his hamstring heals up. Porter is expected to bookend Randy Moss on what should be a potent Oakland Raiders offense. But if his injury doesn't heal soon, expect Porter to get off to a slower start this year. WR Ronald Curry is currently listed on the depth chart behind Porter along with Doug Gabriel.

Fantasy Football League - Hurrican Katrina may Force Saints Out of Town

Hurricane Katrina continues to devastate New Orleans. It will be quite some time before the city is functioning normally, and it may force the NFL's New Orleans Saints to play their home opener in another location. There have reportedly been talks with San Antonio to play in the Alamodome and the team plans on practicing there after Thursday night's exhibition against the Oakland Raiders.

This is a terrible situation and many of the New Orleans Saints players have had their homes destroyed. It would be very understandable if the team is distracted by this tragedy for many weeks to come. Hopefully, they will be able to return to the Superdome this season, but undoubtedly, they will be dealing with the effects of Hurricane Katrina throughout the year.

Fantasy Football League - Priest Holmes challenged by Larry Johnson

Kansas City Chiefs Running Back Priest Holmes is being challenged by backup running back Larry Johnson for the starting role this seasonl. As of now, Coach Dick Vermeil has insisted that there is no running back controversy, but L. Johnson's stellar play this preseason has rasied questions as to how Vermeil will keep both running backs happy.

ESPN's Chris Mortensen reported on Monday that the Chiefs plan to split time among both backs as much as 60-40 in favor of Holmes. This is not welcome news for Priest Holmes owners.

Vermeil is insisting that Holmes is the starter, however, it looks like the Chiefs may end up using a running back by committee this year. With Holmes age and history of injuries, it makes sense not to overuse him. Moreover, its becoming increasingly difficult to hold back the surging Larry Johnson. It will be interesting to see how this situation develops throughout the season. I would expect Larry Johnson to get a higher share of playing time as the season progresses.

Fantasy Football League - Wide Receivers get Axed

Two WR's who once showed great promise have been cut by their respective teams. Peter Warrick, the #4 overall pick by the Cincinnati Bengals in 2000, was released today and is now a free agent. In Atlanta, WR Peerless Price, who was wooed by the Falcons in 2003 in a trade with the Buffalo Bills, was also released.

Both WR were not expected to have much of a fantasy impact this year, but it just goes to show you how quickly things can change in the NFL.

Fantasy Football League - Willie Parker likely to start as week 1 RB for Steelers

Because of injuries to Duce Staley and Jerome Bettis, Pittsburgh Steelers RB Willie Parker will most likely get the start in week 1.

If you are in need of a starting running back for week one, you may want to think about picking up Parker. Parker played the last game of the year last year and rushed for 102 yards. He's also looked good in the preseason.

Bettis and Staley are expected to be back from injuries early in the season, but you may be able to get a start or two out of Willie.

Fantasy Football League - St. Louis Romps Detroit - Steven Jackson Runs for 108 yd

The St. Louis Rams looked sharp last night, beating the Detroit Lions 37-13. The Rams passing game looked as explosive as ever, with Mark Bulger and Isaac Bruce connecting for a 31 yard touchdown in the second quarter. Steven Jackson also punished the Lions with 108 rushing yards and a TD.

Detroit, unfortunately, did not look any better than they did last year. QB Joey Harrington was only 9/18 for 106 yards and the team didn't score a touchdown until the end of the fourth quarter.

Fantasy football owners should feel good about the Rams again this year. All of the major players are back except RB Marshall Faulk, and second year RB Steven Jackson looks like a worthy replacement for Faulk.

Detroit, however, still looks inconsistent on offense. I expect WR Roy Williams and RB Kevin Jones to have some great games, but there are probably going to be weeks where they don't score very many fantasy points. This is supposed to be the year that Detroit turns the corner. It remains to be seen whether or not that will happen.

Fantasy Football League - Michael Bennett and Mewelde Moore

Viking's running backs Michael Bennett and Mewelde Moore will probably miss Friday's preseason game against the Seattle Seahawks. Bennett is still undecided as to whether or not he will miss the first game of the season.

