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2006 Sample: The Stock
Watch The Stock Watch: Week Four
9/26/05 Upgrades
The “No Duh” Upgrades
LaDainian Tomlinson (RB, SD) – He beat some fantasy teams this past weekend – by himself. He must go here, but there’s nothing else we can say that would give his incredible output any justice.
Shaun Alexander (RB, Sea) – The planets are aligned right now for Alexander, who is still eyeing a big free agent payday, possibly from another team, in 2006. His QB is playing very well, his team’s receiving corps looks better than it’s been, Seattle’s defense has been solid, and his veteran OL is still performing at a very high level. You have to love it all if you own Alexander.
Brian Westbrook (RB, Phi) – Westbrook is simply sick. He can’t punch them in from short range very well, but he’s the new Marshall Faulk. He’s a legit MVP candidate right now, and a fantasy stud of epic proportions. Since this offense would lose a substantial amount of its potency without him, and since his QB isn’t 100%, expect him to get a boatload of touches every week.
Steve Smith (Car) – Jeez we hope you’re rolling with this guy this year because he’s one of the most impressive players in the NFL right now, at any position. Although we ranked him as a viable #1 fantasy WR at #12, we should have ranked him higher. He’s the guy-to guy; everyone knows it, and he still goes off because he’s to fast, too quick, too polished, and too tough to be stopped.
Chad Johnson (Cin) – Johnson’s a great player; we know that, but the great news for Johnson is that his QB has quickly reached elite status. Palmer’s the next great QB, and Johnson’s already great.
Quarterbacks
Carson Palmer (Cin) – You can call him TRD: The Real Deal. His yardage was down, but against one of the best defenses and secondaries in the league, going 16-for-23 with 3 TDs and 0 INTs is a win, a pretty convincing one. Peyton Manning’s on a pace for 11 TD passes; Palmer’s on a pace for 44. Manning’s pace will likely triple these next few weeks, but it’s going to be very hard for him to catch Palmer, and that’s amazing. He’ll have to do something really special to merit another upgrade, though; his value is through the roof right now.
Marc Bulger (Stl) – His pass production is still real shaky, but as long as he doesn’t miss any time (sadly, that’s somewhat likely), he’s looking as good as expected. It was especially encouraging to see them get #3 WR Kevin Curtis a little more involved. And as we’ve seen, Mike Martz isn’t exactly making a strong commitment to the running game, which means plenty of passing for Bulger.
Drew Brees (SD) – Only 3 of his 22 passes were incomplete, and were it not for the huge game logged in by Tomlinson, Brees would have gone off in this game. He’s picked things up right where they were left off with his stud TE, and veteran Keenan McCardell is playing very, very well, so Brees looks like one of the safer options out there after the true studs.
Matt Hasselbeck (Sea) – His RB vultured all the TDs, which stinks for Hasselbeck owners, but the bottom line is that he’s playing very well and with a lot of confidence this year. If this trend continues, he will be solid more weeks than not.
Kerry Collins (Oak) – What’s scary is that Collins is still trying to get a feel for his WRs and he’s still not really completely in the flow off this offense, yet he’s doing really well for fantasy. Yes, he usually does well against the Eagles, but for him to go to Philly and throw for well over 300 yards with 2 TDs and 0 picks, that’s worthy of a serious upgrade. What’s scary is that he’s now through possibly the roughest patch of his schedule.
Daunte Culpepper
(Min) – This was certainly encouraging, but keep in mind that Culpepper and
the Vikings almost always put up big numbers against the Saints, that he was
home, that the Saints had a key injury in their secondary, and that the
Vikings still have major issues in terms of pass protection. If rookie
Troy Williamson can step up like he did Sunday, that would be huge for
this offense, but overall, this offense will still have troubles against the
league’s better defenses. They have six tough defenses in their schedule and
nine beatable ones, so Culpepper will likely be solid more often than not,
but there will be some rough patches, especially this next month. Eli Manning (NYG) – One of the biggest lessons we’ve learned this year already, and one we’ll be sure to incorporate from here on out, is that you can’t rely on a QB who doesn’t have a good feel for his position. NFL QBs, perhaps more than ever, need to process information quickly, handle pressure, and get rid of the ball. If you’re able to do that, have at least solid athletic ability, a good arm, and talent around you, it’s then safe to assume you’ll do well. That’s Manning this year. He’s not ready to be a weekly fantasy starter, but he could be next year’s Carson Palmer, and he could be last year’s Palmer this year (a young QB who’s worth having around for a rainy day).
Drew Bledsoe (Dal) – What’s more surprising than anything so far is the problems the Cowboy defense has had. Against the 49ers, the poor defensive effort (their second in a row), forced Bledsoe to play from behind and throw a lot. But with solid protection, the real point is that he delivered. With a good running game and an effective receiving corps behind him, Bledsoe looks capable of doing significant damage, which means he’s a viable guy to look at when the matchup looks enticing.
Michael Vick (Atl) – Although he made two nice throws for scores, he’s still a terrible passer, but who cares? He doesn’t have to do much in the passing game to be a good fantasy option, and he’s doing what he needs to do so far this year. If you took him over Carson Palmer in the 6th or 7th round you’re not thrilled, but you’re not getting killed by Vick, either, and there is some upside with him each week.
Gus Frerotte (Mia) – The guy is making plays just about every week, and although he did well Week One, we smell some big games upcoming. He’s shown he can get rid of the ball quickly, can get it deep to his WRs, that he’s on the same page as his TE, and that he’s for real. So if healthy, he’ll either be surprisingly good or shockingly good (“shockingly” being used relatively).
Running Backs
Cadillac Williams (RB, TB) – He can run inside; he can bust it outside; he can break off the long run; he can grind it out in a hard-fought game. He can do it all, so the only question now is: Can he stay healthy? That was a concern with him coming out of college because he’s a very physical back who doesn’t have great size, and he’s certainly being used an awful lot. But until he breaks down, if he does at all, you start him every week over pretty much every other back other than the Big Three at the position (Tomlinson, Holmes, and Alexander).
Edgerrin James (RB, Ind) – It’s been debated for a couple of years now: Which comes first in Indy, the running game or the passing game? Fantasy-wise, so far, the answer is clear: Edge is the man. It’s easy to see why this trend could continue: The Colt defense is for real.
Ronnie Brown (Mia) – He was a good player to trade for last week because, while he didn’t really flash the abilities that make him a high #1 pick, his situation in Miami has really started to look good. Well, this past weekend, he quickly flashed the abilities that made him a high #1 pick, and the situation in Miami looks good. Keep in mind that head coach Nick Saban wants to run the ball a lot, so if Brown is up for it, he looks like a real nice #3 fantasy RB, maybe even a #2. It’s especially encouraging to note that he had 5 passes thrown to him and 6 carries in the red zone.
Mewelde Moore (Min) – Moore, as expected by everyone with sight, hearing, and especially both, gave the Viking running game a nice boost. It’s hard to envision him staying healthy (he’s undersized, yet plays like he’s got a big body), but like last year, you have to ride the wave while you can. Who knows? It could go well into the fall and even into winter. Obviously, they’re going to keep giving him the ball.
Chris Brown (Ten) – The Titans are expected to announce today that RB Travis Henry will be suspended for four games for violating the league’s substance abuse policy (Henry is expected to appeal). If so, this makes Brown the only back on the roster with NFL experience, so he’ll be leaned on heavily. If he can hold up, Brown would be a sure-thing starter, given the fact that Henry won’t be around to take away some production.
Thomas Jones (Chi) – You have to love seeing Jones get 27 carries in a game in which the Bears were behind and turning the ball over left and right. And you have to like the fact that Cedric Benson didn’t get a carry. Of course, if you have Benson, you have to hate it. You have to ride Jones for as much as you can right now, and the way things are going, it looks like you’ll be able to ride him longer than anyone expected.