It looks like Bennett still has the starting job when he gets healthy. Bennett has a history of injuries, so its not a bad idea to have Moore sitting on your bench.

Fantasy Football League - Cedric Benson Finally Signs with the Bears

Chicago Bears RB Cedric Benson has finally signed with the team, after holding out for almost the entire preseason. The contract is reportedly for 5 years.

Thomas Jones has looked sharp in Benson's absence. I would expect Jones to start the season as the top RB, but Benson could see more action as the season progresses.

Fantasy Football League - Weekend Roundup

The fantasy football season is quickly approaching and this weekend was most likely our last chance to get a look at the league's top players before the season kicks off. Here are some of the weekends most interesting developments.

1. Mike Anderson seems to have secured the starting RB job in Denver, rushing for 159 yards and scoring 2 touchdowns against the Colts on Saturday.

2. Terrell Owens and Donovan McNabb hooked up for the first time this season and put up stellar numbers.

3. Kansas City Chiefs backup RB Larry Johnson put up massive numbers again this week and overshadowed Priest Holmes. Johnson is expected to have a greater role in the offense this year. Don't be suprised if he ends up being the starter by the end of the year.

4. Miami Dolphins RB Ricky Williams looked good against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Saturday, rushing for 59 yards and a touchdown in 10 carries. Rookie Ronnie Brown did not look impressive, picking up only 20 yards in 6 carries. Williams is suspended for the first four games, giving Brown a chance to win the job. If Brown fails to perform, look for Ricky to take over.

5. Cowboys RB Julius Jones continues to look strong, rushing 10 times for 50 yards and a touchdowns against the Houston Texans.

6. The Colts offense finally got it going against the Denver Broncos, putting to rest fears that the offense was out of sync. Manning threw for 206 yards and 2 touchdowns in 2-1/2 quarters.

7. Bears rookie Kyle Orton has won the starting QB position. He outperformed Chad Hutchinson in the preseason and has played with a great deal of poise.

8. Seattle Seahawks WR Darrell Jackson caught seven passes for 99 yards and one touchdown.

9. Tampa Bay rookie running back Cadillac Williams looked great, gaining 28 yards in five carries for Tampa Bay against Miami on Saturday.

10. Maurice Clarett has been cut by the Denver Broncos.

Fantasy Football League - Owens and McNabb Hook up for a TD

We finally got to see Eagles WR Terrell Owens in action last night and he picked up right where he left off last year, catching 5 balls for 131 yards and a touchdown. QB Donovan McNabb threw for 256 yards and 3 touchdowns. Any suggestions that the poor off-field chemistry between these two would affect their play on the field have been put to rest for now.

For those of you reluctant to draft Owens, this obviously raises Owens draft value. The only issue to worry about now is whether or not Owens future behavior will eventually earn him a suspension. I think its worth the risk. Owens has the potential to put up huge fantasy numbers. It looks like, for now, all of the preseason turmoil has been left behind.

Fantasy Football League - Fred Taylor

Jacksonville Jaguars RB Fred Taylor looked pretty good in his first game back since last year. He carried the ball four times for 18 yards and had two catches for 8 yards. Jacksonville lost to Atlanta 23 to 7.

A lot of people will probably stay away from Fred Taylor this year because of his history of injuries. Thats why he could be a solid mid-round steal. Taylor is one of the best RB's in the game when he is healthy. Just make sure to have a backup plan if Taylor goes down. LaBrandon Toefield is currently Taylor's backup and it wouldn't hurt to have him sitting on your bence if you draft Taylor.

Fantasy Football League - Question of the Day? Peyton Manning

Should Peyton Manning be the top pick in your NFL fantasy draft?

My answer would be no. I was lucky enough to get Manning at the beginning of the third round of my draft last year. Don't get me wrong, he's a lot of fun to have on your team. But if you are drafting in the top 3 or 4 spots and you take Manning, then you are going to end up with a very mediocre set of running backs. On the other hand, if you take a running back with one of the top 3 or 4 picks, then you can still get a very good QB in the 4th or 5th round (Trent Green, Drew Brees). Also, its unlikely that Manning will put up 49 touchdowns again this year.