Julius Jones (RB, Dal) – He’s been rock solid, but the good news here is that backup Anthony Thomas has quickly fallen out of favor in Big D, so Jones is THE man here in what is quickly developing into an excellent situation on the Cowboys. If he can stay healthy, and granted that’s still something of a concern and the reason we didn’t rank him higher than #10 in the preseason, he’ll be a legitimate stud fantasy back in terms of the whole season. As it stands, through three games, he’s a stud now.
Willis McGahee (RB, Buf) – For all the whining his owners have been doing, this guy has rushed for over 100 yards in two of his three games, and now he’s on a pace to rush for 1550 yards. Now, he still has issues – his QB has been horrible – but he’s still in a pretty good situation, and the team should lean on him heavily. If QB JP Losman can settle down as the year progresses, McGahee will be fine.
TJ Duckett (Atl) – He’s running well, and he’s clearly the guy near the goal. He’s now scored in each of their first three games, so he looks like a solid #3 RB on this solid team.
Wide Receivers
Torry Holt (Stl) – He’s been quietly effective this year, although his huge game this past weekend was far from quiet. Veteran Isaac Bruce isn’t putting up his usual numbers, so it looks like there’s more production for Holt to gobble up this year.
Keenan McCardell (SD) – He’s been almost as amazing as Smith. We mentioned last week how he’s been all over the field this year, and he certainly was Sunday night. The guy is clearly still playing at a high level, almost as good as his amazing 2003 season, and he’s clearly benefiting from the attention is stud RB and TE command. If you are rolling with him as your #3 WR, you’re officially stocked.
Hines Ward (Pit) – His TDs have been a little fluky, but you’ll take 4 TDs in two weeks, right? Need more encouragement? How about knowing he scored 4 TDs in 16 games last year?
Darrell Jackson (Sea) – Jackson is playing an elite level right now, and his QB might be playing as well as he’s ever played. Jackson looks like a guy youthful enough to put up big numbers almost every week as the go-to guy (14 pass targets), yet wise enough to master the mental aspects of the game. He’s looking like a rock-solid #1 NFL and #1 fantasy WR.
Plaxico Burress (NYG) – Although his benching was disconcerting, the guy still had 14 pass targets against the Chargers, and he’s still playing at a high level, the highest he’s every played, in our opinion. If they start throwing him bombs, he’ll do even better. What’s good to know is that the Giant secondary stinks, so they should be playing from behind a good percentage of the time.
Chris Chambers (Mia) – We’ve been mentioning this year how he’s been in the mix to score, and score he did this past weekend. More important, he’s getting better play at QB, and that’s always been his problem. If Gus Frerotte keeps playing this week, Chambers could be a semi-stud at the WR, and at least a must-start every week. Chambers has been real good for years; we might actually see how good this year.
Joey Galloway (TB) – His first TD was a little fluky, but it’s not a fluke that he’s doing well, as he has a pretty important role in this offense and he’s still got good speed and playmaking ability. In actuality, he might be as good as he’s ever been, since he’s a little more physical these days and he’s a very savvy receiver. He’s not a great #3 fantasy WR, but he’s a heck of a fill-in.
Kevin Curtis
(Stl) – It was great to see him involved, and if WR Isaac Bruce’s
turf toe is an issue, then Curtis should stay involved. He might be good
enough to use as a #3 in a 12-team league, and he’s definitely good enough
to use in larger or deeper leagues Brandon Lloyd (SF) – His long TD was a big surprise, since they usually don’t send him deep downfield, and he usually doesn’t beat defenders for big plays, but it’s all good for Lloyd owners. As stated previously, he’s a rock-solid option because he’s clearly the go-o guy here, and he’s clearly shown he can make plays and score. If he adds the deep ball to his repertoire, that can only help. On the downside, and this factor might hurt, it looks like the team is starting to get itchy to throw rookie QB Alex Smith out there. But for right now, Lloyd is clearly an upgrade.