If you can get Manning late in the first round, I would say go ahead and do it. You can pick him there and still get a quality running back in the second round. I would try to stay away from him though if you have one of the top 3 or 4 picks in the draft.

Fantasy Football League - Todd Heap

Baltimore Ravens TE Todd Heap is expected to be ready for the final preseason game of the year against the Redskins. Heap has been recovering from offseason ankle and shoulder surgeries.

The Ravens paid big money this offseason to keep Todd Heap on the team. Expect them to look to him often. Heap finished the season strong last year and if he stays healthy he will be one of the leagues top tight ends.

Fantasy Football League - Panthers WR's

Carolina Panthers WR Keary Colbert seems to have won the starting job as the Panther's #2 wideout over Rod Gardner. Colbert has had a solid preseason and should fill the role well.

Steve Smith has also received high marks this preseason and seems to have returned to form after a year on the injury list. He gets overlooked, but 2 years ago he had 88 catches for 1110 yards and 7 TDs. I would expect him to at least repeat that production this year and I wouldn't hesitate to start him every week in your fantasy football lineup.

Fantasy Football League - Cleveland RB's

Cleveland Browns RB Lee Suggs has been sidelined with a high ankle sprain and will miss an unspecified amount of time. Suggs was currently listed as the #1 back and had been competing with Reuben Droughns and William Green for the starting job.

It looks like Reuben Droughns and William Green are going to be competing for the starting job in Cleveland until Suggs gets healthy. Green started the game last week and had 7 carries for 29 yards. Droughns took over later in the game and carried the ball 8 times for 30 yards.

This situation looks like a fantasy nightmare so far. It appears that all three of these guys are going to be fantasy bench warmers until things become more clear. Droughns was great for the Broncos last year but he'll have to prove himself all over again in Cleveland. This is certainly a wait and see situation. If you have room on your bench, you might pick up Droughns, but other than that, I would stay away from all of Cleveland's RBs.

Fantasy Football League - Eagles RB's

Philadelphia Eagle's RB Correll Buckhalter underwent season-ending knee surgery and will miss the entire season. The Eagles were planning to use Buckhalter and Westbrook as a 1-2 punch. This will be the second consecutive missed year due to a knee injury for Buckhalter.

This opens the door for rookie Ryan Moats to backup Westbrook during the season. Expect Westbrook to get more touches in the absence of Buckhalter. This development probably raises Westbrook's fantasy value, assuming that the increased workload doesn't lead to injury problems.

Fantasy Football League - Vikings RB's

Vikings Running Back Michael Bennett is listed as doubtful for the season opener on September 11 with a sore neck. This opens the door for Mewelde Moore to start the season as the #1 back. Moore has looked more impressive thus far in the preseason than Bennett, rushing for an average of 7.8 yards per carry. It remains to be seen whether or not Moore will continue to start for the Vikings when Bennett is healthy.

Fantasy Football League - Antonio Gates

San Diego Chargers Tight End Antonio Gates agreed a six-year contract today after initially signing a one-year tender. Unfortunately, it looks like he will miss the first game. It seems unfortunate that the negotiations couldn't get done sooner, but at least Gates will be available for all but one game. I would put him right behind Tony Gonzalez on my tight end rankings.

TE rankings

1. Tony Gonzalez
2. Antonio Gates
3. Jason Whitten
4. Alge Crumpler
5. Todd Heap

Fantasy Football League - Question of the Day? Lions WR's

Which Detroit Lions WR will emerge as a fantasy force this season?

Lions QB Joey Harrington has looked sharp this preseason, completing 14 of his 15 passes. With his healthy stable of talented WR's, he should be able to put up fantastic numbers. But which of the WR's will become his go-to-guy?

Charles Rogers is finally healthy after a couple of injury bugged years. He looked good the other day, catching a 29 yard touchdown pass from Jeff Garcia.

But I think that Roy Williams will emerge as an elite WR this season. He had flashes of brilliance last year, but an injury slowed him down midseason. He has good heighth and should catch a lot of touchdown passes.

Keep an eye on talented rookie Mike Williams. As the season progresses, he could also emerge as a significant threat. But I wouldn't expect him to fully blosssom this season.

Fantasy Football League - RB's Getting Healthy

Jaguars RB Fred Taylor and Panthers RB Stephen Davis seem to be getting healthier as the season moves forward. Taylor is expected to play in Jacksonville's next preseason game, while Davis was on the practice field Monday for the first time.

The fantasy value of these players remains to be seen. Davis is likely to start the season behind DeShaun Foster on the depth chart, while Fred Taylor has a decent chance being the starter for week one.

Fantasy Football League - Mock Draft Results

This is a recent mock draft completed a couple of days ago. I try to use mock drafts to practice and experiment. Its always interesting what you learn. This is a team drafted from the 8th position in a 10 player league.


Round Player
1 Willis McGahee (RB, BUF)
2 Randy Moss (WR, OAK)
3 LaMont Jordan (RB, OAK)
4 Trent Green (QB, KC)
5 Derrick Mason (WR, BAL)
6 Todd Heap (TE, BAL)
7 Baltimore (D, BAL)
8 Drew Brees (QB, SD)
9 David Givens (WR, NE)
10 Mike Vanderjagt (K, IND)

I like this team because it has good balance overall. The weakest position is probably #2 receiver because Derrick Mason is on a new team and no one knows yet how well he will perform. I would need to keep my eyes open during the season to try and add more depth at #2 receiver. I think all of the other positions are pretty solid.

Fantasy Football League - Question of the Day?

Which Denver running back will rush for the most yards this season?

For those of you who watched the Denver Broncos game on Saturday, you are probably even more confused about which running back will emerge as the dominate rusher this season. Take a look at these stats.

1. Mike Anderson (currently listed as the starter) - 5 rushes for 39 yards and one receiving TD.
2. Tatum Bell - 11 rushes for 62 yards and 1 rushing TD
3. Ron Dayne - 18 rushes for 87 yards

All three running backs looked great. I think Mike Anderson currently has the edge because of his blocking ability. Tatum Bell failed to pick up a blitz during the game which left the backup QB exposed at one point.

So which RB will emerge this season? Its impossible to say for sure, but I think it will be Mike Anderson. He's a strong rusher, a solid pass blocker, and he already has proven that he can rush for over 1000 yards in a season. Tatum Bell will get carries, and he is very explosive, but I think that Mike Anderson will carry the bulk of the load this year for Denver.

Fantasy Football League - Antonio Gates

Reports suggest that Chargers Tight End Antonio Gates is planning to report to the team on Sunday, ending his holdout. This comes after the team had already suspended him for the first game of the regular season. Gates agent suggested that the commissioner may have the ability to rescind the suspension.

This is good news for fantasy owners. If you've already drafted Gates, you should get at least 15 games out of him. Those still waiting to draft should still put him in as their #2 tight end.

Fantasy Football League - Antonio Gates

San Diego Chargers TE Antonio Gates will miss at least the first game of the regular season after being suspended by his team for holding out. Gates and his agent refuse to accept the Chargers long term contract offer. The Chargers are reportedly offering a 5 year contract, while Gates is demanding a 3 year contract so that he can become a free agent sooner.

This certainly drops Gates draft value. He is the second best tight end in the league when he is playing, but right now it looks like Gates is prepared to miss some games. We'll keep an eye on this.

Fantasy Football League - Fantasy Defense

How important is defense in a fantasy football league?

Defense is a fantasy position that can be underestimated in terms of its value. A good defense can put up a nice score every week. In our league last year, the #1 defense outscored the #10 defense by almost 80 points over the course of the season.

Should you draft a defense early? No. But I believe that it is important to put together a very balanced team if you want to succeed every week. There will be days that the defense puts up big numbers and saves your team from losing.

Some of the good scoring fantasy defenses are actually some of the worst defense in the NFL. Last year the Colts had a terrible defense but they put up good fantasy numbers because they created a lot of turnovers. Watch the waiver wire during the season and see if there are any defenses that are putting up good point totals and don't be afraid to pick them up.