David Givens (NE) – They spread the ball around here, but Givens is no slouch; he’s capable of being a go-to guy of sorts on this team, and QB Tom Brady definitely trusts him. Givens stepped up big time against the Steelers.
Travis Taylor (Min) – It remains to be seen if he’ll emerge as a guy worth starting every week, but he’s shown the last two weeks that he’s definitely worth having around. It looks like they’ll be spreading the ball around here, but as long as Nate Burleson is out or limited, Taylor looks worthy of using as a #3 when the matchup is good.
Greg Lewis (Phi) – He just missed a TD that would have won the game for the Eagles, but he also made some key catches. He’s quickly emerging as a reliable target for QB Donovan McNabb anywhere on the field, and he still has the deep speed, so he’s looking more than serviceable.
Arnaz Battle (SF) – Assuming he’s healthy, he’s showing that he’s definitely for real in terms of making an impact each week, or at least most week.
Tight Ends
Antonio Gates (SD) – He’s still sick talent-wise, and he’s still in a good spot. Unlike Tony G, Gates is a clear stud.
Jeremy Shockey (NYG) – So far, he’s the value pick at the position. While it’s nice to have Gates or Gonzalez, it’s real nice to have Shockey and a stud at another position you took in the 3rd round. Keep your fingers crossed he can stay healthy because he’s on a mission this year and they are feeding him the ball.
Randy McMichael (Mia) – He’s a close second to Shockey in terms of being a great value at the TE position this year. His TD catch was a fantastic pass from his QB, and that’s great to see. Guys like Gonzo and Gates get a lot of accolades about their athletic ability, but McMichael’s one heck of an athlete, too. And now that’s he’s clearly in a good situation, he’s one heck of a fantasy option.
Courtney Anderson (Oak) – It still remains to be seen if he’ll be consistently targeted in the passing game, but he’s had two very good games out of three, so it’s hard to argue with his success so far. His production came while the team was playing from behind, but that’s going to be the case a lot, so he’s looking more than serviceable.
Ben Troupe (Ten) – He’s not emerging as a go-to guy, but he’s scoring (2 TDs in three games). If he gets more involved in this offense, he could reach must-start status soon. But the presence of Erron Kinney does hurt.
Ernie Conwell (TE, NO) - He's getting quality looks every week and doing something with them.
Place Kickers
Neil Rackers (Ari) – He’s now 10-for-10, so he’s officially on fire. This offense is capable of moving the ball, for sure, but they’re also apparently incapable of finding the endzone, and it’s making Rackers a star.
Mike Vanderjagt (Ind) - The pixie dust from last year might be gone with the Colt offense. It's still very good, it's but no longer a unit that will score a TD every time it gets close. Vanderjagt owners have to love that.
John Kasay
(Car) - Big upgrade if you get bonus points for long kicks. This guy seems
to make one every week. Adam Vinatieri (NE) - It was nice to see him come up big this week. Over the long haul, he's likely the safest choice at the position.
Team Defenses
Cincinnati Bengals – Again, like the Colts, they have the chance to jump out to leads in their game and then pile up fantasy points while teams are playing from behind each week. That’s been their story the last two weeks against the Vikings and Bears. The matchups won’t be as easy, but Marvin Lewis has these guys playing well. They are worth starting each week until they prove otherwise or if the matchup looks very bad.
Miami Dolphins - They aren't dynamic, but when they are home, they're a good bet to wreak some havoc.
Holding Steady
Brett Favre (QB, GB) – It was good to see him get so excited after one of his TD passes, and his 2 TD throws were vintage Favre, but his 3 picks, unfortunately, were typical post-2003 Favre. You’re still starting him, but you’re hoping for more garbage time production because this offense does not look like it can consistently move the ball against good teams.
Jake Delhomme (QB, Car) – His numbers were impressive in Miami, a usual house of horrors for opposing QBs, but they were more a function of Steve Smith being a stallion than anything else. Still, with Smith on his side, Delhomme’s tough to contain.