Fantasy Football League - Deuce McAllister

New Orleans Saints RB Deuce McAllister had a nice game against the Patriots last night, rushing for 88 yards on 20 carries.

All signs point to this season being a comeback year for Deuce McAllister. I would not hesistate to draft him on my fantasy team. The biggest knock against Deuce is that he doesn't score enough touchdowns, but he does catch a fair amount of passes and that can sometimes make up for a lack of touchdowns. (depending on how your league keeps score)

Fantasy Football League - Jamal Lewis vs. Domanick Davis

Which running back would you rather have on your fantasy football team: Domanick Davis or Jamal Lewis?

A lot of draft boards have Davis and Lewis ranked pretty close to one another. So which player should you pick.

My choice would certainly have to be Domanick Davis. The reason is simple; he catches more passes. Last year Davis caught 68 passes. Lewis only caught 10 passes in 12 games last year.

Now I know that Jamal Lewis can put up some monster rushing games. But week in and week out, Domanick Davis is going to be the more consistent player. If Lewis gets shut down rushing the ball, he has no other way to score points. However, if Davis has a poor rushing day, he can make up for it by catching 5 or 6 passes.

Consistency is important in fantasy football. The more weeks you can put up a high point total, the better chance you have of winning every game.

My RB choice would be Domanick Davis because I value his consistency.

Fantasy Football League - Antonio Gates

San Diego Chargers star Tight End Antonio Gates was threatened by his team with a three game suspension if he does not show up in camp by Saturday.

Gates had a huge year last year, but so far he has yet to show up for training camp. If he shows up, I would expect him to have another great year. We'll keep an eye on this and see if he shows up by Saturday.

Fantasy Football League - Question of the Day?

Will Randy Moss succeed in Oakland?

Answer: Yes. Randy Moss is pure talent. Kerry Collins is not as good of a quarterback as Dante Culpepper, but he can get it down the field, and that's all you need to suceed with Randy Moss.

As long as Randy is interested in playing this year, he will be the top fantasy football wideout.

Fantasy Football League - Mike Anderson

The Denver Post is reporting that Mike Anderson is most likely going to be the regular season starting RB for the Denver Broncos. Reports indicate that he has been very impressive in training camp.

This is somewhat of a suprise as most people expected Tatum Bell to take over the job this year. You never know what will happen in Denver, but for now it looks like Anderson is the starter. If you can somehow get both players on your team, you should be in good shape. Otherwise, past history ways that there is always a risk your Denver RB could be benched at any time.

Fantasy Football League - TO

Philadelphia Eagles WR Terrell Owens returned to camp today. Reports say that he was very business like in his approach and did not speak directly to Donovan McNabb.

TO is crazy, but he puts up huge fantasy football numbers. The real question is: Will these distractions affect TO's fantasy numbers?

Honestly, he's still probably going to put up some huge numbers, but maybe not quite as good as last year. Even though most people don't like him and don't want him on their team, if he's available in the 3rd round of your draft, he's probably going to be a steal at that position.

Everything I've heard says that the Eagles are going to stick with him all season. The biggest risk is that he gets suspended for a lengthy period of time because of his behavior. But that hasn't happened yet and I can't see how he could behave much worse.

Fantasy Football League - Fred Taylor

Jacksonville Jaguars RB Fred Taylor ran well in practice on Tuesday and is still on schedule to start the regular season as the Jaguars top RB.

Taylor is extremely talented when he is healthy. Just be sure to have LaBrandon Toefield on your bench in case Taylor runs into injury problems.

Fantasy Football League - Denver Broncos RB

Ron Dayne has moved up to the number 3 spot on the Denver Broncos depth chart. The current order is:

1. Mike Anderson
2. Tatum Bell
3. Ron Dayne
4. Quentin Griffin

The wonderful thing about a Denver RB is that you know they will score a ton of fantasy football points. The bad thing is that you never know who will start week to week.

It doesn't hurt to have one of these guys on your bench. Just don't expect them to start every week.

Fantasy Football League - Draft Position - 2nd Pick

Drafting from the second pick is one of my favorite positions to draft from in a 10 player league. Here is a breakdown of my strategy for the first three picks when drafting from the #2 position.

1. Stud Running Back
2. Stud Receiver
3. Stud Quarterback (or Great 2nd Running Back)

Drafting from number 2 guarantees that you will end up with a stud running back. But you'll also have a chance to get a top tier receiver.

In almost every draft, running backs go first. From the #2 spot, by the time it gets back around to you in the second spot, most of the top running backs are gone. Some people make the mistake of taking the best available RB at this spot to fill their roster. But this is a mistake. Your missing out on a lot of stud WR's and QB's that haven't been picked yet.

It is a mistake not to take them. Check out these top 3 picks that I got in a recent draft.

1. Priest Holmes
2. Marvin Harrison
3. Dante Culpepper

That is a championship starting 3 if I've ever seen one.

Fantasy Rule: Don't get stuck with your competitors leftovers and don't get stuck on RB's. Doing so may leave you with a mediocre team.

Fantasy Football League - Question of the Day?

Will Dante Culpepper produce as many fantasy football points without Randy Moss?

Answer: Maybe not quite as many, but he should still be one of the top 2 fantasy QB's in the league, behind Peyton Manning. He has a good core of talented, young, WR's who should catch a lot of balls. Plus, he can still run. Look for Culpepper to have a solid season.

Fantasy Football League - Rookie Watch

Dolphin's top draft pick Ronnie Brown signed a five year contract today, paving a way for him to begin the season as Miami's top back. Ricky Williams looked good in the preseason opener but he will be suspended for the first 5 games. Brown should start the season as the top running back but Ricky Williams could be a good player to stick on your bench for a few weeks.

Darkhorse rookie: I really like Matt Jones of Jacksonville. He caught 3 passes for 45 yards in Jacksonville's opener and scored a touchdown. He could be a late round steal.

Fantasy Football League - Hines Ward

Pittsburgh Steelers WR Hines Ward is set to end his holdout today. This is good news for fantasy owners. Hines Ward produces solid numbers year after year and I would expect him to do the same this year.

Fantasy Football League - Question of the Day?

Which running back will score the most touchdowns this season?

My answer: Priest Holmes. No one puts the ball in the endzone any easier than Priest. (Let's just hope he stays healthy.)

What do you think?

Fantasy Football League - Daily Tip: Mock Drafts

One of the best ways that you can prepare yourself for your upcoming Fantasy Football League is to participate in a few mock drafts. If you can, try and draft from a number of different draft positions.

Why do this? Because when you have your actual draft, you'll be prepared for any suprises that may arise. It's amazing how much practicing helps.

I usually try to do mock drafts at the sportingnews.com. They have mock drafts starting every few minutes and they are usually always full.

Fantasy Football League - Steve Smith

Carolina Panther's WR Steve Smith looked back up to speed in Carolina's win over the Washington Redskins. He put up big numbers two years ago. I would look for him to have a good year.

Fantasy Football League - Kurt Warner

Kurt Warner looked good in his preseason start last night. He hooked up with Larry Fitzgerald 5 times for 81 yards.

Cardinals number 1 wideout Anquan Boldin is still recovering from a broken nose and did not play.

I think either one of these guys could emerge as Warner's go-to-guy and put up nice numbers this season.

Fitzgerald could be a late round steal in the draft, as Boldin will most likely be drafted higher.

Fantasy Football League - Question of the Day?

Will Priest Holmes make it through the season without an injury?

I'll say this first. If he does make it through the season injury free, he'll probably score 25 touchdowns.

That said, I would be very suprised if he didn't miss a couple of games. If you draft Priest, make sure that you draft Larry Johnson as well.

Fantasy Football League - Blow for Kevin Jones

Cory Schlesinger was injured in the Lions preseason game Friday night, ESPN reports. Schlesinger is a very good lead blocker and this may have an effect on the value of Kevin Jones as a running back early in the season. Schlesinger should be back after a few games, but you may need to consider starting a different back early in the season.

Fantasy Football League - Waiver Wire

Playing the waiver wire correctly is one of the most important aspects of running a successful fantasy football team. You should check the wire at least once a day and keep up on all of the injuries.