Steve McNair (QB, Ten) – He’s taking some shots, which is a concern, but he’s been more than decent so far, and his receiving corps looks solid enough. WR Tyrone Calico has been slow off the mark, but rookie Brandon Jones is stepping up quite nicely. McNair has a pretty good running game and a solid group of receivers (and definitely including the TEs), so the plan for him to be throwing a lot and putting up strong numbers while playing from behind looks to be in effect still.
Brian Griese (QB, TB) – He’s not going to go off if they keep feeding the ball to Cadillac and if their defense continues to dominate, but what’s he’s shown, and it really goes back to last year, is that he has a low floor. Depending on your scoring, he’s a good bet to get you 12-15 points per week at least.
Byron Leftwich (QB, Jac) – He had a solid game, so his stock is holding, but he’s not showing signs that he’ll be consistent. He’ll likely have 4-5 poor games and 4-5 good games, and it’s not going to be easy to figure when they’ll come.
Ben Roethlisberger (QB, Pit) – He’s not as bad as some feared in his sophomore season, but he’s not as good as his numbers and his team’s record would indicate. So while he’s worth starting in a pinch, he’s still going to wind up being an average fantasy option. Of course, that’s more than you can say about a large number of other young QBs.
Rudi Johnson (RB, Cin) - Forget the YPC and Chris Perry and all that stuff - does Rudi ever not get 20 or more carries? They feed him the ball every week no matter the game situation, which is why Johnson's floor is a lot safer than most backs.
Corey Dillon (RB, NE) – There might be something to the theory that Dillon’s getting older now and is no longer able to dominant, and he’s averaging less than 3.0 yards a carry this year (2.7 against the Steelers), but he’s proving that he’s still in a good situation and he’s still scoring. He’s a solid #2 fantasy back.
Steven Jackson (RB, Stl) – He’s been fine, but we’re seeing why we never moved him from his #17 ranking at RB this year, despite his extremely encouraging summer; he’s yet to go over 20 carries in his first two games, and backup Marshall Faulk is a mild factor in this offense. If you have Jackson, you should still feel good, but you’re not doing cartwheels. Of course, we’re assuming he’s okay health-wise.
Deuce McAllister (NO) – He’s barely hanging in there on this team right now. He’s running well, but playing on the road is starting to take its toll on this team, and his supporting cast on both sides of the ball looks shaky, as usual.
LaMont Jordan (RB, Oak) – Thankfully, he’s doing it in the passing game because he’s not doing it in the running game right now. Norv Turner wants to run the ball, so if this team can start grabbing some leads, Jordan will be more than fine. If not, it looks like he’ll still be solid, especially if you get one point per catch.
Fred Taylor (RB, Jac) – His 98 yards and TD look good, but his 2.6 yards per carry average does not. Taylor’s still exceeding expectations this year, so no one’s complaining, but it’s clear that, although he’s still running hard and is fairly explosive, he’s not a special back any more. In particular, he’s no longer able to take the ball a long way.
Reuben Droughns (RB, Cle) – He continues to start and run well, so we don’t envision the team moving away from him as the main guy any time soon.
Stephen Davis (RB, Car) – Don’t worry too much about his quiet game this past weekend. He got shut down by a defense that is great at home, and his carries were somewhat limited in a game in which the Panthers played mostly from behind.
Kevin Jones (RB, Det) – He didn’t disappoint this past weekend, and that’s a start.
Anquan Boldin (WR, Ari) – He had QB issues, but he’s been real active, and he’s certainly showing that he should be a real good fantasy guy this year. Whether or not his teammates cooperate is up in the air, but Boldin’s looking good himself. Unfortunately for those who started him, he lost his starting QB and, worse yet, he couldn’t keep his balance on a 45-yard catch that should have been a long TD.