It's important to know who a player's back-up is in case that player gets injured. For example, Larry Johnson took over for Priest Holmes late in the year last year and put up numbers that were nearly as big as Priest's.

This is important especially late in the year when players are injured or are resting up for the playoffs.

Keep a close eye on the Tennesee Titans situation this year. Chris Brown was the starter last year but he was frequently injured. They traded for Travis Henry in the off-season. I wouldn't be suprised if Henry is the starter for most of the year. But if one player goes down, the other player is certainly capable of putting up solid numbers.

Fantasy Football League - Rex Grossman

It looks like Rex Grossman is injured again, ESPN reports. This time he is estimated to be out for 3-4 months. This does have some fantasy implications.

Muhsin Muhammad and Thomas Jones will both drop in fantasy value at this point. The Bears do not have a quality backup quarterback to take over in Grossman's absence.

Muhammad was coming off a great year but I wouldn't expect him to repeat those numbers this year.

Fantasy Football League - Brett Favre

This may be Brett Favre's last season (maybe not?), but he is still one of the top fantasy quarterbacks in the league. He throws a lot of touchdowns and he never misses a game.

I'd put him in my top five fantasy football quarterbacks:

1. Peyton Manning
2. Dante Culpepper
3. Donovan McNabb
4. Trent Green
5. Brett Favre

Darkhorse: Drew Brees

Fantasy Football League - Tight Ends

It has been a tough start to the season for quality tight ends thus far. Antonio Gates is holding out. Eric Johnson is out with a plantar fascia strain. Crumpler has been banged up a bit (although he returned to practice today). And Todd Heap is also recovering from injuries and has missed time.

Hopefully Gates will get a contract worked out. If he does, look for him to continue to put up big numbers.

Also, it looks like Denver Broncos tight end Jeb Putzier has been bumped from his starting role because of his poor blocking ability.

Top 5 Tight Ends as of today:

1. Tony Gonzalez
2. Antonio Gates (If he gets a contract signed)
3. Jason Witten
4. Jeremy Shockey
5. Alge Crumpler

Dark Horse: Dallas Clark

Fantasy Football League - Question of the Day?

What is your favorite position to draft from?

My primary league is a 10 player league and each year we choose what position we would like to pick from based upon how we finished in the standings the previous year.

Most people in the league like to pick in the middle of the pack.

I prefer picking #1 or #2. Why? Because you are guaranteed a fantasy stud. You can't necessarily say that when you pick from the lower positions.

I believe that a good fantasy football player should be able to put together a winning team drafting from any position. But if you back me into a corner, I'm going to take #1 or #2.

Here are my first three picks from last year:

1. Priest Holmes
2. Torry Holt
3. Peyton Manning

The number one or two pick pretty much guarantees you a stud running back and a stud wide receiver. I was lucky to get Manning in the third round last year and I'm sure that won't happen again. However, if he wasn't there, I still would have ended up with a solid #2 back or another top tier receiver.

Point scorers are everything in fantasy football. As you draft, you should always take the player that is going to score you the most points.

Fantasy Football League - Terrell Owens

What in the world is wrong with Terrell Owens?

He was kicked out of camp for a week after arguing with Andy Reid on the practice field. His relationship with McNabb and Reid is now seriously strained.

What does this mean for your fantasy football league?
I think Owens is a big risk this year. He is so talented that he could easily come out and catch 100 balls. However, due to the turmoil he has caused this year so far, I would be suprised if that happens.

On the flip side, you may be able to get a great deal on Owens in a later round if everyone else stays away from him.

Either way, choose at your own risk.

Fantasy Football League - Thomas Jones

Cedric Benson of the Chicago Bears continues to hold out. This means that Thomas Jones is currently slated to be the starting running back when the season begins. Jones had a strong pre-season game on Monday night and played well last year when he was healthy.

He would be a good third running back to have on your bench when the season begins. If he has a favorable matchup, consider putting him in your fantasy football starting lineup for those weeks.

Here are 4 of the first 5 teams Jones would face:

Detroit Lions
Cincinnati Bengals
at Cleveland Browns
Minnesota Vikings

None of these teams have great defenses.

If Jones has the starting job at the beginning of the season, he will most likely put up nice numbers over the first several games. Moreover, you can probably get him as a late round pick in your draft.

Fantasy Football League - Jamal Lewis

Jamal Lewis of the Baltimore Ravens is set to begin practicing tommorrow.

Look for Lewis to have a strong season this year with the addition a Derrick Mason at wide receiver.

Fantasy Football League - Top 10 Picks

Current Top Ten Draft Picks.

1. LaDainian Tomlinson
2. Shaun Alexander
3. Priest Holmes
4. Peyton Manning
5. Willis McGahee
6. Edgerin James
7. Jamal Lewis
8. Domanick Davis
9. Corey Dillon
10. Randy Moss

Fantasy Football League - Antonio Gates

Tight end Antonio Gates has yet to show up for training camp. He is unhappy with his current contract and demanding a new deal. Keep an eye on this, Gates developed into one of the top fantasy football tight ends last year. I'm guessing he'll get a deal done in time, but if your draft is early, proceed with some caution.


fantasy football

Fantasy Football League - Question of the Day: Biggest Sleeper Pick

Okay, who is the biggest sleeper pick in this year's NFL Fantasy Football Draft?

My top sleeper pick this year is Travis Henry. This is a guy who put up huge numbers a couple of years ago in Buffalo, and he is a perfect fit for a tough nosed Tennessee offense. I like Chris Brown's big play capability, but he is not durable enough to start 16 games in the NFL. Henry is healthy and he has a history of playing well through pain. You can probably pick him up very late in the draft, or even as a free agent. Stick him on your bench and wait a couple of weeks and you'll soon find yourself with a solid No. 2 running back.

Leave a comment and let me know who your sleeper pick is.

Fantasy Football League - Daily Tip #3

During the draft, keep your focus on drafting the best player available. If all of the elite running backs are taken when your turn comes up, don't hesitate to take the best quarterback available. This way, you avoid ending up with a team full of mediocre players. Remember, its all about who scores the most points, regardless of a players position.

Fantasy Football League - Daily Tip #2

Knowing how to play the waiver wire is one of the most important aspects of running a successful fantasy football team. What's the secret? Keep your eyes open and read the NFL headlines daily. Situations can develop quickly and you need to jump on the good players before your opponents do. I always read the injury lists. This is a good indicator of who may emerge as the next star player.
Last year I was lucky enough to pick up Reubin Droughns. This was right around the time that Priest Holmes got injured and Reubin was able to carry me through a few games in the middle of the season. A good waiver wire pick can make or break your team. I'll try and post players who I think will emerge throughout the season.

Fantasy Football League - Edgerrin James

Edgerrin James ended the suspense and showed up for training camp yesterday. I think he's poised for a big season and I wouldn't hesitate to add him to my fantasy football team.

Fantasy Football League - Shaun Alexander

Looks like Shaun Alexander has inked a one year deal with the Seahawks. Feel free to put him high on your draft board.

Fantasy Football League - Daily Tip #1

Develop a draft plan, but don't get stuck on it. Often you can miss out on excellent players who have dropped in the draft because you are too focused on a pre-selected group of players.

Case in point: Last year I was lucky enough to get Peyton Manning in the third round. How was I able to do this? Because everyone else had already decided that they were going to pick running backs in the top two rounds. I initially was going to pick a running back as well, but when I saw Manning there, I had to take him.

Keep your eyes open. You never know when a steal may become available. And that player could end up winning you the league.

Fantasy Football League - Top 10 Picks

Current Top Ten Draft Picks.

1. LaDainian Tomlinson
2. Shaun Alexander
3. Priest Holmes
4. Peyton Manning
5. Willis McGahee
6. Edgerin James
7. Jamal Lewis
8. Domanick Davis
9. Corey Dillon
10. Randy Moss

This is subject to change based upon certain developments in training camp. I think Shaun Alexander will get a contract deal done before the season so I'm not concerned about putting him at No. 2 overall....yet. Edge is also a lesser concern. We'll see if he shows up in camp tommorrow.