Muhsin Muhammad (WR, Chi) – He didn’t do too much this week, but it’s not like he wasn’t in a position to succeed, and that can be half the battle in most cases.
Drew Bennett (WR, Ten) – He was very active in this game, which is a good sign. For whatever reason, he still doesn’t click very well with QB Steve McNair, but their chemistry should develop as the season progresses, so Bennett looks more than solid.
Antonio Bryant (WR, Cle) – He was very active in this game, finally, and he just missed a TD that would have turned a good game into a very good game. As we’ve stated, he’s still the #1 guy here, and with their offense looking strong enough, he’s worth starting as a #3 WR if you’re not totally stocked at WR.
T.J. Houshmandzadeh (WR, Cin) – Don’t worry about his quiet game; he had a TD called back, and this was a great secondary in Chicago’s. This guy looks like the perfect #3 fantasy WR.
Deion Branch (WR, NE) – He was active and productive enough in a game in which QB Tom Brady was unable to get the protection needed to complete passes deep down the field. You’re still feeling good about yourself if you have him on your side.
Michael Jenkins
(WR, Atl) – Forget about upside with this guy, because over the long haul,
he doesn’t have any on this team, but he does on a weekly basis, since he’s
capable of catching a long pass at any time, and they are clearly looking
for him in the red zone. He’s a great guy to have around for a rainy day,
and a solid guy to plug in as your #3.
Alge Crumpler (TE, Atl) – Although he’s not doing much, he remains active enough in this offense and should still finish the season as a top-7 fantasy TE.
LJ Smith (TE, Phi) – He had a big fumble in the Oakland game, but he’s been active enough and he looks like he will continue to be a pretty big part of this offense.
Downgrades
Quarterbacks
Peyton Manning (Ind) – Perhaps proving once and for all why drafting a QB in the first round is a usually a mistake, Manning is now 38 TD passes off his 2005 pace. He’ll now have to average 3 TD passes per game to hit his 2004 total. At this point, you should view him much like you should view RB Edgerrin James: He’s a safe and reliable option who will get it done most weeks, but he’s not likely to carry your roster over the long haul. The issue here is mainly the team’s good defense, but it’s clear that defenses have adjusted in terms of stopping this offense and have rendered them “stoppable” as opposed to unstoppable.
Aaron Brooks (NO) – He reverted to previous form against the Vikings, and that’s not good because his previous form was pretty shaky. The Saint offense with Brooks at the helm simply cannot function well playing from behind, and it looks like they will be behind often. He’s worth using only as a bye week fill-in, most likely.
Kurt Warner (Ari) – Groin injuries tend to linger and they significantly affect QB play, so Warner's situation has to be taken seriously. QB Josh McCown didn't look very good in relief Sunday, not what Anquan Boldin and Larry Fitzgerald owners want to see. Warner could miss this week's game in Mexico.
Running Backs
Ahman Green (GB) – He’s trying like hell, but this team just can’t run the ball right now. It’s probably not going to get much better, but the line, if healthy, looks like it has a chance to get a little better. At this point, you just can’t expect a 100-yard, TD game from Ahman Green.
Curtis Martin (NYJ) – He toughed it out against a great defensive front, but his team’s passing game is in shambles right now, so team’s will continue to stack the box against Martin. This is shaping up as one of those years in which his TD total is stuck in single digits, possibly well under 10. Keep in mind his schedule is tough, too.
Kevan Barlow (SF) – He hasn’t been horrible, but head coach Mike Nolan is hinting at making some lineup changes. QB Alex Smith for Tim Rattay could be one change, and Frank Gore for Barlow could be another. That is pure speculation, but the fact is the team has no allegiance to Barlow, that Barlow hasn’t done enough to help the team, and that Nolan doesn’t mess around.
Michael Bennett (Min) – In terms of fantasy football, he’s all but disappeared for now.
JJ Arrington (Ari) – Arrington should be able to help fantasy owners at some point this year, but the only thing he’s helping those who start him each week right now is lose. It will be interesting to see how they use him now that things are officially getting ugly. It will be interesting to see how pissed off you get if you keep starting him. And when we say interesting, we mean…not interesting.
Michael Pittman (TB) – Head coach Jon Gruden used to say a lot of good things about Mike Pittman. Gruden has no use for Mike Pittman right now.
Wide Receivers
Isaac Bruce (Stl) – He says his toe is fine and we want to take him at his word, but he did miss half of Sunday's game, he is in his 12th season, and we can't ignore that Kevin Curtis looked pretty darn good Sunday (although he was hobbling at times himself_. "Turf toes are nasty things," Mike Martz added Sunday night. "It will probably be Wednesday before I can comment on it."
Jet WRs (NYJ) – These guys are in big trouble. Every once in a while, QB Chad Pennington makes a good throw and a nice play, but overall, he doesn’t look like he’s capable of getting the ball to these guys. You can’t even consider Justin McCareins right now, and Laveranues Coles looks like he’s only a #3 fantasy wideout. Oh, and the Jets are preparing to start #3 QB Brooks Bollinger this week. Could it get any worse for this guys? No it can't.
Michael Clayton (TB) – We certainly can’t rip him because he still looks like a very solid possession receiver for the Bucs who is more than a possession receiver. But with the running game carrying the offense, with the defense putting the clamps down on opposing offenses, and with Galloway stepping up, there’s not much left over for Clayton right now. If you have a more productive alternative, you might want to slide this guy on your bench for now.
Jerry Porter (Oak) – He’s had some tough matchups and he wasn’t 100% ready for the season due to his hamstring injury, but although he’s been pretty active, he’s not been productive enough. Moss will get his, and the TE is active, as is the RB, so he’s not getting his fair share of this passing attack right now.
Marvin Harrison (Ind) – Obviously, he’s killing you, and they’re starting to force the ball in the passing game a little. Harrison will heat up soon, but if defenses are going to focus on him, and if current trends prevail in terms of this passing game, Harrison’s not going to be a legit stud WR.
Bill WRs (Buf) – They were a lot more active than the numbers would indicate, but QB JP Losman can’t consistently get them the ball right now, so you need to sit WRs Lee Evans and Eric Moulds.
Donte Stallworth (NO) – It is mind-numbing that he can catch 8 balls for a buck-forty-one in one game and come back the next week and go without a catch. The team is using WR Devery Henderson, who looks a lot like Stallworth, and that can’t help. Stallworth is a nice guy to have around, but if it’s at all possible, you should use him as a bye-week plug-in only.
Keary Colbert (Car) – He completely fell off the face of the earth this past weekend. Something’s going on here. What, we don’t know.
Brandon Stokley (WR, Ind) - The Colts threw just 23 passes and only one was to Stokley. If this team isn't going to be an aerial circus, you can't start Stokley with any sort of confidence.
Tight Ends
Dallas Clark (Ind) – He almost scored this past weekend, but the pass was broken up. We liked him this year mainly because we figured his QB would throw 40 TD passes. But with his QB on a pace for 11, you just can’t use him right now.
Ben Watson (TE, NE) – Great talent but they spread it out too much for him to be relied on week-to-week.
Place Kickers
David Akers (Phi) – You can either put him on your bench for now or drop him, but you have to do one or the other because you can’t expect to use him for a few weeks at least. He made a seemingly surprisingly quick recovery last week, and was withering in pain minutes into the game. Go get Neil Rackers if you haven’t already because Akers has a torn hamstring and will be down for a while.
Ryan Longwell (GB) – He’s kicking 1 FG per game so far, so he’s looking like a very average option on a team that is playing from behind a lot.
Team Defenses
Buffalo Bills (Buf) – They’ve lost LB Takeo Spikes for the season, and that’s a huge loss. The trend this year for fantasy defenses is for the effective ones to jump out to leads and then tee off as teams play behind. That’s not the Bills right now, so they are quickly losing steam for fantasy.
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